Despite making a monumental 200 against Trinity College last week, Royal College batsman Kavindu Madarasinghe will not be carried away by the feat and prefers to focus on what is ahead especially next week’s big match against S. Thomas’ College.
“It’s my first double ton in the season. I didn’t have much pressure because I did my best and the basic things. I batted for ten hours,” he told to the Sunday Observer, during a practice session at the SSC ground.
“I’m not very confident, because overconfidence is the beginning of failures. But up to a level I’m confident. The Thomians do have a good bowling attack, but when it comes to a big match, it’s a different game so I feel ready to face any Thomian at this level.”
Elaborating on how his innings unfolded, he explained: “There was one bowler, Matheesha Pathirana (junior Malinga), who played for Sri Lanka Under 19 and has an unorthodox bowling action. It was hard to settle down in his first spell, but somehow we managed it.
“I just enjoyed the batting that’s all.”
Madarasinghe, who had a previous best 111 against St. Benedict’s College remains very much a batsman who knows that the bigger challenges are ahead especially after his epic innings that may make rival teams look at him differently.
His explosive double ton came at a timely period ahead of their vaunted Royal-Thomian big match, that will take centre stage on Thursday.
For Madarasinghe and Royal, who have mustered only modest returns this season and entering the Battle of the Blues, toying Trinity had probably done wonders to their confidence.
The yesteryear captain cum wicket-keeper of the side spearheaded his team’s onslaught of 368 of which 200 was amassed by him.
It was an innings that came with the help of 22 boundaries and four sixes.
“Actually batting and wicket-keeping isn’t really easy, but at the same time, I enjoy them both. And it’s a big responsibility to keep wickets and the most crucial position in cricket. So I love them both,” Madarasinghe said.
It was at the tender age of six that Madarasinghe first held a bat and since 2011, he had been featuring in various age-category teams for Royal before playing his maiden First XI game in 2015.
Last year though, at the big match, Madarasinghe had to overcome the heartbreak of conceding the DS Senanayake Shield to Royal but were compensated and consoled by winning the Mustangs trophy at the limited overs match.
“I think it’s all about the Royal spirit and the Thomian grit,” he said of the longest-ever uninterrupted school’s cricket match played in the country.
“My upcoming target is to give my best to the team at the big match and play for my country.”