Ruhuna cricket team

Ruhuna cricket team was one of the five provincial cricket teams that took part in Sri Lankan Inter-Provincial Tournament, representing Southern Province. The Ruhuna cricket team was based in Galle. It drew cricketers from Sri Lanka Premier Trophy. Team colors were Red and Blue. Ruhuna cricket team took part in all three provincial tournaments: the first-class cricket competition known as the Inter-Provincial First Class Tournament, the List A competition known as the Inter-Provincial Limited Over Tournament and the Twenty20 competition known as the Inter-Provincial Twenty20.

For the Sri Lanka Premier League team, see Ruhuna Royals.

Ruhuna Elevens
One Day nameRuhuna elevens
Personnel
CaptainMahela Udawatte
Team information
Colors     Red      Blue
Founded1990
Home groundGalle International Stadium
Capacity35,000
History
First-class debutWayamba[1]
in 1990
at Galle International Stadium
IP FC winsnone
IP LO winsnone
IP T20 wins1 (2011)
Official websiteSri Lanka Cricket

Ruhuna cricket team had participated every tournament since the inauguration of the tournament since 1990. Despite the team having been represented by many formidable international, national cricketers the team still to win a title in the Inter-Provincial tournament. Ruhuna was beaten by Wayamba cricket team in 2007/08 Inter-Provincial Twenty20 by 31 runs in the finals,[2] the only time the team was qualified for a final of the tournament. They however won the 2011 Inter-Provincial Twenty20 (by defeating Wayamba Wolves in the final), its first title that led to its qualification for the 2011 Champions League Twenty20 qualifying rounds. Ruhuna Rhinos will play the qualifying round in Champions League Twenty20 in 2011 under the captaincy of Mahela Udawatte.[3] In the qualifying round, they managed a 4-run win over the Leicestershire Foxes, but they missed out on the tournament proper to Indian franchise Kolkata Knight Riders on net run rate.

In the 2009 Inter-Provincial Tournament even though Ruhuna's Upul Tharanga scored his maiden first-class double century, it was not sufficient to them qualify for the semi finals.[4] Basnahira South defeat Ruhuna by 4 wickets.[5] In the 2009 Inter-Provincial Twenty20 tournament's second semi-finals, Wayamba cricket team beat the Ruhuna in the bowl-out to reach the finals, after the match was affected by rain.[6] Eventually Wayamba went on to win the title, becoming the first team won the title twice.[7]

Name

From the inauguration of the Inter-Provincial Tournament in 1990 teams were named in English. As a result, the cricket team of the Southern Province was known as Southern province. After a ten-year hiatus, the tournament was revived in 2003/04, with Sinhalese names given to the five teams, resulting in its renaming as the Ruhuna cricket team. It was named after Kingdom of Ruhuna, one of the ancient kingdom in Sri Lanka, the capital of which was situated in Southern Province.[8]

History

Early years (1990–2000)

Sri Lanka Cricket fearing that Club cricket alone would not be enough to keep Sri Lankan cricket competitive, the Inter-Provincial Cricket Tournament was created as a domestic first-class cricket tournament in Sri Lanka in 1990.[9] From the inauguration of the tournament, in 1990, participating teams varied from year to year. The tournament started with four provincial teams. They were Western Province, Central Province, North Western Province and Ruhuna.

In the first first-class Inter-provincial tournament, which was called the 1990 Singer Inter-Provincial Trophy, Ruhuna, then called Southern Province, captained by Upul Sumathipala, had come third out of the four provinces, losing one out of three of their matches and finishing the tournament with 10.1 points. Western Province went on to win the tournament, not losing a game.[10]

Establishment of Twenty20 (2000–2010)

With the establishment of Twenty20 cricket in 2003, it came to Sri Lanka in 2004 as the Twenty20 Tournament, however this was replaced with the Inter-Provincial Twenty20 in 2008. Wayamba won the 2007–08 Inter-Provincial Twenty20, which was the first edition of the tournament. They had won four out of five matches in the group stage and eventually won their way into the finals with Ruhuna. Wayamba won by 31 runs.[11]

2010–present

Grounds and Sponsorship
Galle International Stadium
LocationGalle, Southern Province, Sri Lanka
Opened1876
Tenants
Ruhuna cricket team (1990–present)
Main article: Galle International Stadium

Galle International Stadium in Galle is the home ground of Ruhuna team. It is a cricket stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka, situated near the Galle fort and fringed on two sides by the Indian Ocean. It is considered to be one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world. Before being brought up to international cricket standards, it was known as ‘The Esplanade’, and is the home ground of the Galle cricket club.

Hirdaramani, one of Sri Lanka's apparel industrial companies is the team sponsor.[12]

Players
Sanath Jayasuriya one of the most experienced players in the side

Sanath Jayasuriya, one of the most experienced players in the contemporary international cricket is the captain of the team.[13] Number of Southern province-born cricketers present the team such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Champaka Ramanayake, Lasith Malinga and Upul Tharanga. The top 75 players from the Premier Limited Overs Tournament selected for the Inter-Provincial tournament.[14]

Current Squad

Players with international caps are listed in bold.

No. Name Nat Birth date Batting Style Bowling Style Notes
Batsmen
4Bhanuka Rajapaksa (1991-10-24) 24 October 1991Left-handedRight arm medium
6Mahela Udawatte (1986-07-19) 19 July 1986Left-handedRight arm off breakCaptain
21Amal Athulathmudali (1987-01-21) 21 January 1987Left-handedRight arm fast-medium
?Yashodha Lanka (1992-10-01) 1 October 1992Right-handedLeft arm medium-fast
All-rounders
5Tillakaratne Sampath (1982-06-23) 23 June 1982Right-handedRight arm off break
7Sanath Jayasuriya (1969-06-30) 30 June 1969Left-handedSlow left-arm orthodox
9Chinthaka Perera (1985-02-14) 14 February 1985Right-handedRight arm fast-medium
14Shalika Karunanayake (1987-02-14) 14 February 1987Right-handedRight arm fast-medium
23Janaka Gunaratne (1981-03-14) 14 March 1981Right-handedRight arm off break
34Milinda Siriwardana (1985-12-04) 4 December 1985Left-handedSlow left-arm orthodox
69Arosh Janoda (1987-09-11) 11 September 1987Right-handedRight arm medium-fast
Wicket-keepers
8Kusal Perera (1990-08-17) 17 August 1990Left-handed
17Dinesh Chandimal (1989-11-18) 18 November 1989Right-handed—
44Upul Tharanga (1985-02-02) 2 February 1985Left-handed—
Bowlers
2Omesh Wijesiriwardene (1983-03-10) 10 March 1983Right-handedRight arm fast-medium
24Shihan Kamileen (1990-09-30) 30 September 1990Right-handedRight arm off break
28Alankara Silva (1985-04-04) 4 April 1985Right-handedRight arm off break

Source: Ruhuna

Notable players
Main article: List of Ruhuna representative cricketers

The following is a list of players who have represented both Ruhuna and Sri Lanka.[15]

Honours

Domestic

First Class

List A

Twenty20
  • Inter-Provincial Twenty20: 1
2011 Inter-Provincial Twenty20

References
  1. "Singer Inter-Provincial Trophy, 1990". cricinfo.com. Cricinfo. 3 July 2001. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  2. "Wayamba v Ruhuna". cricketarchive.com. CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  3. http://cricketnext.in.com/news/jayasuriyas-experience-will-be-useful/60134-13.html
  4. Thawfeeq, Sa'adi (16 March 2009). "Wayamba and Basnahira North qualify for final". cricinfo.com. Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  5. "Basnahira South v Ruhuna". cricinfo.com. Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  6. Dhambarage, Chris (5 April 2009). "Basnahira South-Wayamba final". Sunday Observer. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  7. Thawfeeq, Sa'adi (5 April 2009). "Udana stars in Wayamba's title win". cricinfo.com. Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  8. "Ruhuna and its past". ruh.ac.lk. University of Ruhuna. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  9. "Tournaments in Sri Lanka". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  10. http://static.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1990/SL_LOCAL/SIPT/SINGER_TABLE_1990.html
  11. http://www.cricinfo.com/sldomestic/engine/match/345462.html
  12. "Sri Lanka Domestic Season". planetcricket.net. 22 December 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  13. "Ruhuna Squad". cricinfo.com. Cricinfo. 22 March 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  14. Silva, Revata S. (25 March 2009). "SLC Inter-Provincial T-20 – 2008/09 Top ninety players in bang-bang cricket". The Island. Upali Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  15. "Southern Province v North Western Province". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
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