Full name Kanishka Gihan Alvitigala
Born June 8, 1986, Homagama
Current age 31 years 75 days
Major teams Basnahira, Colts Cricket Club, Kandurata, Nagenahira Nagas, Sri Lanka A, Sri Lanka Board President's XI
Playing role Bowler
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm fast-medium
Height 6 ft 3 in
Education Lumbini College, Thurstan College, Colombo
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-class | 49 | 58 | 5 | 564 | 60 | 10.64 | 1035 | 54.49 | 0 | 3 | 49 | 16 | 29 | 0 |
| List A | 44 | 23 | 5 | 224 | 34 | 12.44 | 260 | 86.15 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 10 | 16 | 0 |
T20s 
|
7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4.00 | 8 | 50.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-class | 49 | 88 | 5578 | 3283 | 97 | 5/34 | 6/92 | 33.84 | 3.53 | 57.5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| List A | 44 | 42 | 1681 | 1397 | 42 | 4/11 | 4/11 | 33.26 | 4.98 | 40.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
|
T20s
|
7 | 6 | 144 | 169 | 7 | 2/35 | 2/35 | 24.14 | 7.04 | 20.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| First-class debut | Colts Cricket Club v Nondescripts Cricket Club at Colombo (Colts), Feb 14-17, 2008 scorecard |
| Last First-class | Colts Cricket Club v Panadura Sports Club at Katunayake, Mar 21-23, 2014 scorecard |
| List A debut | Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club v Colts Cricket Club at Colombo (PSS), Dec 31, 2008 scorecard |
| Last List A | Colts Cricket Club v Nondescripts Cricket Club at Colombo (RPS), Dec 21, 2013 scorecard |
| T20s debut | Kandurata v Wayamba at Galle, Mar 4, 2010 scorecard |
| Last T20s | Southern Express v Western Troopers at Colombo (SSC), Jun 30, 2014 scorecard |
| Bat & Bowl | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date | Scorecard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Troopers | v Express | Colombo (SSC) | 30 Jun 2014 | T20 |
| 1/29, 0, 0/39 | Colts | v Panadura | Katunayake | 21 Mar 2014 | FC |
| 1/61, 5, 0/19 | Colts | v Bloomfield | Katunayake | 14 Mar 2014 | FC |
| 2/34, 3, 0/18 | Colts | v Chilaw | Panagoda | 7 Mar 2014 | FC |
| 0/3, 6, 1/12 | Colts | v SL Air SC | Katunayake | 21 Feb 2014 | FC |
| 1/42, 1, 0/29, 0 | Colts | v Col CC | Colombo (Colts) | 14 Feb 2014 | FC |
| 0/34, 0, 1/38 | SL-A Emerg | v Eng Lions | Colombo (Colts) | 6 Feb 2014 | FC |
| 1/76, 50 | Colts | v Nondescripts | Colombo (NCC) | 31 Jan 2014 | FC |
| 0, 0/53, 0/22 | Colts | v SL Army | Colombo (Colts) | 17 Jan 2014 | FC |
| 6, 2/26 | Colts | v Nondescripts | Colombo (RPS) | 21 Dec 2013 | LA |
A tall fast bowler, Kanishka Alwitigala began his career with little known Homagama MV and came to Lumbini MV to do his 'O' levels. He eventually ended up playing for Thurstan College whom he represented for three years in the first XI, finishing with the all-island best bowler runner-up prize by scalping 65 wickets. He joined Colombo Colts soon after taking five wickets in the Under-23 semi-final against Nondescripts CC in 2008-09. Bowling with national fast bowlers Chaminda Vaas, Ruchira Perera and Nuwan Kulasekera has helped Alwitigala immensely and the inputs from the former Sri Lanka fast bowler Champaka Ramanayake and Anusha Samaranayake, head of Sri Lanka's fast bowling academy have also helped in his development. The best advice he's received from them is to bowl more dot balls and commit the batsman into making mistakes. He clocks between 135-140 kph and hopes to improve on that figure.
Sa'adi Thawfeeq
- Gunaratne double-century powers SL Army to victory (Feb 2, 2014)
- Sri Lanka A quicks prosper on first day (Oct 14, 2013)
- Alvitigala gets Sri Lanka call-up (Dec 19, 2011)
- Colombo CC move up to second place (Mar 18, 2008)
Aug 16, 2011
Kanishka Alvitigala bowls
© Getty Images