Prestwick Cricket Club signs record holder

May 14 2008 By Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post

THE world’s biggest hitting batsman has pledged to pull in the crowds at Prestwick Cricket Club.

Boundary king Dhanuka Pathirana, who once walloped 277 runs off just 72 balls, is pledging to be a smash hit at the Henry Thow Oval.

And the Sri Lankan wants a call-up to his national side after being touted as the best young talent in his cricket-mad country.

Dhanuka, 25, has been snapped up by chuffed Prestwick chiefs as their pro for the new season.

The red-hot batsman, a clubmate of Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Kulasekera, holds the ICC world record for the biggest ever innings in a Twenty20 game.

Pathirana caused carnage in a Lancashire League game by bashing 29 sixes and 18 fours as everything he hit flew out the park.

Now he’s promising more of the same for excited fans at Prestwick.

Recalling his stunning knock, Dhanuka revealed: “The funny thing is I started really slowly because I didn’t want to give my wicket away.

“Then all of a sudden I took off and was smashing more than 20 every over. It was just one of those games where everything went right.

“But I hadn’t even taken my kit to play that day and I had to use someone else’s bat, so I did pretty well!”

Pathirana has topped the scoring charts in Sri Lanka, leaving legendary names like Sanath Jayasuriya in his shade.

And only a serious elbow injury two years ago slowed his progress to the very top.

But now dangerous Dhanuka is pledging to fulfil his early potential, with Prestwick getting the benefit.

He admitted: “Of course I have ambition to play for Sri Lanka. I was the best batsman in our league not that long ago so I think I can do it.

“I want to come here and enjoy my off season while getting some good playing experience and help Prestwick.

“It seems a nice area and I arrived at the right time with the weather. Hopefully it stays like this for the whole summer because this is what I’m used to!”

Prestwick skipper Fraser Macdonald heaped praise on Pathirana and reckons he’s the answer to many of the club’s problems.

Macdonald said: “Dhanuka is a very clever cricketer and his hunger for the game is excellent.

“His ability is there for all to see but his influence off the park will be just as important as what he does on it.

“Our team is young and needs some discipline. Heads go down as soon as we’re losing games, so Dhanuka’s words of advice will be crucial.”