Great Harwood has re-signed swashbuckling Sri Lankan all-rounder Thikshila de Silva for their 2022 Lancashire League campaign.
An explosive all-rounder
De Silva is a strongly-built batting all-rounder, who is regarded as one of the most explosive (and biggest six-hitting) batsmen in Sri Lankan domestic cricket.
Courtesy of his domestic exploits he earned national selection in January 2017, playing 3 T20 internationals against South Africa. Surprisingly though, he hasn’t featured since.
Nevertheless, he remains one of the most destructive all-rounders on the circuit, and heading into the 2021/22 season boasts 3,761 runs at 23.22 and 137 wickets at 28.88 across the three formats.
The diminutive left-hander has domestic career strike rates of 84.02 (FC), 92.84 (List A), and 152.52 (T20), and has been one of Chilaw Marian’s key performers in recent years.
A prolific pro…
De Silva has also been a stand-out in England during his 2 stints with Great Harwood in the Lancashire League (2019, 2021). During this period he has scored 1,735 runs at 51.02 and taken 102 wickets at 16.92. He has also excelled in the League T20, and Worsley Cup competitions – 12 wickets at 7.75 with the ball in the latter.
Last summer de Silva was one of league crickets most prolific professionals. For Great Harwood alone he struck 1,350 runs at 56.25 alongside 72 wickets at 15.87 to finish second on the Lancashire League run and wicket charts. He was also an exceptional performer elsewhere playing various sub-pro games with success.
His season highlight came in a Lancashire League game against Bacup, producing arguably the League’s most destructive innings in history. De Silva belted an undefeated 219 from only 126 balls including 17 fours, and 15 sixes.
LL return for TDS
Unsurprisingly, Great Harwood was very quick to re-sign their Sri Lankan superstar for 2022, concluding negotiations mid-way through the season. No doubt the club will be hoping for more fireworks next summer.
