Following their promotion to the Premier Division, Hastings and St Leonards Priory has signed Sri Lankan star Prasansana Jayamanne for their 2020 Sussex League campaign.
Run Machine
Jayammane is an exceptionally talented batter who has enjoyed a barnstorming start to his professional career. Since his first-class debut for Negombo in December 2017, Jayamanne has scored 5 centuries, including a double and a further 4 fifties amongst 1,191 runs at 54.13 in 16 first-class matches.
In 2018/19, Jayamanne finished 7th on the Sri Lankan first-class (Tier A) batting averages, with his tally of 648 including 4 centuries in 5 matches, namely 108 (v Badureliya), 122* (v Ragama), 137* (v Sri Lanka Ports Authority) and scores of 108 and 90 (v Moors). Jayamanne looks set for an incredibly bright future and given his recent run-scoring exploits, will certainly be on Sri Lanka’s national radar.
Quite the prospect
The talented batter always seemed destined for professional cricket. He notched up a double century whilst playing in the Provincial Under-19 tournament several years ago. During his career and 30 Two-Day games at this level, Jayamanne scored 1,444 runs at 39.03 (2x100s, 8x50s). He also took 31 wickets at 25.32 with best bowling figures of 7-54 with his brisk medium pace (however, he’s since converted to off-spin).
Prasansana is an absolute run churner and will be eager to continue his Sussex run spree in 2020. (c) Sameera Peiris Photography
Jayamanne was the highest run-scorer in the Under-19 competition and his exploits for Leo’s Cricket Club and Moors Sports Club Under-23s paved way for his Negombo first-class debut. Following a pair (and 7 balls) on his first-class debut against Lankan Cricket Club (Dec 2017) and scores of 14 and 40 in his second outing (v Galle), he hasn’t looked back.
He struck his maiden first-class half-century (a grinding 193-ball 54) and 37 in the second innings against Kalutara Town in his third match, before producing a second fifty (77 v SL Navy) in his next match. A couple of quiet games followed (9 and 2 v Police; 2 and 0 v SL Air Force), before another fifty (63 and 15 v Panadura) and his remarkable double century (200* from 364 balls) against Kurunegala Youth to conclude an outstanding maiden first-class season (520 runs at 40).
Sussex chart-topper
In a view to continuing his development, the run machine embarked on his maiden UK stint in 2019. Playing for Sussex League side Ifield, Jayamanne impressed striking 900 runs at 50 alongside 24 wickets at 25.25. His 826 runs at 51.63 in the league alone, saw him top the division two run charts and 11th in the County-wide run aggregates.
Pras set for Sussex return
The talented batter, who is now playing for the star-studded Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club in Sri Lanka is set to return to the Sussex League in 2020, having recently signed with newly promoted Sussex Premier club Hastings and St Leonards Priory.
