Ten Facts About Sri Lankan Mystery Spinner Akila Dananjaya

Aug 25, 2017 at 7:14 PM

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Ten Facts About Sri Lankan Mystery Spinner Akila Dananjaya

The deja vu of spinner Ajantha Mendis, Akila Dananjaya, who has his general role as an off-spinner bowler, sent down a couple of Wrong’uns to surprise Indian batsmen during the second game of the three five-match series against India in Kandy.

A day after his marriage, Dananjaya, who was named Man of the Match, had almost handed a wedding gift on Thursday (August 24) to the hapless Sri Lankan teammates after leaving a gaping hole, in the strong batting order of formidable India after the rollicking start from opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.

The 23-year-old Panadura-born bowler Dananjaya has rolled over the golden arm to claim the first six-for after conceding 54 runs in his ten overs.

In sixteenth over, at the score of 109 India lost their first wicket before losing seven wickets at the score of 131 in 21.5 overs.

Dananjaya got the first wicket in the form of Rohit Sharma after trapping him in front of the stumps, as the TV replays clearly indicated that the ball was hitting the stumps.

Would go down as one of the best spells in 2017, Danjanaya cleaned up Kedar Jadhav and skipper Virat Kohli owing to the two superb deliveries which further bamboozled the right-hander KL Rahul.

Dananjaya went on to bag talented Hardik Pandya before picking Axar Patel as his sixth wicket with his brilliant bowling display at Pallekele International Stadium, in a rain-curtailed game.

However, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were cautious against the unknown spin commodity and eventually took the visitors out of jail following 100-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Akila Dananjaya did his schooling from Mahanama Vidyalaya in Panadura. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Here are the facts about off-spinner Akila Dananjaya:

  • The slow bowler has 69 alphabets in his name: Mahamarakkala Kurukulasooriya Patabendige Akila Dananjaya Perera
  • Dananjaya made his international debut against New Zealand at the same Pallekele ground, in the 2012 ICC Twenty20 World Cup on September 27.
  • In the thrilling contest which was won by the hosts in one-over eliminator, Dananjaya bagged two wickets after conceding 32 runs, in his quota of four overs.
  • Dananjaya is listed as third on the list of conceding most runs for claiming six wickets. Waqar Younis and Ashish Nehra gave away 59 runs followed by 55 runs from S. Sreesanth and Ireland’s Paul Stirling.
  • Dananjaya has the best figures of 7 for 139 in the first-class format.
  • An interesting fact is that the young spinner made his first-class debut in February 2013 after bursting onto the international scene in November 2012 while donning the white jersey.
  • The bowling all-rounder was born on October 4 in 1993 at Panadura which is located in the Western Province of Kalutara District in Colombo.
  • Akila Dananjaya got married to his longtime friend Nethali Tekshini, a day before the match in which he claimed career best figures of 6 for 54 at elite-level.
  • As he is a part of the Lions cricket team, Dananjaya said no to honeymoon while opting for the national duty – to join teammates in Kandy.
  • On August 23rd, Akila got married in Moratuwa after premium spinner Rangana Herath and mystery bowler Ajantha Mendis joined the wedding ceremony, as witnesses at Ramadia Ran Mal Holiday Resort in Sri Lanka.
  • Dananjaya did his schooling from Mahanama Vidyalaya in Panadura. He was also the part of Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings.
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