Damith Perera

Damith Perera is quite the prospect playing for Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club in Sri Lankan domestic cricket.

A powerful left-handed top-order batter who can either keep wicket or bowl off-spin, Perera returned to Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club last summer, following stints with Tamil Union (2021/22), Badureliya (2019/20), and his original stint with Kurunegala Youth (2017/18-18/19).

The former Maliyadeva College star has been a stand-out in domestic cricket since his debut. In fact, during the 2018/19 season, he topped the Premier League Tournament (Tier B) run charts with 792 runs at 56.57 including three centuries (116, 106, 106) and four fifties (67, 90, 67*, 62). These impressive numbers backed up his 2017/18 season where he chalked up 531 runs at 37.92 (1x100, 4x50s) to finish second on KYCC’s run charts.

In 2019/20, though, Perera suffered a dip in form and only averaged 22.20 for BSC. However, he swiftly made amends in August 2020, by hitting twin centuries against Sinhalese Sports Club (113, 112*). In doing so, he became only the 31st player to hit tons in both innings in Sri Lankan first-class cricket. Last summer (2022/23), he continued to shine hitting another century (104*) amongst 539 runs at 49 for KYCC, then started with a ton (120) to start his 2023 campaign.

The Sri Lankan run machine has also enjoyed four successful stints abroad. During his maiden UK stint for Farnworth Social Circle (Bolton League - 2019), he averaged 48 including a best performance of 101* from only 54 balls against Atherton. Over the past three seasons, Perera has excelled for Northern Irish club Ballyspallen in the North West Cricket Union. Statistically, he was been one of the best pros in the NWCU, but did return mid-season due to Sri Lankan domestic cricket rescheduling.

For 2024, Perera is keen to return abroad if Sri Lankan cricket is scheduled outside the Northern Hemisphere summer.