Dushan Vimukthi

Dushan Vimukthi is a quality off-spin bowling all-rounder who boasts an impressive record in Sri Lankan domestic cricket.

Last summer (2022/23), Vimukthi played for the star-studded Saracens Sports Club following successful stints with Panadura (2012/13), Sri Lanka Air Force (2013/14), Badureliya (2014/15), Sri Lanka Army (2015/16-21), and Moors Sports Club (2020/21).

Following his first-class debut in January 2014, Vimukthi has scored 3,114 runs at 26.84 and taken 236 wickets at 25.83 in 72 Major League matches. He has 4 hundreds, and 3 ten-wicket match hauls amongst these impressive run and wicket tallies.

However, it's his exploits over the past few years that have pushed his case toward national selection.

In 2016/17, the all-rounder finished towards the top of his prior club, Sri Lanka Army run charts (519 runs at 32.43) and topped the wicket tally with 35 poles at 22.51. In 2017/18, whilst he didn't set the first-class circuit alight with the bat (322 runs at 18.94), he starred with the ball taking 43 wickets at 20.44, including 2 ten-wicket match hauls.

In 2018/19, he avenged his batting numbers, finishing as the 8th leading run-scorer in first-class cricket (Tier A) hitting 3 centuries amongst 889 runs at 52.29 alongside 39 wickets at 34.02. The following season, he dipped again with the bat (244 runs at 24.40), but excelled with the ball, taking 27 wickets at 17.22.

In 2019/20, whilst the trend didn't continue with the bat, only scoring 285 runs at 17.81, he impressed again with the ball, this time with 42 wickets at 21.33 to finish 7th on the first-class wicket charts.

In 2020/21, in the absence of first-class cricket, Vimukthi impressed in the One Day format, finishing amongst the leading wicket-takers with 15 poles at 13.33, all with an economy rate of 3.56. He was instrumental in Army's semi-final run, also averaging 38.33 with the bat.

In 2022/23, he continued to shine taking 31 wickets at 29.38, and 10 wickets at 20.20 in first-class, and List A respectively, alongside batting averages in the 20s.

Vimukthi is, without a doubt, one of Sri Lankan domestic crickets leading all-rounders, often opening the bowling with his economical off-spin. His performances, whether that be with bat or ball have thrust his name forward for higher honours.

The talented all-rounder has also excelled abroad. In 2022, he headed to Lancashire and, unsurprisingly, impressed helping Monton to the Greater Manchester Cricket League (Championship division) title. He scored 999 runs and took 76 wickets in league and cup cricket for the club - 895 runs at 47.11 and 71 wickets at 10.13 in the GMCL itself. Whilst he failed to replicate his batting performances on his return in 2023, he was still amongst the top bowlers in the GMCL taking 39 poles at 12.10.

Vimukthi has excelled, both home and abroad, and is now set to embark on a third UK stint having signed with Townville for their 2024 Bradford League campaign.