Dilhara Fernando

Dilhara Fernando

Personal information
Full name	Congenige Randhi Dilhara Fernando
Born	19 July 1979 (1979-07-19) (age 32) Colombo, Sri Lanka
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right arm fast-medium
Role	Bowler
International information
National side	Sri Lanka
Test debut (cap 82)	14 June 2000 v Pakistan
Last Test	20 June 2011 v West Indies
ODI debut (cap 106)	9 January 2001 v South Africa
Last ODI	6 February 2011 v West Indies
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1997/98–present	Sinhalese Sports Club
2008	Worcestershire
2008–present	Mumbai Indians
Career statistics
Competition	Tests	ODIs	FC	List A
Matches	37	141	104	207
Runs scored	242	239	554	332
Batting average	8.64	9.95	7.69	8.51
100s/50s	0/0	0/0	0/0	0/0
Top score	39*	20	42	21*
Balls bowled	5,689	6,188	14,070	9,311
Wickets	94	180	271	293
Bowling average	36.97	29.78	30.11	26.54
5 wickets in innings	3	1	6	2
10 wickets in match	0	n/a	0	n/a
Best bowling	5/42	6/27	6/29	6/27
Catches/stumpings	10/–	27/–	39/–	45/–
Source: CricketArchive, 22 June 2011

Congenige Randhi Dilhara Fernando (born 19 July 1979) is a cricketer who plays for Sri Lanka. He is a right-handed pace bowler. Dilhara studied at De Mazenod College Kandana. He started off his school career as a basketball player but was spotted by the college cricket coach because of his build and height and has never looked back since.

Fernando is best known for his rare technique when bowling the slower ball by splitting the fingers on the ball as it is released from the hand.

Fernando first debuted for Sri Lanka in a Test Match against Pakistan at Colombo in June 2000. Six months later in a game at Durban he clocked 91.9 mph. He bowled at 93.40 mph vs Bangladesh at India. His international career however has been limited due to injury. In the period of a year he suffered two stress fracture of the back and as a result missed the their home series against Australia in 2004.

In the 2010 tour of Australia, in the 3rd and final ODI at The Gabba, he clocked speeds reaching 150 kilometres per hour (93 mph).^{[citation needed]}

In 2008 he appeared briefly in English county cricket, playing one County Championship and two Pro40 matches at the end of the season for Worcestershire.

He is a Christian (Catholic) and sometimes attends church with Chaminda Vaas.^[1]

ODI achievements

On 13 October 2007, in the 5th game of an ODI series with England, at Colombo, Fernando took career-best bowling figures of 6 for 27, as Sri Lanka thrashed England by 107 runs. This was the first time Fernando had taken more than 4 wickets in an ODI innings, and his feat placed him 5th in the list of best ODI bowling by a Sri Lankan.^[2]

Fernando completed the series with 158 career ODI wickets. As of 17 June 2011, only Chaminda Vaas, Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan have taken more ODI wickets for Sri Lanka (and all three have taken over 300 ODI wickets).^[3]

References

1. ^ "Catholics pray for Sri Lankan cricketers following attack". Union of Catholic Asian News. 2009-03-04. http://www.ucanews.com/2009/03/04/catholics-pray-for-sri-lankan-cricketers/. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
2. ^ Best bowling figures in an innings - Sri Lanka from Cricinfo, retrieved 13 October 2007
3. ^ Most ODI wickets - Sri Lanka from Cricinfo, retrieved 17 June 2011

External links

• Player profile: Dilhara Fernando from ESPNcricinfo
• Player Profile: Dilhara Fernando from CricketArchive

Persondata
Name	Fernando, Congenige Randhi Dilhara
Alternative names
Short description	Sri Lankan cricketer
Date of birth	July 19, 1979
Place of birth	Colombo
Date of death
Place of death