Chamara Kapugedera

Chamara Kantha Kapugedera (Sinhala: චාමර කපුගෙදර, born 24 February 1987 in Kandy), commonly Chamara Kapugedera is a former international Sri Lankan cricketer who played all formats of the game, and was a former ODI captain. He was a permanent member in the national team from the debut match until 2010, and finally poor performances dropped him from the squad, until his comeback in 2015. He is an alumnus of Dharmaraja College, Kandy. He was also a member of the first Twenty20 International match for Sri Lanka, and capped no. 6. Kapugedara re-entered the national side in the mid-2015 and played the role of a middle order batsmen. In December 2019, he retired from all forms of cricket.[1]

Chamara Kapugedera
චාමර කපුගෙදර
Personal information
Full nameChamara Kantha Kapugedera
Born (1987-02-24) 24 February 1987
Kandy, Sri Lanka
NicknameKapu
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight arm medium
RoleMiddle-order Batsman
Relationsspouse – Tamara Derek (m. 2010)
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 104)11 May 2006 v England
Last Test26 August 2009 v New Zealand
ODI debut (cap 129)29 January 2006 v Australia
Last ODI18 October 2017 v Pakistan
ODI shirt no.16
T20I debut (cap 6)15 June 2006 v England
Last T20I6 April 2017 v Bangladesh
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2005/06–presentColombo Cricket Club
2008–2010Chennai Super Kings
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I List A
Matches 8 102 43 213
Runs scored 418 1,624 703 4,736
Batting average 34.83 21.09 22.67 28.53
100s/50s 0/4 0/8 -/1 4/29
Top score 96 95 50 161*
Balls bowled 12 264 – 783
Wickets 0 2 – 13
Bowling average – 112.50 – 51.23
5 wickets in innings 0 0 – 0
10 wickets in match 0 n/a – n/a
Best bowling 0/9 1/24 – 4/41
Catches/stumpings 6/0 31/0 17/0 82/4;
Source: ESPNricinfo, 20 August 2017

Domestic career

Kapugedera made his first-class debut in a match for Sri Lanka A against New Zealand A in 2005.[2] In domestic cricket, he plays for Colombo Cricket Club. His inconsistency during 2009 has proved costly, with more young players coming through to challenge for his place in the team. Chennai Super Kings put him on sale for the 2009 Indian Premier League, but no team came forward to bid for him despite the very low starting price. In 2012, Kapugedera was included to the Uthura Rudras for Sri Lanka Premier League tournament. He scored 69 runs in a match-winning knock against Basnahira Cricket Dundee, which was Rudras' first victory in SLPL.[3]

In Dhaka Premier Division 2014–15 season, he played for Victoria Sporting Club. In a match against Prime Bank Cricket Club, Kapugedera led his team for a big win with an unbeaten 161 and four wickets.[4]

In March 2018, he was named in Kandy's squad for the 2017–18 Super Four Provincial Tournament.[5][6] The following month, he was also named in Kandy's squad for the 2018 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.[7]

International career

Early years

An aggressive right-handed batsman, Kapugedera got his first taste of international cricket when he made his One Day International debut against Australia in Perth in 2006. He made his Test cricket debut in the first Test against England at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, in May 2006, in which he made a first ball duck in the first innings. A stylish and classical player, he is also known for his big hitting against Brett Lee and his innings of 38 runs from 21 balls, inclusive of 2 fours and 3 sixes, in the first final of the VB Series held in 2006. This innings bolstered Sri Lanka's total and ensured that Australia lost their first home final in 9 years.

In 2009 in the second ODI against Pakistan, Kapugedera scored unbeaten 69 runs to lead Sri Lanka to win and series leads 2–0.[8]

Inconsistency

Although Kapugedera showed huge potential in both one day and Test cricket, with some mature innings, his overall inconsistency lead to him being dropped from both teams.[9] However, after the 2007 Cricket World Cup he began to stabilise his position in the one day team, and in 2008 some good performances cemented his position in the number 4 position. This included a 95 against West Indies when Sri Lanka were in trouble, and in the 2008 Asia Cup.

Prominence

However, the doors were opened him for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 in West Indies, where his talents emerged again. The most notable knock came during the match with India on 11 May 2010, where Kapugedera sent India home with a last ball winning six on Ashish Nehra bowling. Sri Lanka needed three runs off the last ball, Kapugedera smashed a mighty shot over cover for six allowing the team for the victory. He scored unbeaten 37 runs in the match.[10][11]

He along with Chamara Silva set the record for the highest 6th wicket stand for Sri Lanka in ODI cricket with 159 runs.[12][13] Kapugedara along with Angelo Mathews set the record for the highest ever fifth wicket stand for Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup history with 80 runs.[14]

On 2 March 2012, Kapugedera was named as a replacement for injured all-rounders in the ODI squad that qualified for the finals of the 2011–12 Commonwealth Bank Series.[15]

Comeback

Many critics argued that, he probably the best option for the place of legendary Mahela Jayawardene in ODI team, but due to many talented young cricketers, he was unable to enter to the squad, only named to the 15-named squad in Pakistan series 2015. However, after about 3 years of scarcity in international cricket, Kapugedera was called up for the T20I series against Pakistan in July 2015.[16] He made his comeback with a strong note by scoring unbeaten 31 runs in the first match, eventually Sri Lanka lost the match. He scored his highest T20I score of 48* in the second match in this series. The innings was impressed by the commentators, but finally Sri Lanka lost the match and also the series.[17]

After 3 years of ODI rest, Kapugedera was included to the ODI squad for New Zealand in 2015–16 season as a middle order batsman.[18] He was only able to score 8 runs in the first ODI where Sri Lanka were all out for 188 runs and lost the match by 7 wickets. Kapugedera played only one ODI against Pakistan in 2017–18 season in the UAE. In the match he scored only 18 runs from 30 balls. During the fielding, Kapugedra struck the ball under the right eye after a throw from the keeper Dickwella, caused heavy swelling. After the incidence, he was removed from the next match and then from the series as well.[19]

Captaincy

Kapugedara was appointed as the vice captain of the ODI squad for the series against India in late July 2017. In the second ODI, Tharanga has been suspended with two ODIs due to slow over rate. With that, Kapugedera was appointed as the captain of ODI team for rest of the two ODIs.[20] He captained third ODI, which is a must win game for series alive.[21] However, he won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision went wrong very quickly, where Sri Lanka only managed to score 218 at the end. India won the match easily and won eighth consecutive bilateral ODI series win against Sri Lanka.[22] During the last phase of India's innings, crowd started to throw bottles into the ground and play was arrested for 35 minutes as well.[23]

Personal life

Kapugedera is married to his longtime partner, Tamara Derek on 16 December 2010 where the wedding ceremony was taken place at Waters Edge Hotel, Battaramulla.[24][25] They have three children Akshan, Yenith and Yhavin, all of which are boys.[26][27]

References
  1. "Chamara Kapugedara retires from all forms of cricket". The Papare. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  2. "New Zealand A tour of Sri Lanka at Colombo, Oct 19–22 2005". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  3. "Kapugedera gem downs Basnahira". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  4. "All-round Kapugedera gives Victoria big win". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  5. "Cricket: Mixed opinions on Provincial tournament". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 26 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  6. "All you need to know about the SL Super Provincial Tournament". Daily Sports. 26 March 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  7. "SLC Super Provincial 50 over tournament squads and fixtures". The Papare. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  8. "Kapugedera pilots Sri Lanka to 2–0 lead". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  9. "Sri Lanka make sweeping changes for Bangladesh tri-series". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  10. "Sangakkara credits Kapugedera and Mathews". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  11. "Sri Lankan win knocks India out". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  12. "1st ODI: West Indies v Sri Lanka at Port of Spain, Apr 10, 2008 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  13. "Cricket Records | Records | Sri Lanka | One-Day Internationals | Highest partnerships by wicket | ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  14. "Cricket Records | Records | World T20 – Sri Lanka | Highest partnerships by wicket | ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  15. "Sri Lanka call up Kapugedera as replacement". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  16. "Five uncapped players in SL squad for Pakistan T20s". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  17. "In form Kapugedera eager for Sri Lanka comeback". Island Cricket. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  18. "SL recall Kapugedera for NZ ODIs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  19. "Dispirited Sri Lanka desperate to end 10-match rut". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  20. "SL bring Chandimal, Thirimanne in place of Gunathilaka, Tharanga". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  21. "Sri Lanka, new leader in tow, look to keep series alive". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  22. "India's eighth consecutive bilateral ODI series win against SL". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  23. "Crowd trouble from displeased SL fans delays India's win". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  24. "Chamara Kapugedera and Tamara talk". Lankan Stuff. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  25. "Kapugedera and wife on their Wedding Day". Island Cricket. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  26. "Kapugedera with his wife and kids". Island Cricket. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  27. "Chamara Kapugedera Speaks About His Wife". Gossip Lanka. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
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