Danushka Gunathilaka

Mashtayage Danushka Gunathilaka (born 17 March 1991), commonly as Danushka Gunathilaka is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, who plays all formats of the game for Sri Lanka. He is an opening batsman of Sri Lanka who plays with partner Kusal Perera, but occasionally removed from the squad with the injuries. He is a left-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler who plays for Colombo. He was born in Panadura. He studied at Mahanama College, Colombo 03.[1]

Danushka Gunathilaka
දනුෂ්ක ගුණතිලක
Personal information
Full nameMashtayage Danushka Gunathilaka
Born (1991-03-17) 17 March 1991
Panadura, Sri Lanka
NicknameDana,DG70
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingRight-arm off-break
RoleOpening batsman
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 140)26 July 2017 v India
Last Test26 December 2018 v New Zealand
ODI debut (cap 166)1 November 2015 v West Indies
Last ODI2 October 2019 v Pakistan
ODI shirt no.70
T20I debut (cap 60)7 January 2016 v New Zealand
Last T20I10 January 2020 v India
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2009/10 – 2010/11Colombo Cricket Club
2011/12 – 2013/14Sinhalese Sports Club
2011/12 – 2014Sri Lanka A
2017Sylhet Sixers
2020Galle Gladiators
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I FC
Matches 8 38 24 44
Runs scored 299 1,249 473 2,145
Batting average 18.68 34.69 20.56 30.64
100s/50s 0/2 2/8 0/2 3/11
Top score 61 133 57 152
Balls bowled 198 296 94 3,465
Wickets 1 6 5 62
Bowling average 111.00 48.00 25.60 30.11
5 wickets in innings 0 0 0 1
10 wickets in match 0 n/a n/a 0
Best bowling 1/16 3/48 2/3 6/70
Catches/stumpings 6/0 12/0 10/- 56/0
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 10 January 2020

Early and domestic career

Gunathilaka made his cricketing debut in the 2007–08 Inter-Provincial Twenty20 tournament for Sri Lanka Schools, alongside fellow Colts Cricket Club player Kusal Perera.

Gunathilaka made his List A debut for Colombo Cricket Club against Sinhalese Sports Club in 2009–10, scoring a single run. He also comes from Mahanama College school cricket.

In March 2018, he was named in Kandy's squad for the 2017–18 Super Four Provincial Tournament.[2][3] The following month, he was also named in Kandy's squad for the 2018 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.[4]

In August 2018, he was named in Dambulla's squad the 2018 SLC T20 League.[5] In March 2019, he was named in Dambulla's squad for the 2019 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.[6] In October 2020, he was drafted by the Galle Gladiators for the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League.[7]

International career

He made his One Day International debut for Sri Lanka against the West Indies on 1 November 2015.[8]

After Kusal Perera dropped from the 2015–16 New Zealand tour due to drug scandal, Gunathilaka was included to the ODI squad for opening position with Tillakaratne Dilshan. His batting ability did not show in the first two ODIs, but in the third ODI, which was his only 4th international match, Gunathilaka scored a fast and dashing 65 runs from 45 balls. The innings included 7 fours and 4 sixes and getting the match away from New Zealand. Sri Lanka won the match by 8 wickets and Gunathilaka adjudged man of the match for his performance.[9]

During the same tour, he made his Twenty20 International debut for Sri Lanka against New Zealand on 7 January 2016.[10]

Gunathilaka was not initially announced to the Sri Lanka squad for 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. But he was called for the squad for injured Chamara Kapugedera.[11] He scored 77 runs against India, guiding the team to victory. Sri Lanka chased 321 at the end, recording the highest chase ever in Champions Trophy history.[12]

Gunathilaka scored his maiden ODI century on 6 July 2017 against Zimbabwe at MRIC Stadium. He along with Niroshan Dickwella added 229-run partnership for the first wicket, where Dickwella also scored his maiden ODI century. Sri Lanka chased 310 to win the match, which is recorded as the first 300+ chase by Sri Lanka in home soil as well. Gunathilaka won man of the match award for his impressive batting performance.[13][14]

In the fourth ODI against Zimbabwe, he and Niroshan Dickwella set the record for becoming the first pair of batsmen to score two successive 200-plus partnerships in ODIs. He missed out his consecutive century, dismissed for 87 runs, whereas his counterpart Dickwella scored his second consecutive century.[15]

He made his Test debut for Sri Lanka against India on 26 July 2017.[16] He only scored 18 runs in the match, and took the sole wicket of Abhinav Mukund. Sri Lanka finally lost the match by huge 304 runs.

In May 2018, he was one of 33 cricketers to be awarded a national contract by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) ahead of the 2018–19 season.[17][18] However, in July 2018, SLC suspended him from all forms of international cricket, after he breached the code of conduct. Despite his disciplinary issues, he helped Sri Lanka to have a firm opening stand in the second test against South Africa, where Gunathilaka along with Dimuth Karunaratne put on a century partnership in the first innings and a 91-run partnership in the second innings. Gunathilaka scored two fifties in the match and Sri Lanka won the match by 199 runs to seal the series 2–0.[19]

Gunathilaka scored his second ODI century during the second ODI against Pakistan in Karachi. He scored 133 off 134 deliveries to post a target of 197 for Pakistan. However, Pakistan won the match and sealed the series 2–0.[20] During the first T20I, Gunathilaka scored his second T20I fifty. He along with Avishka Fernando had an opening partnership of 84 runs, which laid the foundation for 165 runs. Pakistan bowled out for 101 runs and Sri Lanka won the match by 64 runs, which is the highest winning margin against them in all T20Is. Gunathilaka won the man of the match award for his all round performance.[21]

Disciplinary issues

On 5 October 2017, Gunathilaka was suspended for six limited over international matches and also omitted from the Sri Lanka ODI squad for Pakistan in the UAE. This suspension was given by Sri Lanka Cricket due to his lack of participation for training sessions, participated to a match without his gear and showing indifferent attitude during training.[22] However, the suspension was reduced to three matches on 17 October 2017 after a meeting of Sri Lanka Cricket's executive committee in Colombo.[23]

On 22 July 2018, Gunathilaka was again suspended from international cricket by Sri Lanka Cricket for breaching the "Player Code of Conduct".[24] His suspension came immediately after the end of second test against South Africa. Gunathilaka was fined with match fee.

On 27 July 2018, Gunathilaka was suspended for six international matches by considering it as a serious breach of curfew during the second Test against South Africa. He was also not be paid any match fees for the Test match. The first three matches of the six-match suspension are for his current breach of the code of conduct, whereas the other three matches about October 2017 incidence.[25]

References
  1. "Danushka Gunathilaka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  2. "Cricket: Mixed opinions on Provincial tournament". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 26 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  3. "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.
  4. "SLC Super Provincial 50 over tournament squads and fixtures". The Papare. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  5. "SLC T20 League 2018 squads finalized". The Papare. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  6. "Squads, Fixtures announced for SLC Provincial 50 Overs Tournament". The Papare. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  7. "Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Shahid Afridi among big names taken at LPL draft". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  8. "West Indies tour of Sri Lanka, 1st ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Colombo (RPS), Nov 1, 2015". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN Sports Media. 1 November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  9. "Gunathilaka, Dilshan keep series alive". ESPNcricinfo. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  10. "Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand, 1st T20I: New Zealand v Sri Lanka at Bay Oval, Jan 7, 2016". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN Sports Media. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  11. "Gunathilaka replaces injured Kapugedera in Sri Lanka's squad". ESPNcricinfo. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  12. "Sri Lanka level their best ODI chase". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  13. "Gunathilaka, Dickwella thrash Zimbabwe". ESPNcricinfo. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  14. "Sri Lanka rack up series lead in their highest ODI chase at home". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  15. "Calm Ervine helps Zimbabwe draw level". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  16. "1st Test, India tour of Sri Lanka at Galle, Jul 26 – Jul 30". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  17. "Sri Lanka assign 33 national contracts with pay hike". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  18. "Sri Lankan players to receive pay hike". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  19. "2nd Test, South Africa Tour of Sri Lanka at Colombo, Jul 20-23 2018". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  20. "Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail star as Pakistan seal series". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  21. "Danushka Gunathilaka, Nuwan Pradeep help second-string Sri Lanka rout No. 1 ranked Pakistan". Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  22. "Gunathilaka suspended for six matches". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  23. "Gunathilaka's six-match suspension revised to three games". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  24. "Gunathilaka suspended by SLC from all forms of international cricket". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  25. "Gunathilaka suspended for six international matches". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
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