Sri Lankan Recruit adds spark to Ballarat cricket competition

By Melanie Whelan
Updated November 2 2012 - 2:54pm, first published October 7 2010 - 3:53pm
HOT PROPERTY: Roshan Mahapatuna and his teammates at Napoleons-Sebastopol. Picture: Jeremy Bannister
HOT PROPERTY: Roshan Mahapatuna and his teammates at Napoleons-Sebastopol. Picture: Jeremy Bannister

ROHAN Mahapatuna says he does not feel pressure to follow in his brother's footsteps on field.The 32-year-old Sri Lankan wants to make his own name in Ballarat Cricket Association ranks.Mahapatuna has been one of the most talked-about recruits in the pre-season, with plenty of interest in whether he can shake up the competition like his brother did more than a decade ago.The all-rounder picked Napoleons-Sebastopol on his brother Carmen's advice _ it is the same club where Carmen, who also played for North Ballarat, won the 1997-98 EJ Cleary Medal and two club best and fairests.Mahapatuna's arrival in Australia last week has already added spark to the Napoleons-Sebastopol camp.He is enjoying a change in his game, too.''(Style) is not much different. I'm looking forward to getting started,'' Mahapatuna said.''Cricket is going well. It's a lot colder here but I'm hopeful I'll do well.''An experienced first-class player in Sri Lanka with Moratuwa Sports Club, Mahapatuna has also played for Guildford City in Surrey, England.For Napoleons-Sebastopol, Mahapatuna is likely to hold a spot in the middle batting order and has been touted by captain Dan Scott as a handy off-spinner.Mahapatuna's stay is not all about cricket, though.He plans to see a fair bit of Australia while he is here, and maybe watching a couple of international cricket matches.Mahapatuna will debut for Naps-Sebas tomorrow in a one-day match against North Ballarat at Wendouree West tomorrow.He looks forward to testing his game against Ballarat's best this summer.

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