Nuwan Zoysa

Demuni Nuwan Tharanga Zoysa (born 13 May, 1978 in Colombo), or Nuwan Zoysa, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer. He was a tall left-arm seam bowler, who played 30 Tests and 95 ODIs for Sri Lanka. Nuwan was educated at Isipathana College, Colombo.^[1]

In his eighth Test, Zoysa became the first player in the history to take a hat-trick off his first three balls of a Test match. He achieved this against Zimbabwe at Harare in November 1999, dismissing Trevor Gripper, Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson.^[2]

International career

Zoysa made his first class debut in 1996/97 and during his first season he took his career best figures of 7 for 58, playing for Sinhalese Sports Club. He made his Test debut soon after in Dunedin against New Zealand. He has gone on to take over 100 ODI wickets for Sri Lanka, the ninth to have achieved the milestone.

An aggressive lower order batsman, Zoysa once won an ODI game against Australia with an unbeaten 47. Zoysa's golden era in international cricket came during 2004 season, where he was the main strike bowler accompany with Chaminda Vaas. He performed well in bat and ball in numerous occasions, enable to win many bilateral, tri-series and ICC major tournaments. His highest ODI score came against Australia. He has single Test and ODI fifer each as well.

Domestic career

He was also bought by the Deccan Chargers Franchise in the IPL but he was removed from the team for his poor performances.

Coaching

Nuwan Zoysa was appointed to the National Fast Bowling Coaching Department of Sri Lanka Cricket on 1 October 2015 prior to which he has worked in India with Goa Cricket Association and with Royal College & Nondiscripts as Fast Bowling Coach before joining SLC.^[3]

International records

Test 5-Wicket hauls

#	Figures	Match	Opponent	Venue	City	Country	Year
1	5/20	27	Zimbabwe	Harare Sports Club	Harare	Zimbabwe	2001

ODI 5-Wicket hauls

#	Figures	Match	Opponent	Venue	City	Country	Year
1	5/26	80	South Africa	R Premadasa Stadium	Colombo	Sri Lanka	2004

International Awards

ODI Awards

Man of the Match awards

S No	Opponent	Venue	Date	Match Performance	Result
1	Pakistan	Galle Stadium	5 July 2000	9–2–34–4 ; DNB	Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets.[4]
2	Australia	SSC Ground	29 February 2004	10–3–34–3 ; 47* (42 balls: 5x4, 2x6)	Sri Lanka won by 3 wickets.[5]
3	India	Rangiri Dambulla Stadium	18 July 2004	DNB ; 10-2-49-3	Sri Lanka won by 12 runs.[6]
4	Pakistan	R. Premadasa Stadium	21 July 2004	10–0–29–3; DNB	Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets.[7]
5	South Africa	R. Premadasa Stadium	28 August 2004	6 (8 balls); 8–0–26–5	Sri Lanka won by 37 runs.[8]

References

External links

• Cricinfo page on Nuwan Zoyza