Accrington double title winner joins Lune Road outfit
Roy Silva replaces Mario Olivier at Lune Road |
Lancaster CC have confirmed their new professional for the 2010 season with the signing of Sri Lankan all rounder Roy Silva.
The 29-year-old early-order right hand batsman and right medium batsman joins the Lune Road club on the back of two successful seasons at Accrington CC in the Lancashire League.
In 2008 Silva helped Accrington achieve the league and cup double, scoring 736 runs at 32.00 including two centuries, one of which came in the Worsley Cup Final.
He also took 33 wickets in league and cup games.
In 2009 Silva was less successful with the bat, scoring 356 runs and averaging just 17.80 with a highest score of 48. He also took 31 wickets at 23.90.
But he played his part in a remarkable season as Accrington retained their Lancashire League title for the first time since 1916.
Silva plays for Colts CC in his native country alongside former Blackpool pro Saj Weerakoon, who has taken up an engagement in the north-east for 2010. He sub-pro'd for Lancaster against Carnforth in 2009.
Lancaster have a new captain for 2010 with Michael Stevens taking over from Tim Barry.
Weerakoon's replacement at Stanley Park is the vastly experienced Nimesh Perera, a left-hand bat and leg-break googly bowler who plays alongside St Annes pro Dinuka Hettiarachchi for Chilaw Marians CC in Sri Lanka.
Perera, aged 32, has scored over 5,000 first-class runs at an average of just under 30 and taken over 250 first-class wickets at a shade over 27.
Only Fleetwood, Netherfield and Leyland have yet to confirm their professionals for the 2010 season.
Chorley have signed South African all rounder JJ Smuts and Darwen have announced the signing of Mohammad Zaman Khan (last season's professional at CLL side Crompton CC) while six of last season's professionals will be returning.
Gareth Pedder begins a second season at Carnforth, Sri Lankan Pasan Wanasinghe a fourth season at Barrow and Hettiarachchi will be returning to champions St Annes.
Mandla Mashimbyi, in fine form in recent weeks in South Africa for Northerns, will be resuming his engagement at Morecambe.
South African Ross McMillan combines captaincy duties with the paid role at Kendal and the popular Bilal Asad returns to last season's runners-up Preston.
Darwen pro Mohammad Zaman Khan batting against St Annes in 2009 |
