Upashantha's star is rising

Eric Upashantha was not sure if he would be picked for the first one-day international of Sri Lanka's tour of New Zealand, because senior seamer Chaminda Vass was on the road to recovery after injury laid him low near the end of the team's disappointing tour of South Africa.

But the 28-year-old insurance salesman recorded his career-best international bowling figures of four for 37 in Wednesday's easy victory over New Zealand at Napier.

"I've been in and out of the Sri Lanka team since 1994 and often it was when Chaminda was playing," Upashantha said. "If I can keep up my form in New Zealand I might survive."

Upashantha was not picked for the South African tour, but got the call to join the team in New Zealand to give the Sri Lankans more seam-bowling ammunition. And he provided it in Napier, knocking off the top of the New Zealand innings when the home side were chasing 214 for victory.

He nabbed the first four wickets to fall in his 14th one-day international -- including Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming in one over -- and Mutiah Muralitharan mopped up with his fifth five-wicket haul in one day internationals as New Zealand were bundled out for 152.

"We had to bowl well in that match because we didn't think we had scored enough," Upashantha said. "Everybody bowled well, so I don't know whether I'll get picked again and I wouldn't be too disappointed because I performed."

Upashantha had to wait five years to beat his previous best of two for 24 against the West Indies, which included the prized wicket of Brian Lara. He now has 12 one-day international wickets, and three Test wickets after his only Test last year against India.

"I liked that wicket in Napier," he said. "It allowed me plenty of movement off the pitch and that's what bowlers like me like -- a bit of help."

Upashantha has a smooth action and his lean frame lends itself to plenty of pace. He fancies himself as an all-rounder and says former Sri Lankan captain Ravi Ratnayake was his boyhood hero.

Mail Cricket Editor