PORTLAND Tigers’ Sri Lankan recruit Shanaka Silva has already proven to be someone who rip the game away from the opposition, whether with bat or ball in hand, and the 34-year-old all-rounder is only just getting started.

Having moved to Portland this year as part of his wife’s employment as a chef, Silva joined up with the Tigers in a decision that has seemed to greatly benefit both parties.

In the three games the Tigers have played this season, Silva has scored 265 runs at an average of over 66 runs and most recently smoked the ball to all parts of Hanlon Park against St Andrews to end his innings on 159 off just 143 balls.

Silva has also taken eight wickets, his best showing as of yet coming against Macarthur in round four when he took 5/37.

It should come as no surprise that Silva has played cricket at a high level, most recently winning the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s T20 grand final as part of St Albans Cricket Club and spending time with Sydenham-Hillside Cricket Club in the six years he’s lived in Australia.

But Silva’s cricketing career kicked off back while he completed his schooling in Sri Lanka and included the opportunity to travel overseas to play the sport he loves.

“I started playing in under-13s and played up to under-19s with St Anne’s College in Kurunegala which is the capital city of Sri Lanka’s North West province,” Silva said.

“My first coach at school, Asela Kanumale, was one of my biggest inspirations in cricket and helped me achieve the success I have.

“After school I joined Sri Lankan Air Force Cricket Club to play First XI cricket and captained the club in their under 23 premier season team.

“I then played First Class cricket for Air Force and Badureliya Cricket Club before I had the chance to move to Scotland for cricket.

“It was so different to Sri Lanka, in my first match there it was only five degrees - I think I was wearing three jackets while I was bowling over there.”

What may surprise spectators who witnessed Silva’s immense batting display in trying conditions last Saturday, was the fact he had spent most of his career in Sri Lanka as a bowler.

“When I was in Melbourne was when I really put in the time to improve my batting,” he said.

“I really like playing lofted shots, but I also love to spend a lot of time out in the middle with the boys and help them when they are batting.

“But I love bowling just as much as I love batting, with the ball I’m not trying to bowl as quick as I can and always get wickets.

“I just want to be consistent and hit the right spot and allow the batsman to make their own mistakes.”

It would be fair to compare Silva’s style to two of his all-time favourite cricketers, two big-hitting all-rounders in former South African sledgehammer Lance Klusener and Sri Lankan T20 world cup winning captain Angelo Mathews.

But Silva said he was focused on playing his own style, one which he prides himself on being smart and hard-working in.

“I like to just play my own style of game,” he said.

“I always love to put the hard work in to be the best cricketer I can.

“When training started at 5.30 in St Albans, I’d be there 30 minutes earlier to get in 30 minutes of running before everyone got there.”

That hard work is focused on one thing with Portland this year, winning the club’s first premiership in the Hamilton District Cricket Association.

“I’ve said to people at the club this year that we need to be aiming for a premiership this year,” he said.

“I think as a team that’s the way we should be thinking, not thinking about winning one in the next couple of years.

“We need to be giving our all to finish this year having won the competition.”

While cricket is a big love of Silva’s he said that family is always the most important thing to him, and said he couldn’t do it without their support.

“Family is so important to me, and my wife is so understanding of my love of cricket,” she said.

“It can be hard for her to get a day off in her job, and I’m usually off playing cricket when she isn’t working.

“Portland has been a very nice place to move to, we much prefer how nice and calm Portland is.

“I love the beaches here in Portland, and so does my four-year-old daughter.”