Delhi lad Seth milking runs in Sri Lanka domestic cricket

Batsman Samarth Seth, who represented Delhi under-25 last season, has hit form in Sri Lanka domestic season scoring two centuries in the three matches he has played so far and is among the top run-getters there.

The 23-year-old, who has also represented Arunachal Pradesh in Ranji Trophy earlier, has been playing league cricket in England for the last three years but cut short his stay in the Blighty this year as he struck a deal top represent Sri Lankan first class club Panadura Sports Club.

“I wanted to play first-class cricket and Sri Lanka is giving me opportunity to do that. It will help me improve my record. I had been playing league cricket in England for the last three years and decided to cut short my trip this year there,” said Seth to Patriot.

The left-hander had been playing league cricket in Durham.

While Seth is the only Delhi player in Sri Lanka, there are a few other Indians like former India A, Railways and IPL pacer Anureet Singh.

Sri Lanka Cricket, the governing body of the sport in the island nation, has restricted its 22-team domestic first-class competition, Major League Tournament, to overseas cricketers with first-class experience of five matches from the current season.

“One of the advantages that I have playing in Sri Lanka is that I am getting exposed to their top international cricketers like Angelo Mathews, Nishan Madushka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Binura Fernando and Akila Dananjaya,” said Seth, who has returned to Delhi as the Sri Lankan domestic season has gone on a month-long break for Lanka Premier League (LPL).

In the three matches prior to the break, Seth scored 286 runs in three matches with two centuries at an average of over 95. He is sixth in the list of run-getters behind Mathews, Shevon Daniel, Janith Liyanage and Niroshan Dickwella. All except Daniel are Sri Lanka internationals.

Seth’s scores have been 0, 31, 101, 111 not out and 43 not out.

“I am hoping to crack the Delhi team this year on the back of these performances and Challenger Trophy trials.”

Seth will have to compete for the Delhi senior team this year as the Board will have under-23 this season instead of under-25.