Milan Tharaka Gunarathne  (photo by Paul Gaythorpe PK4 Images)   

Thara Gunarathne says farewell to Hartlepool Cricket Club after playing 3 seasons as overseas professional and coach.  The  Sri Lankan all-rounder has been an extremely popular personality at Park Drive and everybody at the club will hope that he enjoys success wherever his career takes him.

Thara in 15/15 action at Marton (photo by Paul Gaythorpe PK4 Images)

Engaged for the 2006 season Thara enjoyed immediate success with the club when he helped the club win the Saunders Cup for the first time in its history.  In 2007 he made it to the Kerridge Cup Final only to lose to a powerful Middlesbrough side.  Thara had lost in the Kerridge Final once previously when professional with Great Ayton.  During both 2006 and 2007 the club was able to compete successfully in the league and achieve a top half finish in the table

(photo by Marjorie Ellwood)

It has been a difficult season on the field following the loss of key players during 2007 and 2008 and the team has lacked the competitive edge of previous years.  It did however see Thara record his first century for the club and the statistics will show that 2008 was his best batting season at Hartlepool (661 runs at an average 41.31) but his least successful with the ball 38 wickets at an average of 31.18.

He has taken 155 league wickets for the club in his 3 seasons and scored 1805 league runs (Ave 41.0).  An enthusiastic coach, Thara has helped many youngsters during his stay, both at the club and local schools.  He will be missed by the many friends he has made and hopefully Thara will find a new club and return to England in the future.  We hope he has fond memories of his time in the north-east