LINDAL Moor have turned to a man familiar with both the South Cumbrian and Sri Lankan games to secure a pro for next season.

The Pennington Lane club have brought in all-rounder Janith Silva for next season in the North Lancs and Cumbria League, on the advice of a man who knows what it takes to impress on Furness wickets.

Lindal were pointed towards the 26-year-old, who plays for the Sri Lanka Army team in the first-class game, by former Barrow pro Pasan Wanasinghe.

Wanasinghe played at the Ernest Pass Memorial Ground between 2007 and 2009, and was part of their Northern League Twenty20 Cup-winning side in 2008.

He is now coaching in Sri Lanka, and was quick to recommend Silva – a right-arm seamer, who can also score key runs – to Lindal.

Moor chairman Chris Brookshaw is hopeful it will prove to be sage advice, and said: “We wanted to try and get a professional signed sooner rather than later for next season.

“We looked to see what sort of players were available, because we wanted an all-rounder who bowled a certain way and batted a certain way.

“We spoke to Pasan Wanasinghe, who was the Barrow pro a couple of years ago, because Paul Wilcock (Lindal batsman and former Barrow player) knew him and he is coaching in Sri Lanka now. He recommended this guy massively and we went through the agency.”

Silva has a first-class average of 20.08 with the bat and 28.73 with the ball, with a top-score of 68 not out and career-best bowling figures of 6 for 50.

Brookshaw is looking to see him help Moor rip through opponents, while also contributing runs, though in the latter regard he will have to go some to top predecessor Kenroy Peters, the West Indian who hit a league record 233 against Vickerstown last season.

“The feedback we have had is that he is very destructive and he wins games,” said Brookshaw.

“We were quite specific about the type of player we wanted to get – we wanted to get 15 overs out of whoever it is, and we wanted somebody with a bit of height and a bit of pace.

“He’s not express, but he’s a clever bowler who is used to bowling on the flat pitches in Sri Lanka. He’s going to be able to do a job for us with that.

“We had Kenroy last season, and he did a good job, but we just felt he didn’t take the wickets up top that we wanted him to.

“He was very economical in what he did, but he didn’t take as many wickets to get rid of the opposition top-order.

“We’ve gone for this guy on Pasan’s recommendation really. In our minds, if Pasan says he is a good player, then he is a good player.

“We don’t know what will happen with the restructure of the league, but we’re confident he will help us wherever we are.”