Furness Cricket Club have signed Sri Lanka international Sachith Pathirana as their overseas player/coach for the 2019 season.

The 31-year-old all-rounder has appeared in 18 ODIs and five T20s for his country, with his most recent appearance for them coming against India on home soil in December 2017.

Pathirana, who is a left-arm spinner, comes to Cumbria with a very good record in first-class cricket, as he has taken 320 wickets in 94 matches, at an average of 30.57, and includes 21 five-wicket hauls.

He has also had success with the bat, making 3,714 runs to date, striking three centuries and 22 half-centuries, with his highest score of 168 coming for Colombo against Bloomfield in January last year.

Pathirana is currently head coach/player at Baduraliya Cricket Club, who play in Tier A of the Sri Lankan First Class Domestic Cricket set up.

He has his Visa in hand and will arrive in the country with his wife Lakshika, son Yanuka and daughter Saheli prior to Furness' season getting under way.

Furness, who won the 'treble' of the South Lakes T20, Higson Cup and Cumbria County Cup last season, begin their campaign in the Cumbria Cricket League with an away match at Lindal Moor, who will also have a Sri Lankan overseas in Janith Silva in their ranks.