PASAN Wanansinghe has moved the short distance from Unsworth to Radcliffe to play his cricket next season.

The Sri Lankan all-rounder has signed up for Radcliffe as they go all out to lift the Central Lancashire League title in 2003.

The Unsworth Street club's move for 31-year-old Wanasinghe was prompted by Steve Dearden's announcement that he was quitting as paid man at Radcliffe.

Dearden, who has had five years with the club, suffered a shoulder injury 12 months ago which hampered his bowling and has now prompted him to retire, though Radcliffe officials are hoping he will reconsider and play for them as an amateur batsman next season.

Prolific

Wanansinghe was a prolific run-getter and wicket-taker with lowly Unsworth and now it will be interesting to see how he handles the step-up into a stronger team.

Radcliffe officials are confident about the Sri Lankan's ability. "He is one of those players who will always get you 65 wickets and 1000 runs a season," said Radcliffe's deputy chairman and cricket chairman, Dave Halliwell.

Wanansinghe has backed up that confidence with some sterling displays back home in Sri Lanka during the winter months and only last week hit 65 and collected five wickets.

He is due back in Bury in the middle of April and is expected to take up residence again in Walshaw.

The CLL season kicks off on Sunday April 27 when Radcliffe travel to Royton. The club are trying to arrange a couple of friendly matches prior to that, one of them being the annual cup match against Little Lever, which they hope to stage on Saturday April 26, 24 hours before the CLL campaign gets under way.

Radcliffe, who have a new chairman in Alan Mills, will continue to play at their present home for the next two seasons at least as plans to move to a new ground await long term decisions by the local council.

Stand Cricket Club look set to appoint Martin Hegg as professional once again for 2003 and Unsworth have lined up a South African from Natal as replacement for Wanansinghe.