HORSPATH are delighted to announce the signing of Sri Lankan batting all-rounder Minhaj Jalill (pictured) as their overseas player for the 2023 Home Counties Premier League Division 2 campaign.
The 28-year-old right-hander from Colombo joins the club having shone in four previous seasons in this country.
He racked up more than 500 league runs each time, including for Portsmouth last year when he also picked up 23 wickets with his off-spinners.
The club will be looking to him to continue his record at the Recreation Ground and add strength to the top order.
Horspath director of cricket Will Eason said: "I’m delighted that we have secured Minhaj as our overseas professional for the 2023 season.
"He has very good batting numbers behind him in first-class cricket, and though he hasn’t bowled a huge amount in that format, he regularly bowls in club cricket.
"Not only does he already have plenty of UK experience, but he has also been incredibly consistent with each of his visits.
"Having contacted people at his previous club, they spoke incredibly highly of him, and how great he was with the juniors, around the club, and of course on the pitch."
Playing for Portsmouth in the Southern Premier League Division 1 last year, Minhaj hit 582 runs at an average of 41.57, including an unbeaten 106 against Rowledge and four half-centuries, while his 23 wickets came at 23.09. His all-round contribution helped the south coast club finish fourth behind champions Alton, with 2021 Village Cup winners Calmore Sports taking third.
In 2019 and 2021, he starred for Cowdrey in the Kent League with 508 and 645 runs respectively at 39.08 and 43.00, featuring a top score of 96 among nine fifties. He also claimed 37 and 16 victims at 9.08 and 25.50.
His first season of English club cricket came in 2018 at Bovey Tracey in the Devon League Premier Division where he scored 515 runs at 34.33, including a century and two fifties.
A Level 2 coach, he has also had a big impact with all sections of the clubs he has worked at.
Back home, he joined Ace Capital this season following stints with Kandy Customs (2021-22), Nugegoda SWC (2020-21), Panadura (2019-20), Saracens (2017-18 and 2018-19), Galle (2016-17), Colombo (2015-16) and Tamil Union (2014-15).
In 28 first-class matches, Minhaj (seen in action in the video below) has scored 1,380 runs at 30.00 with a top score of 144, while his season with Panadura was his most prolific, hitting 497 runs at 41.41.
As a teenager, the former Thurstan College student became just the third player to score more than 1,000 runs in an All-Island Under-19 Division 1 season. His 1,094 runs at 54.70 included four centuries and seven fifties, earning him the "Batter of the Year" title.