The explosive left-hander joined the Chieftains at the start of the season and has whacked an astonishing 999 runs in 18 games.

A Sri Lankan representative at under-19, under-17 and under-15 level, Dabare looked a huge signing on paper and has been that and more on the field. 

"My friend Amal [Ranawaka Arachchige] called me and told me to come here for one year, two years and play at Hadspen and I said 'cool I’m coming'," Dabare said. 

"It’s really good, it’s a really good family and a really good club. Everyone’s very nice and the captain is very nice, they’re nice company, very beautiful."

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Having spent his youth playing on turf, the 20-year-old took a few games to adapt to synthetic pitches and scored just 26 runs in his first three games. 

But a ridiculous 171 in a T20 against Beauty Point kick-started a run of big knocks including three more centuries and another five half-centuries.

Dabare has particularly felt at home against the Tamar Valley Tigers, against whom he has plundered 374 runs at 187, but said he was still getting used to playing in TCL conditions.

"[In Sri Lanka] in one week [we’ll have] three or four times practice training and then Friday, Saturday, Sunday matches," he said.

"My first time in this one no sight screen, coloured kit and red ball.

"There’s not two umpires, there’s only one umpire, it’s very different."

Hadspen will meet Cressy in a do-or-die semi-final on Saturday, with the Chieftains strong favourites after becoming the first side to beat Longford in a 40-over match last round. 

Regardless of whether Dabare returns for a second season at the Chieftains, the Colombo colossus is determined to not just reach the 1000-run mark, but well and truly shatter it. 

"I’m not sure yet what my next plan is," Dabare said.

"I’m going to go back home next month and I’ll have a think, talk with my parents and my coaches in Sri Lanka about what I’ll do next year.

"Against Cressy we need to win and have a good game.  

"I do my best I always do my best for my team, I want to always win to help my team."

Season stats to date