For the record, it's Ruvin

YOU say Ruwin, I say Ruvin. You say Pieris, I say Peiris.

But whichever way you say it, the left hander stands on the verge of making a real name for himself at Church Cricket Club.

'Gorakanage Ruvin Prasantha Peiris', to give him his full title, requires 91 more runs to become the club's highest ever scoring batsman in a single season.

And the Sri Lankan all-rounder, who has found a home from home in East Lancashire with wife Inoka and young daughter Gimasha, is keen to set the record straight once and for all before his own name becomes etched in Church cricketing folklore.

"Most of the people write my Christian name with a W, but I have seen it so many different ways," laughed Peiris.

"Whenever I have seen my name in newspapers, it's Ruven or Rubin, Perris or Peires - a different name every week!

"It doesn't really bother me I suppose, but for the record it's Ruvin Peiris."

That's one issue settled then; now for the second!

The club's 112-year-old batting record, currently set by Geoff Parker in 1990, could finally fall at Haslingden tomorrow as Church look to steal a march on their main title rivals and take a giant stride towards their first Lancashire League title since 1962.

Peiris needs just one good knock to wipe Parker's aggregate of 1,250 from the record books after smashing his way to 1,160 league runs for the season.

And it all piles the pressure on the paid man, who admits he is desperate to repay the faith of club officials who took a calculated risk in signing him last summer.

"Someone recently told me it is 42 years since Church won the championship, but that wait has to come to an end sometime," added Peiris.

"The record is also a little bit of extra pressure for me. Last year I had a terrible cruciate ligament injury while playing at Middleton and for eight months I was back home unable to play any cricket.

"I played just two first class games there before Church signed me and it was a gamble.

"But they took my word that I was fully recovered and I think the gamble has worked - so far!"

Winning titles is nothing new to Peiris, who enjoyed success at Central Lancashire League outfit Middleton in 2003 following his introduction to amateur cricket in this country.

But it was a long journey from his home in Columbo that finally brought him to these shores.

"The problem Sri Lankan cricket has is that many youngsters grow up with natural talent, but it becomes difficult when they get jobs," revealed Peiris, whose former life was working behind a desk in his homeland for an import/export company.

"It becomes a struggle to play cricket because many employers frown on that as they want you at work for longer.

"I was lucky and I ended up playing at county level and now my whole life is cricket. I play cricket at home for six months and then come to England for six months and I love the contrasting lifestyles and the difference in cultures."

Those formative years included seven years playing in the same Tamil Union side as ex-Lancashire and Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan.

The unique talent that is Murali then went on to great things, whereas Peiris was unfortunate to be discarded by his country ahead of an Indian tour in 1993 after two unsuccessful trials.

Undeterred, he ended up plying his trade at Durham in 1997, where those cultural differences really started to hit home.

Peiris laughed: "I remember coming to Durham for the first time and thinking 'What is this strange language they speak?

"It sounded like English, but I could hardly understand a word because of the accent. They were struggling with me and I was struggling with them, especially because my English was not the best!"

However, despite the language barrier, Peiris was determined to make his mark in England.

From Durham, the left-hander eventually signed for Middleton, where he first came to Church's attention by scoring 79 against the West Enders in an Inter League Challenge Trophy match in 2002.

Now firmly ensconced at Blackburn Road - following a brief spell as sub pro at Todmorden - he has already committed himself to the club for a further year after impressing everyone with his demeanour, both on and off the pitch.

And the effervescent Sri Lankan insists English cricket - or more pointedly the great British summer - provides a vital learning curve for any young Asian cricketer seeking success.

"It is good for players from other countries to come and play in England because here you play wet cricket," the 34-year old laughed, while huddling from another downpour in the main stand.

"When it rains in Sri Lanka you can forget about any cricket because it takes two weeks to get the wicket playable again.

"I still remember arriving in Durham for my first game and it starting to drizzle. Nobody moved and I asked: 'What is happening here. I never play like this?'

"It is good though. Young players must come here from any Asian country to get this experience. They can get tough here, mentally."

Mental toughness is now the thing that can carry Peiris - and Church - over the finishing line as the race for the Lancashire League title hots up.

Three games and 91 runs stand between the West Enders and a party to end all parties.

But with a few twists and turns still to unravel, Peiris is not ready to crack the champagne open just yet.

He said: "The Church captain, Phil Sykes, told me before the season started that he wanted to win more games than lose.

"The onus is on the professional and I owed the club, so I dug deep to try to remain at the crease and get runs.

"We have grown in confidence, but I don't think we have ever talked about winning the league until recently.

"I didn't even know about the batting record until I read it in the newspaper - and it would be nice.

"But right now I would throw all that away to win these last three games."