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| Sunday, 17 November 2002 |
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Star-spangled Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year show on Friday by A.C. DE SILVA and LESLIE FERNANDO The dawn of peace in the country has been more than helpful to the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2002 Awards presentation on Friday, November 22 as the organisers and sponsors have at last been successful in getting the cricketers of the North into this big happening for the 24th show to be held at the BMICH, commencing at 6.15 pm. So, Schoolboy Cricketer of the North Pathmanathan Lavendra of St. John's Jaffna will join free flowing batsman Sahan Wijeratne of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa and N.C. Komasaru of St. Thomas' College Matara who were picked as Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2002 and Observer-Bata Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2002 respectively in the gala awards presentation. While Colombo and the immediate cricket-loving towns like Kandy, Galle, Matara have had a dose of this star-spangled show for a number of years, the entry of the cricketers from the North brings added interest in the show and with the 'ice broken' there should be greater participation of the cricketers from schools in the North in this much looked forward to happening in the years to come. This contest caters to cricketers not only in popular schools, but it goes deep into the interior. Besides Komasaru from St. Thomas' Matara, there's Revatha MV Ambalangoda who were picked as the Best Team in the Southern Province, getting the nod over schools like Mahinda, Richmond, St. Aloysius, Sri Devananda, Ambalangoda and Rahula College, Matara. Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda were runners-up in the Southern Province. Then there is Kuliyapitiya MMV who were picked as the Best Up-and-coming team. A fact that should make all followers of the game happy is the fact that it is the umpires of the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers, Sri Lanka, Central Province Cricket Umpires Association and Southern Province Cricket Umpires Association who were responsible in making the selections and no else. Most of the winners of awards at this show - that's around 90 per cent have gone on to represent the national team in big-time cricket. Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya who played for St. Thomas' Matara has won the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, while ace spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan who played for St. Anthony's Katugastota won the main award in 1991. Besides winning the prestigious award, Wijeratne was also picked as the Best Batsman All-Island and also figured in the preliminary rounds of the Best Bowlers and Best All-Rounders awards. Sahan Wijeratne, the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year has played for Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa for two seasons. He has been a champion cricketer right from his young days. He captained the Cambrian team in four age groups under 13, 15, 17 and 19. He represented the under-17 all-island team that toured Pakistan for the Asia Cup and also toured Bangladesh. He made a century against Malaysia and won the man of the match award. This year has been a highly successful one for Sahan. He scored I/114, which included five centuries and four half-centuries he also took 51 wickets with 7 for 17 against St. Benedict's as his best. He played a single game for Colombo Cricket Club in the under-23 cricket tourney against Matara Sports Club and scored a half century. Sahan followed a six months cricket training course at Bessborough Cricket Club, Middlesex from April to September this year. While Prince of Wales all-rounder Wijeratne won the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award, St. Thomas' Matara cricketer N.C. Komasaru was picked as the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2002. N.C. Komasaru, besides winning the 'plum' of outstation cricket, he was also picked as the Best Bowler and also figured prominently in the final round of the Best All-rounder. He is a fine spin bowler and has captured 49 wickets this season. In the All-Island Contest Nalandian M. Surappulinge is the Best Bowler and Ganganath Ratnayake, the Royal Captain is the Best All-rounder. Charith Sylvester of De Mazenod College, Kandana who set up somewhat a world record, playing for Sri Lanka in the under-19 World Cup in New Zealand this year. He had eight catches against Zimbabwe as wicket-keeper. He was picked as runner-up to Cambrian Sahan Wijeratne for the big award. Charith Sylvester was also picked as the Best Fielder. He played in five inter-school cricket matches this season due to national duty. The Best Team All-Island is St. Peter's College who wins the award for the third successive year. Jehan Jayasuriya of St. Peter's College is the Best Captain. The Best Bastman Outstation is Harsha Nanayakkara of Vidyaratha College, Kandy. The Best Fielder Upul Tharanga of Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda. Best All-Rounder U.K.D. Aravinda of Kuliyapitiya MMV. Earlier on Wesleyite Anderio Toussaint was voted in as Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and Amila Withanaarachchi of Bandaranayake College Gampaha was the Most Popular Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year. The winners in Most Popular Schoolboy Cricket Contest-that's the All-Island and the Outstation one are picked by the readers of the Sunday Observer. The chief guest for the show - Ranjan Madugalle needs no introduction as at the first Observer-Bata show, he was the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1979 and earlier in 1978, he won the same title when the show was sponsored by Warner-Hutnut and Company. Then Bata's Managing Director J. Carbajal of football fame from Peru, will get his second opportunity of gracing the show as head of the sponsors and ANCL Chairman Nalin Ladduwahetty will get his first taste of this show. The compere of the show will be Roshan Abeysinghe, the well-known cricket commentator while music for the evening will be provided by Sohan Weerasinghe and X'Periments. Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2002 All-island contest Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year - Sahan Wijeratne (Prince of Wales) Outstation contest Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Winner - N. C. Komasaru (St. Thomas College, Matara) Schoolboy Cricketer of the North Winner - Pathmanathan Lavendra (St. John's Jaffna) Best captain Winner - Jehan Jayasuriya (St. Peter's College) Best teams All-island Winner - St. Peters College Southern Province Winner - Revatha MV, Ambalangoda Central Province Winner - Vidyartha College Best up and coming team Kuliyapitiya MMV Most Popular All-Island Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2002 Winner - Anderie Toussaint (Wesley College) Most Popular Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2002 Winner - Amila Withanaarachchi (Bandaranayake College, Gampaha) |
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