Kegalu Vidyalaya's Rohan Tennekoon Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer

Nalandian Gihan Rupasinghe OBSERVER-BATA Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year

by Leslie Fernando

Gihan Rupasinghe, the captain of Nalanda College in the school cricket season is the OBSERVER-BATA Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2006. He was picked for the top award in school cricket by the panel of umpires from three associations-Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers, Sri Lanka, Central Province Cricket Umpires Association and Southern Province Cricket Umpires Association at Galadari Meridien Hotel.

The awards ceremony will be held shortly.

Besides winning the prestigious award, Gihan was also picked as the Best Allrounder All-Island and also figured prominently in the final rounds of the Best Batsman and Best Captain awards.

While Nalandian Gihan Rupasinghe won the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award, Kegalu Vidyalaya's Rohan Saliya Tennakoon was picked OBSERVER-BATA Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2006.

Gihan Rupasinghe the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year has played for Nalanda as teenager of 11 years.

He has captained the school under-15, under-17 and the first XI with distinction.

Rupasinghe, had the honour of playing for Sri Lanka Schools under-17 team at the Asian Schools Cricket Tournament held in Sri Lanka in 2002 and toured with the Sri Lanka under-19 cricket team to Pakistan in 2005.

He was also in the under-19 World Cup Squad in 2004. The tournament was played in Sri Lanka. He is also in the Development Squad run by the BCCSL. Presently he is turning out for Tamil Union in the under-23 tournament conducted by the BCCSL.

This season left-handed bat Rupasinghe scored 910 runs which included three centuries, 117 against Wesley, 134 against Richmond and 104 not out against Dharmasoka. He scored 7 half centuries. The average was 55.15- a good strike rate. He has also bagged 41 wickets, bowling as a right-arm leg-spinner.

His best achievement- 5 for 56 against Dharmapala.

Rupasinghe also had 5 wickets haul on three occasions.

Rupasinghe who has completed 'A' Level examination, will continue his studies and play club cricket as well.

Peterite Lahiru Peiris is the Best Batsman, and he was also picked runner-up to Nalanda Gihan Rupasinghe for the big award. Lakshan Rodrigo of St. Peter's College is the Best Bowler.

Ananda captain and wicketkeeper Chathura Herath was picked as the Best Fielder.

The Best Team All-Island - St. Peter's College and they win the award for the second time. Jehan Fernando of St. Sebastians College, Moratuwa is the Best Captain.

Outstation Contest

In the Outstation Contest, Rohan Saliya Tennekoon of Kegalu Vidyalaya, besides winning the 'plum' of outstation cricket he was also picked as the Best Bowler and also figured in the final rounds of Best Allrounder award. The 19-year-old Tennakoon has a very impressive bowling feat-capturing 104 wickets for the season. His best match haul of 13 for 58 was against St. Thomas College, Matale. The right-arm off-spinner had the distinstion of having 5 wickets match haul eight times.

Tennekoon, a stylish left-hand bat, is also a capable batsman scoring 562 runs for the season. He established a fine record of scoring an unbeaten double century 206 not out against Susamayawardana College, Borella. He also hit two half centuries.

He started his cricket career when he was just 11 years and had represented the first XI team for the last four years. He is the vice-captain of the team and next season he will lead the Kegalu Vidyalaya Team.

He was a member of the Central Province Schools Cricket Team and fared well in Provincial Cricket Tournaments since 2003.

Tennakoon has sat for the 'A' Level Examination. He will represent Police SC in the under-23 cricket tournament conducted by BCCSL. Anyone is permitted to play for Police SC even though he is not in the Police force.

Tennekoon said that he owes his success in cricket to coaches Namal Seneviratne, Priyantha Indunil and Sukri Wahid. "They have helped me in a big way." said Tennekoon.

J. A. A. S. Jayasinghe of Kegalu Vidyalaya is the Outstation Best Batsman as well as Best Fielder. W. M. M. S. T. Cooray of Holy Cross College, Kalutara is the Outstation Best Allrounder.