Observer- Mobitel schoolboy cricketer of the year:

Imesh Udayanga - three awards...

by Leslie FERNANDO

CRICKET AWARDS: It’s a fine achievement for a boy to play school cricket for five years and Imesh Udayanga of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda can be well satisfied that besides playing for the school for five years, he has captained the team, he has also captained the Sri Lanka Under-19 team at international school matches. A fine all-rounders, Imesh has shown his capabilities with the bat and ball. He has gathered 932 runs in the season of 15 matches with a top score of 102 not out against Thurstan and another century 114 against Revatha MV.

He has also gathered six half centuries. In bowling, he has taken 90 wickets with his off-spinners. He has got five-wicket hauls 7 times. His best efforts has been a match haul of 13 for 83 against Sri Rahula MV, Matara.Besides winning the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award, Imesh also won the best bowler and best all-rounder award in the outstation section.He started playing cricket at a young age of 10 years and his cricket prowess was such that he went on to captain the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 teams.

In bigger company, he toured Malaysia with Sri Lanka team for the Youth World Cup Tournament in 2008. He captained the Galle District Schools team and won the Inter-District Championships 2008.In the 2008-2009 Inter-Provincial Twenty20 Cricket Tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket, he represented Sri Lanka Schools.

He played for Sri Lanka Schools Under-19 team in the Triangular Tournament where Sri Lanka played against Bangladesh and India.

He was a member of the Sri Lanka Under-19 team at the triangular tournament in 2008 - Sri Lanka, Pakistan, England.Imesh is presently turning out for Moors SC in the Under-23 Premier Cricket Tournament. In the two-day games, he has scored 230 runs in five matches with an unbeaten 115 and half century (51). In the one day game he has scored 150 in 4 innings.