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Sunday, 18 April 2010

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Buultjens and Weerakkody hail sponsors for encouraging cricketers

by Leslie FERNANDO

OBSERVER-MOBITEL: Two former Sri Lankan school cricket captains-Rohan Buultjens of St. Peter’s College and Rohan Weerakkody of St. Joseph’s College who won the coveted Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest in 1981 and 1987 respectively said at a recent meeting that they appreciated much for the efforts in organising the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Competition as this contest gave the boys much needed enthusiasm to do well.

Two former schoolboy cricket ‘greats’ - Rohan Buultjens of St. Peter’s (left) and Rohan Weerakkody of St. Joseph’s.

Both Buultjens and Weerakkody who had the honour of captaining the Sri Lanka under-20 team and Sri Lanka under-19 sides are presently in Australia on a recent visit here, both said that the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest proved to be the best in the country. “Both of us are indeed happy that this contest has continued for many years. There is lot of encouragement for players in the outstation towns too due to a sectional contest for them too,” the duo said.

Buultjens and Weerakkody also commended the sponsors Sri Lanka Telecom-Mobitel for coming forward to support because it gave the schoolboys a lot of encouragement.

The stylish left-hand batsman and medium pace bowler Buultjens won the prestigious Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award in 1981 - the first Peterite to win the award. In 2001 after 20 years Test cricketer Kaushal Lokuarachchi was the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, the second Peterite.

Rohan Buultjens a success story

For Buultjens, it has been a success story during his school days. To get the top award was justified as he did well in 1981. He was also the Best Batsman.

Buultjens led St. Peter’s College in 1980 to win the Horlicks Trophy All-Island Schools Limited over Cricket Tournament. St. Peter’s on that occasion scored a sensational seven-wicket victory over the favourites Ananda in the final with Buultjens playing the winning role.

He hit an unbeaten half century (59) which included three sixes and two fours and paved the way for the Peterite victory. Buultjens was in great form during that tourney scoring 69 not out against Dharmasoka, Ambalangoda and 56 against Nalanda in the semis.

Buultjens who has been playing for St. Peter’s since 1977 had his greatest moment in 1979. He wrote his name in letters of gold in the Josephian-Peterite cricket series, when he made twin centuries in the 45th encounter - the first batsman to do so in the series. He made 109 and 100 not out. In the second innings Buultjens and his skipper Kito Fernandopulle (74) had a partnership of 173 runs for the third wicket.

He batted in difficult circumstances in both innings. However, he turned out to be a master of the situation. The match ended in a draw. Buultjen’s twin centuries are unique and only three other cricketers have done it before and he remains as the only one to do so in a ‘Big Match.’

The other three batsmen who have achieved this feat in inter-school cricket - In 1943 Royal’s George Rajapakse hit 120 and 104 against Trinity and it was followed by Prince of Wales batsman D. L. Peiris who made 140 and 102 against Kingswood.

The feat was repeated again eleven years later in 1954 by Nalanda’s W. W. Silva scored 108 and 101 not out against St. Benedict’s College. Rohan Buultjens in 1980s led the Sri Lanka under-20 team against the visiting Indian under-20 side in both ‘Test’ and Limited-over game at the end of 1980 and early 1981. After leaving school, he played for NCC under Michael Tissera and then he migrated to Australia.

Rohan Weerakkody ‘star’ allrounder

The Josephian skipper Rohan Weerakkody was the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 1987. Besides winning the top award, Weerakkody was also picked as the Best Bowler, Best Allrounder and Best Captain.

This lanky allrounder was lucky enough to steal the limelight in the very first school match he played against Royal College in 1984. St. Joseph’s College created history by defeating Royal College after 32 years and the hero of the Josephian team was debutant Weerakkody.

He had a wicket in the first innings and when the Royalists followed on, Weerakkody was at full steam and had figures of 12.3 over, 8 maidens, 6 runs and 8 wickets that’s nine wickets in the match.

Weerakkody showed his prowess in leadership in 1986-87 season and he led the Josephians to victory over Carey, Mahinda, Prince of Wales and St. Benedict’s by an innings, Isipathana by 6 wickets and traditional rivals St. Peter’s and D. S. Senanayake College in limited-over matches.

He was injured, but led the team in the schools limited-over tournament and to share the glory with D. S. Senanayake College after defeating S. Thomas’ College and St. Sebastian’s College.

Rohan Weerakkody turned out to be the guiding light for the Josephians in the 1987 season. He bowled effectively and also did his might with the bat. He took 53 wickets and scored 350 runs.

He, however had to miss a couple of inter-school games as he was doing duty for the Sri Lanka under-19 team and he did well in those games too. He was the vice-captain of the side.

Observer-Mobitel Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2010

[All-Island - Coupon No. 14]

1. S. Edirisuriya (Royal) 75,132

2. Kithuruwan Vithanage (Royal) 74,988

3. Chathura Peiris (St. Peter’s College) 74,849

4. Nipun Karunanayake (Nalanda) 72,004

5. Sachithra Perera (Ananda) 60,427

6. S. H. I. Kumara (Mahanama College) 43,423

7. Rasika Gamage (Dharmapala College) 36,273

8. H. Wickremasuriya (SACK) 30,087

9. Waruna Fernando (SBC) 19,128

10. Deshan Dians (St.Sebs.) 11,944