Observer-Mobitel School Cricket awards on Tuesday at Galadari Hotel:

A night to remember

*Sajeewa Salgado of Thurstan College Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year – All Island

*Kavindu Ashan Perera of Royal College, Panadura Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year - Outstation

By Ranjan ANANDAPPA

It will be a night to remember as the 2011/12 season’s most outstanding cricketers will be lavishly rewarded with glittering trophies and cash awards at the 34th Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year at the Grand Ballroom of the Galadari Hotel from 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Former Sri Lanka captain and the current batting coach of the national team, Marvan Atapattu, who had won the prestigious award way back in 1990 as a schoolboy cricketer from Ananda College, will be the chief guest.

Bhathiya and Santhush will add colour to this year’s Mega Show as well. Besides B n S, there will be several other popular artistes to entertain the youth, including Dushanth Weeraman.

There was a close tussle for top awards in the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest at Galadari Hotel.

The officials who were at the selection of all the winners of the Observer-Mobitel awards were umpires.

The selection panel consisted of: L.M.D. Dharmasena - the President of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association - the Principal of Ananda College. The other officials were all active umpires from the various associations in Sri Lanka.

The umpires who officiated as judges in the contest were: Dilshan de Silva - Secretary, Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association, who is also an Executive Member of Sri Lanka Cricket, Sarathchandra de Silva - Vice-President of SLSCA, Nihal Fernando - Treasurer of SLSCA, Wasantha Kariyawasam - Assistant Secretary, SLSCA, G.W. Jagath Senaratne - Tournament Committee Chairman, Vice-President of SLSCA, J.A.K.S. Indrajith - Under-19 Tournament Secretary, SLSCA, M.J.M.D. Vaas - Under 13 Tournament Secretary, SLSCA, Y. Nishantha Kumara - Assistant Treasurer, SLSCA, S.M. Wickremasinghe - Under-15 Tournament Secretary, SLSCA, Saman Hettiarachchi - Selection Committee Chairman, SLSCA, Keerthi Gunaratne - Selection Committee Member, SLSCA and Sisira Weerasinghe - Selection Committee Member, SLSCA.

All-Island Best Batsman

Short listed names: Imraz Raafi (Zahira), Sajeeva Salgado (Thurstan), Charith Ruchiranga (Royal, Panadura), Shehan Fernando (St. Peter’s), Kavindu Ashan (Royal, Panadura), Kusal Mendis (Prince of Wales), Anura Dharmasena (Sri Sumangala, Panadura), Duleeka Tissakuttige (Mahanama), Niroshan Dickwella (Trinity), Hashan Duminda (Gurukula).

Second round: Imraz Raafi, Sajeeva Salgado, Charith Ruchiranga, Kavindu Ashan, Kusal Mendis, Duleeka Tissakuttige, Niroshan Dickwella.

Best Bowler : Short listed names: Thenuka Dananjaya (Royal, Panadura), Kavindu Ashan (Royal, Panadura), Pradeep Ananda (Zahira,) Amila Aponso (St. Sebastian’s), Janishka Preamsinghe (Trinity), Pasindu Madushan (Ananda), Chalana de Silva (Mahinda), A.K.V. Tyronne (Richmond), Nimesh Mendis (St. Sylvester’s), Aravinda Withanachchi (Dharmaraja)

Second round: Thenuka Dananjaya, Kavindu Ashan, Pradeep Ananda, Amila Aponso, Janishka Premasinghe, Pasindu Madushan, A.K.V. Tyronne.

Third round: Kavindu Ashan, Pradeep Ananda, Amila Aponso, Janishka Premasinghe, Pasindu Madushan.

Best Fielder : Nominees: Akila Lakshan (Royal, Panadura), Manoj Sarathchandra (St. Anthony’s, Katugathota), Niroshan Dickwella (Trinity), Vidusha Jayasinghe (St. Joseph’s), Sachintha Fonseka (St. Sebastian’s), Ushan Gunatileka (Ananda), Dilshad Hilmy (Zahira)

Best All-rounder : Short listed names: Kavindu Ashan (Royal, Panadura), Imraz Raafi (Zahira), Shanuka Dulaj (Prince of Wales), Pasindu Madushan (Ananda), Amila Aponso (St. Sebastian’s), Janishka Premasinghe (Trinity), Saranga Rajaguru (St. Anthony’s, Katugastota), Supekshala Jayatileka (St. Joseph’s), Akila Jayasundera (Trinity), Koshan Danushka (Nalanda), Chalana de Silva (Mahinda) .

Second round: Kavindu Ashan, Imraz Raafi, Shanuka Dulaj, Pasindu Madushan, Amila Aponso.

Third round:Kavindu Ashan, Shanuka Dulaj, Pasindu Madushan, Amila Aponso, Janishka Premasinghe.

Best Teams : Short listed names: Trinity, St. Sebastian’s, Richmond, Dharmasoka, Zahira, Royal, Panadura.

Best-up-and-Coming-Team : To be announced

Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2012 - All Island :

Short listed names: Imraz Raafi (Zahira), Sajeeva Salgado (Thurstan), Amila Aponso (St. Sebastian’s), Pasindu Madushan (Ananda), Niroshan Dickwella (Trinity), Akila Lakshan (Royal, Panadura), Kavindu Ashan (Royal, Panadura), Shanuka Dulaj (Prince of Wales), Janishka Premasinghe (Trinity), Duleeka Tissakuttige (Mahanama)

Second round: Imraaz Raafi, Sajeeva Salgado, Amila Aponso, Pasindu Madushan, Niroshan Dickwella.

Best Captain : Short listed names: Niroshan Dickwella (Trinity), Gihan Mihiranga (Dharmasoka), Amila Aponso (St. Sebastian’s), Pabasara Waduge (Richmond), Dilshad Hilmy (Zahira), Kavindu Ashan (Royal, Panadura).

Best Batsman Outstation : Short listed names: Udith Balasuriya (Ibbagamuwa Central), Shan Chaturanga (Kegalu MV), Ashan Ranasinghe (St. Thomas’ , Matara), Ruwan Bandara (Vidyartha, Kandy), Lahiru Supeksala (S.de S. Jayasinghe MV, Dehiwala), Sanka Ramesh (Moratu MV), Yamal Siriwardene (St. John’s, Nugegoda), Tharindu Kaushal (Devapathiraja, Ratgama).

Second round: Udith Balasuriya, Shan Chaturanga, Ashan Ranasinghe, Ruwan Bandara, Tharindu Kaushal.

Best Bowler : Short listed names: Hashan Hewanayake (S. de S. Jayasinghe, Dehiwela), Ashan Ranasinghe (St. Thomas’, Matara), Tharindu Kaushal (Devapathiraja, Ratgama), T. Weerakoon (St. John’s, Nugegoda), Chatura Karunaratne (St. Mary’s, Kegalle), Charith. Udaraka (Sri Devananda, Ambalangoda), Sanka Ramesh (Moratu MV)

Second round: Heshan Hewanayake, Ashan Ranasinghe, Tharindu Kaushal, T. Weerakoon, Sanka Ramesh.

Best Fielder : Short listed names: Ramindu Nikeshala (Devapthiraja, Ratgama), Madusanka Lakshan (S. de S. Jayasinghe, Dehiwala), Tharindu Somaratne, (St. Mary’s, Kegalle), Jayanga de Silva (St. Thomas’, Matara), O.K. de S. Opatha (St. Mary’s, Kegalle), Ruwan Bandara (Vidyartha, Kandy), Rasika Theekshana (Sri Devananda, Ambalangoda).

Best All-Rounder : Short listed names: Ashan Ranasinghe (St. Thomas’, Matara), Hashan Hewanayake (S. de S. Jayasinghe, Dehiwela), Tharindu Kaushal (Devapthiraja), Sanka Ramesh (Moratu MV), Tharaka Somathileka (Kegalu MV)

Best Team : Southern Province

Short listed teams: Sri Devananda, Ambalangoda, St. Thomas’, Matara, Devapathiraja, Ratgama, Karandeniya Central, Gamini MV, Bentota.

Best Team : Central Province

Short listed teams: Vidyartha, Kandy, S. Thomas’, Matale, Vijaya College, Matale.

Best Team : North Central Province :

Best Team : North Western Province : Short listed teams: St. Sebastian’s, Katuneriya, Ibbagamuwa Central, St. Anne’s, Kurunegala.

Best Team Outstation : Short listed teams: S. de S. Jayasinghe MV, Dehiwela, Moratu MV, Sri Devananada, Ambalangoda. Vidyartha, Kandy, St. Thomas’, Matara, St. Mary’s, Kegalle.

Best Team : Eastern Province

Not awarded

Best Team : Northern Province

Short listed teams: St. John’s, Jaffna, St. Patrick’s, Jaffna, Kokuvil Hindu College, Jaffna College, Jaffna Hindu College.

Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year – Outstation 2012 : Short listed names: Uditha Balasuriya (Ibbagamuwa Central), Ruwan Bandara (Vidyartha, Kandy), Hashan Hewanayake (S. de S. Jayasinghe, Dehiwela), Tharindu Kaushal (Devapathiraja), Ashan Ranasinghe (St. Thomas’, Matara), Sanka Ramesh Moratu MV), Madusanka Lakshan (S. de S. Jayasinghe, Dehiwela), Tharindu Somaratne (St. Mary’s, Kegalle)

Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year - All-Island 2012 : Winner: Sajeeva Salgado (Thurstan College)

Runner-up: Ashan Wanigaratne (Thurstan College)

Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year - Outstation 2012 : Winner: Kavindu Ashan Perera (Royal College, Panadura)

Runner-up: Angelo Jayasinghe (Maris Stella College, Negombo)

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[Special passes for Sunday Observer readers]

A limited number of special passes is available exclusively for Sunday Observer readers on a first come first served basis. Please call Sharon or Sujani on 011-2429231 or 011-2429238 between 9 am and 5 pm tomorrow for prior reservations.

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