Trinity hit the top for second year running...:

Dickwella Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year

By Ranjan ANANDAPPA

OBSERVER-MOBITEL CRICKET AWARDS: For the second year in succession, Trinity College Kandy, a school better reputed for its excellence in rugby, took major honours in the recently concluded Sunday Observer/Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest by winning prestigious awards.

In last year’s contest, Trinitian Akila Jayasundera won the main award by being the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and Trinity also took the Best Team (All Island Award) and the Best Captain’s award under the leadership of Jayasundera. In this year’s contest, too, Trinity had fared similarly has their captain Niroshan Dickwella won the main award, Best Captain and Best Fielders awards too.

Although the recently concluded ICC Under-19 World Cricket Cup held in Brisbane, Australia was not the ideal one for the youngsters, three recipients of the Sunday Observer/Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer Contest represented the country at junior level.

Niroshan Dickwella, the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, Tharindu Kaushal of Devapathiraja MV, Ratgama who won the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest, Amila Aponso of St. Sebastian’s, Moratuwa who became the runner-up in the main contest and the Best Bowler (All Island). Angelo Jayasinghe of Maris Stella, College, Negombo another member and the vice captain of the Under-19 World Cup team, also made his presence felt by scoring a well compiled 84 in the opening match against Bangladesh, but it was not sufficient enough to pull the game off in Sri Lanka’s favour.

For Trinity, their coach, former D.S. Senanayake College cricketer Sampath Perera has no doubt instilled the winning ways to the team.

His team’s positive approach to the game has taken them a long way during the season which has enabled them to win the ‘big’ team award twice in succession.

Among the top Trinity past players who have served the country in the cricket field with distinction are: Test stars former captain Kumar Sangakkara and Ravi Ratnayake, Kaushalya Weeraratne who once became the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year is a top rugby player in addition to donning the Sri Lanka ‘cap’ in ODI’s for Sri Lanka.

In this year’s contest it was quite evident that the outstation schools have stolen the limelight by winning many awards.

The favourites like Ananda, Nalanda, St. Joseph’s, St. Peter’s, Royal, S. Thomas’ were unable to make any significant impact in the contest.