Jaffna Schools too come in ...:

Many schools involved in Observer-Mobitel Cricket Awards

By Ranjan Anandappa

The Cinnamon Grand Hotel was a hive of activity as it was the venue when the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association officials and the Umpires of the Association of Cricket Umpires gathered to pick the winners of the Sunday Observer/Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year for the 35th occasion last week.

This annual contest has produced the bulk of the quality cricketers from Ranjan Madugalle (1978) ,Arjuna Ranatunga (twice) to the present Sri Lanka vice captain Dinesh Chandimal . Many believe, winning the contest is something like a stepping stone for one’s successful cricketing career. It has been proved time and again that not only the main winner of the contest, but the winners in other segments , like best batsman,best bowler,best all-rounder etc.

Cricketers from the rural areas too have made their mark in the national team after receiving awards here. There are so many outstanding cricketers who have emerged from the schools from the outstations. One such player that invariably comes to mind is Sanath Jayasuriya who won the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of The Year award many years ago.

Jayasuriya’s success in life is undoubtedly built on his astonishing cricket career. There are more cricketers from the outstation schools like Pramodya Wickremasinghe (Matara) Tharanga Paranavithana (Kegalle) and Chanaka Welegedera (Matale) to name a few who have represented the country at the highest level.

Different format

This year’s selection of the winners were quite different from the usual format.

There were three categories namely ‘Platinum’ for the schools taking part in the SLSCA Division One Tournament, ‘Gold’ for the schools playing in Division Two and ‘Silver’ for schools competing in Division Three. In the division three ‘Silver’ segment schools from outstations get more opportunities to display their talents and win awards.

A selection panel headed by the President of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association L.M.D. Dharmasena who is also a Director of Education Development at the Ministry of Education had a tough job on the their hands in selecting the winners.

The winners were ascertained purely on merit and the recipients of awards will be known only on the day of the mega show which will be held shortly. The winners of the ‘Silver’ competition were not selected.

Southern Province schools make presence

In this year’s contest schools from outstations playing in division one, specially in the Southern Province has stole the limelight by bagging many top awards.

The cricket playing schools from the south specially from Galle, Matara, Ambalangoda who have contributed tremendously towards the country’s cricket is sure to produce more and more top cricketers in the future judging by this year’s winners.

It is heartening to note that interest is also being activated among the schools in the Nortthern Province as there were two competitors from St. John’s College and St. Patrick’s College Jaffna.

Royal College, Colombo and S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia opted out of the SLSCA Tournament and played all their matches as friendlies including their traditional matches and were not eligible to enter the contest.

National

Short listed names of nominees for National Awards 2013 (1st round):

Best Batsman: Pavan Devinda (Mahanama, Colombo), Minod Ranasinghe (Maliyadeva, Kurunegala), Ramindu Kumarasinghe (Thurstan), Kasun Vidura (Joseph Vaz, Wennappuwa), Hashan Dumindu (Gurukula, Kelaniya), Shanuka Dulaj (Prince Of Wales), Lisula Lakshan (Gurukula, Kelaniya), Niirwantha Thikshila ( Mahinda, Galle), Madhawa Nimesh (Royal, Panadura), Hashan Hewanayake (S. de S. Jayasinghe, Dehiwela), Dinuk Wickremanayake (Trinity), Kusal Mendis (Prince of Wales), Sadeera Samarawickrema (St. Joseph’s, Colombo), Kavindu Kulasekera (Thurstan), Dushan Hemantha (St. Peter’s).

2nd Round: Pawan Devinda, Minod Ranasinghe, Ramindu Kumarsinghe, Kasun Vidura, Shanuka Dulaj, Kusal Mendis (Prince of Wales).

Best Bowler - National Award 2013 – Nominees:

Yohan de Silva (Dharmasoka, Ambalangoda), Ramesh Mendis (Dharmasoka), A.K. Tyronne (Richmond, Galle), Lakshan Jayasinghe (Trinity), Chalana de Silva (Mahinda), Thenuka Dhananjaya (Royal, Panadura), Sachin Bulathsinhala (St. Anthony’s, Katugastota), Rajitha Perera (Thurstan), Sanjika Ridma (St. Servatius, Matara), Saveen Nanayakkara (Richmond), Binura Fernando (D.S. Senanayake, Colombo).

2nd Round: Yohan de Silva (Dharmasoka, Ambalangoda), Ramesh Mendis (Dharmasoka), A.K. Tyronne (Richmond, Galle), Lakshan Jayasinghe (Trinity), Chalana de Silva (Mahinda), Binura Fernando (D.S. Senanayake, Colombo).

Best Fielder - National Award - Nominees:

Lisula Lakshan (Gurukula MV, Kelaniya), Damindu Ashan (Roayl, Panadura), Lahiru Milantha (St. Peter’s), Sithara Gimhana (Richmond), Shehan Fernando (Joseph Vaz, Wennappuwa), Hasitha Madhushan (Richmond), Shanaka Dulaj (Prince of Wales), Kusal Mendis (Prince of Wales), Wanindu Hasaranga (Richmond), Laksitha Dassanayake (Trinity).

Best All-Rounder – National Award – Nominees:

Hashan Hewanayake (S. de S. Jayasinghe MV, Dehiwela), A.K. Tyronne (Richmond, Galle), Ramesh Mendis Dharmasoka (Ambalangoda), Chalana de Silva (Mahinda, Galle), Ramindu Kumarasinghe (Thurstan), Sanjika Ridma (St. Servatius, Matara), Sachin Bulathsinhala (St. Anthony’s, Katugastota).

Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year - National Award 2013 – Nominees:

Kusal Mendis (Prince of Wales, Moratuwa), Pawan Devinda (Mahanama, Colombo), Ramesh Mendis (

(Dharmasoka, Ambalangoda), Yohan de Silva (Dharmasoka, Ambalangoda), Laksith Dassanayake (Trinity), Damindu Hashan (Royal, Panadura).

Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year - National Award

[Platinum]

Best Batsman – Platinum – Nominees:

Pavan Devinda (Mahanama), Minod Ranasinghe (Maliyadeva), Ramindu Kumarasinghe (Thurstan), Kasun Vidura (Joseph Vaz), Hashan Dumindu (Gurukula), Shanuka Dulaj (Prince of Wales), Lisula Lakshan (Gurukula), Nirwantha Thikshila (Mahinda), Madhawa Nimesh (Royal, Panadura), Hashan Hewanayake (S. de S. Jayasinghe, Dehiwela), Dinuka Wickremanayake (Trinity), Kusal Mendis (Prince of Wales), Sadeera Samarawickrema (St. Joseph’s), Kavindu Kulasekera (Thurstan), Dushan Hemantha (St. Peter’s).

2nd round: Pavan Devinda, Minod Ranasinghe, Ramindu Kumarasinghe, Kasun Vidura, Hashan Duminda, Shanuka Dulaj.

Best Bowler - Platinum Award – Nominees:

Yohan de Silva (Dharmasoka, Ambalangoda), Ramesh Mendis (Dharmasoka), A.K. Tyronne (Richmond, Galle), Lakshan Jayasinghe (Trinity), Chalana de Silva (Mahinda), Thenuka Dhananjaya (Royal, Panadura), Sachin Bulathsinhala (St. Anthony’s, Katugastota), Rajith Perera (Thurstan), Sanjika Ridma (St. Servatius, Matara), Saveen Nanayakkara (Richmond), Binura Fernando (D.S. Senanayake, Colombo).

Best Fielder – Platinum – Nominees:

Lisuka Lakshan (Gurukula MV), Tharindu Ashan (Richmond), Lahiru Milantha (St. Peter’s), Sithara Gimhana (Richmond), Shehan Fernando (Joseph Vaz), Shanaka Dulaj (Prince of Wales), Kusal Mendis (Prince of Wales), Wanidu Hasaranga (Richmond), Laksitha Dassanayake (Trinity), Damindu Ashan (Royal, Panadura).

Best All-Rounder – Platinum – Nominees:

Hashan Hewanayake (S. de S. Jayasinghe, Dehiwela), A.K. Tyronne (Richmond), Ramesh Mendis (Dharmasoka), Chalana de Silva (Mahinda), Ramindu Kumarsinghe (Thurstan), Sanjika Ridma (St. Servatius), Sachin Bulathsinhala (St. Anthony’s, Katugastota).

Best Fielder - Gold Award – Nominees:

Shehan Dinuka - wicket-keeper (St. Sebastian’s, Katuneriya), Nirodha Lakshan (St. Sebastian’s, Katuneriya), Chamith Jananjaya (Taxila, Horana), Rusiru Akshaya (St. Thomas’, Matara).

Best Batsman – Gold Award – Nominees:

Sahan Arachchige (Bandaranaike MV, Gampaha), Lahiru Udara (St. John’s, Nugegoda), Piyiushan Kulatunge (Rahula, Matara), Jacob Sachin (St. Anthony’s, Wattala), Madhusanka Thamel (St. Sebastian’s, Katuneriya).

Best Bowler – Gold - Nominees: Dhanushka Sandaruwan (St. Mary’s, Kegalle), Pasindu Lakshan (St. Sebastian’s, Katuneriya), Chamika Karunarane (St. Mary’s, Kegalle), Roshen Chrismantha (St. Sebastian’s, Katuneriya).

Best Allrounder – Gold:

Best Team - National Award 2013:

Nominees - St. Peter’s, Richmond, Dharmasoka

Best Team Western Province – Nominees:

St. Peter’s, D.S. Senanayake, Gurukula MV, Kelaniya, Prince of Wales, Royal, Panadura, St. Benedict’s, St. Sebastian’s, Moratuwa, Kalutara MV.

Best Team Southern Province
Best Team Nothern Province
Best Team Central Province

Nominees: Dharmaraja, St. Anthony’s, Trinity, St. Sylvesters, Vidyartha.

Best Team North Western Province – Nominees:

Maliyadeva, Kurunegala, Joseph Vaz, Wennappuwa, St. Sebastian’s, Katuneriya, St. Anne’s, Kurunegala.

Best Team Sabargamuwa Province – Nominees:

St. Mary’s, Kegalle, Kegalu MV.

Best Team North Central Province
Best Team Uva Province Winner:

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Best Behaved Team: .........................
Best Up and Coming Team of theYear: .................