Dinesh Chandimal joined vintage company in accepting top award

HIS PROUDEST MOMENT: Strutting the ramp that starry night to collect the School Cricketer of the Year Award for 2009. The adolescent is in vintage company. Only the finest have clutched that valued piece of silver. Arjuna Ranatunga, Sidath Wettimuny, Ranjan Madugalle and Duleep Mendis among others, so utterly incorruptibly picked by the cleverly astute observer panel year in year out.

The tsunami of 2004 spirited away Dinesh Chandimal's little abode and belongings. Only the wall that fronted his bedroom survives. Born on November 18, 1989 in the Southern outpost of Ambalangoda 85 kms from Colombo, only the Golden Beach separated his abode from the sea.

Dinesh , the eldest of 4 boys joined his brothers at beach cricket from dawn to dusk, his calves and thighs bear evidence of the pounding. according to knowledgeable scribes, the boy is the brightest cricketing spark to emerge from the schools in the recent past.

Reared then on the rustic Southern Coastline schooled at Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda and lured by Ananda College, Colombo to be coached to sparkle, as he does now, Dinesh proudly held aloft the coveted Schoolboy Award and for good measure annexed the Best Captain, Best Fielder and Best Batsman accolades on offer.

1,565 runs and 68 victims behind the stumps in his farewell stint for his school in 15 matches, with 205 as his highest score in 146 balls against Moratu Vidyalaya.

Dinesh Chandimal having played for Sri Lanka at the under-19 level against Pakistan, England and India, following scores of 112 against England, 143 against India and 65 against Pakistan was elevated to the captaincy against Bangladesh.

A booming start for NCC under-23, followed with scores of 165 against Moors and 157 against Colts. A couple of days ago he stroked a splendid 100 against Daniel Vettori, New Zealanders batting for the Development Squad.

The boy doesn't talk much, but the message was loud and clear and woe betide, the toe that strays or the bat that nibbles. The perky stumper, ever alert to the outside edge and the truant toe, will devour you with his predatory crimson gloves.

The sky appears to be his target and not his limit. He bowled a bit as well and his wicket-taking ball was the one he chucked, he chuckled. No he does not bowl any more. They don't allow him to.

Presently lacing his boots for the 120 year old Nondescript Cricket Club, Dinesh could not have settled for a lovelier setting, an easier track or nicer people. Ranjith Pandithage - the benevolent and most affable of businessman does much to alleviate his financial stresses and concerns.

Disarmingly modest, shy and reticent, on pre-match days he relaxes with his friends with a sing song, or by loitering about the house. On match days Dinesh conquers his nervousness by meditating for 30 minutes within the confines of his room, in preparation for the carnage to follow.

Rushed interview over, Dinesh scampered down the hallowed pavilion steps and pitched into the hapless Colts SC attack, NCC's opponents of the day. With the ball crashing all over the rooftops, I scurried down the rear steps, comprehensively convinced, that I had interviewed a champ. The Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2009.

- Rohan Wijesinghe