Ceat Sri Lanka Cricket Awards on Oct 30

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

CRICKET AWARDS: For the first time in the annals of Sri Lanka cricket history , Sri Lanka Cricket along with ‘Ceat’ will recognise cricketers who have excelled at domestic and international level on October 30 “Ceat Sri Lanka Cricket Awards” ceremony at the Waters Edge, Battaramulla.

Forty eight domestic awards and nine awards for the players who have excelled Internationally are the awards at stake.

Among the nine recipients in line for felicitation at International level are: Ajantha Mendis (for the highest number of wickets in a short period of time), T.M. Dilshan (who recently won the ICC award for the best T20 player), Muttiah Muralitharan (highest number of Test and ODI wickets). Nuwan Kulasekera (for heading the World ODI bowling rankings), Mahela Jayawardena (previous captain), Kumar Sangakkara (for guiding Sri Lanka to the runner-up berth at the World T20 Championship). Sanath Jayasuriya (life time achievements), Thilan Samaraweera and Chaminda Vaas (life time achievements).

There will also be an additional award for the ‘Ceat’ People’s Player of the Year.

Most of the reputed Sri Lanka cricketers endorsed the idea of having an award ceremony of this nature, towing the line with other ‘Test’ playing nations.

Domestic Awards: Under 23 Division I Award Winners 2008/09 Winner - NCC, runner-up - SSC, Best Batsman - Ashan Priyanjana (Schools xi) Best Bowler - Ranesh Perera (Ragama CC) Best all-rounder - Shalika Karunanayake (SSC). Under 23 Division II Award Winners 2008/09 Winner - Bloomfield C & AC, runner-up - BRC (Best Batsman - Best Bowler - Best all-rounder under review.

Division I (Women’s Cricket): Winner - Slimline & CCC (Joint Champs), Best Batswoman - Sumudu Fernando (Palink) Best Bowler - Shashikala Siriwardene (Slimline) Best all-rounder - A.S. Lakshika (CCC)

Division II - Winner - Southern Ladies CC, Runner up - Kurunegala YCC, Best Batswoman - Chamari Attapattu (KYCC), Best Bowler - Nilanthi Bandara (CCC)

Premier League Tier A: Winner - Colts CC runner-up - SSC Best Batsman - Indika de Seram (Ragama CC) Best Bowler - Sekkuge Prasanna (Army SC), Best all-rounder - Gayan Wijekoon (Chilaw MCC)

Premier League Tier B: Winner - Saracens SC runner-up - Panadura SC

Best Batsman - Kasun Bodhisha (Saracens SC), Best Bowler - Malinda Pushpakumara (Saracens SC) Best all-rounder - S. Madanayake (Air Force SC)

Premier Limited Over - Tier A: Winner Bloomfield C & AC, runner-up - Tamil Union C & AC. Best Batsman - Tharanga Paranavithana (SSC), Best Bowler - Sujeewa de Silva (CCC) Best All-rounder - Chinthaka Jayasinghe (Bloomfield)

Premier Limited Over - Tier B: Winner -Sebastianites C & AC, runner-up - Police SC Best Batsman - Dhammika Rajapaksha (Police), Best Bowler - Ranil Dhammika (Seeduwa RCC) Best all-rounder - no award.

Sara Limited Over: Winner - Navy SC, runner-up - United Southern SC, Best Batsman - Suranga Perera (Navy SC) Best Bowler - Dulanjana Mendis (Navy SC), Best all-rounder - Udara Jayasundara (Navy SC).

Sara League Tournament: Winner - Navy SC Runner up - no award, Best Batsman - Isuru Lokuge (Matara SC), Best Bowler - Dulanjana Mendis (Navy SC), Best all-rounder - Dhammika Niroshan (Rio SC).

Donovan Andree Tournament: Winner - Old Dharmapalian SC, runner-up - (no awards), Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Best all-rounder (under review).