Malith - first to win both top awards

By Leslie FERNANDO

OBSERVER-MOBITEL: The 23-year-old Malith Gunathileka - the Ananda College skipper and allrounder, set up a unique record as he won both the top awards Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award 2007.

He was picked the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year by the umpires and the readers voted him as the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year All-Island. This was the first time that a schoolboy got the two top awards in the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Competition. Besides the top awards, Malith was also picked as the Best Allrounder and also figured prominently in the contests of the Best Bowler and Best Captain.

Gunathileka became the sixth Anandian to win the coveted award. He followed World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga (twice) 1980 and 1982, Sri Lanka ‘A’ team captain Sanjeeva Ranatunga (1988), former Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu (1990), Thilan Samaraweera (twice) 1994 and 1995, Muhumudalige Pushpakumara (1999). The seventh Anandian to win the coveted award is Dinesh Chandimal (2009) who is representing Sri Lanka at present.

Malith proved to be a fine allrounder. He was a right-hand bat and left-arm ‘leggie’. He was able to fit in at any position in batting and he was a clever match-winning bowler too. He caused deep concern to the other ton cricketers in the schools.

But once his playing days for school were over, he didn’t come into the big league immediately due to injury. He was also following a course as Management Trainee at Gamma Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd. Malith recovered fast and he turned out for Chilaw Marians 2009 -2010 in the under-23 Division and Premier Tier ‘A’ First Class Cricket. He was a member of the champions Chilaw Marians team in the Premier Tournament.

He is grateful to the company he is working for as they give him all the encouragement to play cricket freely, said Malith.

“I love cricket and I put everything to the game. My dedication has brought me results” he quipped. He said the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest has been well received as the selections made by the umpires have been good throughout.

The selections have had the desired results as those selected for awards have gone on to represent Sri Lanka. He said that hard work at school level enabled him to win the prestigious award.

The schoolboy cricketers who show much promise are bound to climb to the top of the ladder and can vie to play for the national team.

Malith commended the sponsors - Mobitel for extending their full support for schoolboy cricketers.

His ambition is to play for Sri Lanka in Tests and One-Day Internationals in the near future.

Malith played cricket for Ananda from the age of 10 years in various age groups. He has captained under-14, under-16 and 1st XI teams with great success.

His best performances for Ananda came in the year 2007 when he had a good season. Scoring 602 runs which included a century and four half centuries. His best innings was against Richmond where he got and unbeaten 100 and 50. His half centuries were against St. Joseph’s 74, Mahinda 76 n.o. and Wesley 5I.

In bowling, he was a left-arm ‘leggie’ and captured 96 wickets during the 2007 cricket season. He set a record being the first Anandian to capture 90 wickets or more in a school cricket season. The other Anandians who came close were Anuruddha Polonowita, Palitha Premasiri, Ajith de Silva, Sonny Yatawara.

Malith’s best effort in bowling was a match haul of 13 for 58 against Royal. Due to his great bowling and able leadership. Ananda beat Royal after 47 years. The other best performance came against St. Benedict’s College (13 for 32). Malith had a match bag of 5 wickets on 13 occasions in the 2007 season.

He was also a smart fielder in any position. He also played for Old Anandians SC in division three cricket tournament and also played in the under-20 Provincial Cricket Tournament with success. He was in Sri Lanka Schools spin clinic managed by former Sri Lanka player Ruwan Kalpage. Malith Gunathileka, the gifted allrounder, has performed well in the inter-club tournaments conducted by the SLC is determined to achieve success in a big way and gain selection to SL Cricket Development Pool and go ahead.

His younger brother Ushan Gunathileka, is following Malith’s footsteps, Ushan who played in the ‘Battle of the Maroons’ Big Match this year, will be leading the Ananda under-17 team.