By M. Shamil Amit
Three decades ago a young, Royalist named Ranjan Madugalle along with some others from the cricketing ilk graced the dais to be crowned in their respective disciplines in Bata’s first effort as school cricket promoters.

The success of that endeavour was such that most of them then walked across the boundary lines with full national colours to make mother Lanka proud of their achievements. Then even after they called it a day in their stay at the crease some of them still have gone places in the World Cricketing arena to usher in more prestige to Sri Lanka’s contribution to cricket.

This year there is no exception. Walking down the isle proudly this year will be the much talked about Trinity allrounder Sachith Pathirana who will be crowned as the All Island Schoolboy Cricketer of the year on August 22, at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall main auditorium.

Along with Sachith, Kalutara Tissa MMV’s Dinesh Perera will be pinnacled as the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the year. Besides the above, young Malith Silva of Gateway College who was the Most Popular in the International Category will also be recognised as the Most Outstanding International Schools’ Cricketer of the Year heralding a new era in the first effort of the Bata-The Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year.

Full Name – Dinesh Perera Age – 19 years School – Tissa MMV Kalutara Coloursman – Fifth year. Batting – Right hand bat Bowling – Right arm off spinner Matches – 12 100’s – 1 50’s – 2 Runs – 579 Best – 102 against Wadduwa MMV Wickets – 102 Best – 9 for 33 against Wadduwa MMV

There were fierce competition and selecting the winners was no mean task, which was carried out last week at the Galadari Hotel chaired by officials of Bata, and various officials from the umpires associations around the island along with officials of The Sunday Times.

Sachith Pathirana was elected the All Island winner and also took the award for the best all rounder considering his past records which has been enormous in the schools circuit. A player with immense experience who played in two Under 19 World Youth Cups held in Sri Lanka in 2006 and Malaysia in 2008 where he put in a fine all round performance.

Sachith faced stiff opposition from Thurstan skipper Umesh Karunaratne who was chosen the runner up in both the categories. However, Umesh overcame ten other aspirants for the Best captain’s award for having led his team to eight wins this season with Thurstan being selected the Best All Island schools team.

Nalanda skipper Madhawa Warnapura and S. Thomas’ fast medium bowler Milan Fernando won awards for the Best Batsman and Best Bowler respectively in the All Island Category. Madhawa accumulated over 700 runs from 12 matches with three centuries and two half centuries while Milan ended the 2008 season with 106 scalps from 22 matches. Runners up in these two categories were two Thurstanites -- Geeth Kumara and Umesh Karunaratne.

Ananda’s Dinesh Chandimal who was the deputy skipper of the Sri Lanka U-19 team for the World Cup held in Malaysia took the award for the Best fielder in the All Island category while Isipathana skipper Chirantha de Silva was the runner up.

Tissa MMV’s Dinesh Perera the winner of the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer’s award is a player with immense talent who is capable of making it to the top in time to come. He had a successful season. Dinesh too went on to bag a double by taking the award for the best bowler having taken over 100 wickets from 12 matches.

Chathuranga de Silva of St Aloysius Galle bagged the award for the Best Allrounder in the Outstation category. He was also the runner up in the battle for the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer’s award.
Runner up in the all round category was R.A.N.M. Ranasinghe of Ibbagamuwa Central with Nilanka Premarathna of Bandaranaike MMV Gampaha taking the runner up prize for the Best Bowler.
Sanath Ranjan Silva of Royal Panadura bagged the Best Batsman’s award having scored over 800 runs with six half tons and two tons in just ten matches with President’s Rajagiriya’s Sanath Sameera Silva being the runner up.

Wicket keeper Chamath de Silva of President’s Rajagiriya bagged the Best Fielder’s prize for his 42 victims, which included 34 catches and eight stumping with Royal Panadura’s Uditha Indunil taking the second place.

The award for the Best Team in the Central Province was bagged by St. Sylvester’s with Kingswood coming second and St Xavier’s Maravila being adjudged the Best Team in the North Western Province from St Anne’s Kurunegala and St Aloysius and Mahinda taking the one and two slot in the Southern Province.

Weera Keppitipola MV of Akuramboda, Matale was adjudged the Best up and coming team. There were two awards offered in the International Schools section with Gateway College taking both. Gateway College took the prize for the Best Team while Royal Institute was the runner up.

• Bata - The Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest