Cambrian Kusal Mendis will be the king of the aisle
He may be small in stature but he has proved a lot. Yet there also is another plus that he has inherited. He hails from Moratuwa. This
hamlet just outside the city limits of Colombo has produced many a champion cricketer in the past. Now keeping to that tradition, Prince of Wales’ College first XI skipper Kusal Mendis, a fine allrounder in the making, is the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year at this 34th Bata-the Sunday Times mega cricket awards presentation.
Kusal Mendis
An opening batsman, Kusal, who keeps wickets and also bowls when it’s needed, in short a born cricketer in every sense of the word, was the unanimous choice for the 2013 title following selections held recently at Hotel Galadari in Colombo.
Skipper of Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda, Yohan de Silva, a versatile batsman and a very promising off-spinner was picked as the runner-up.
In the Emerging Schools category, Dhanushka Sandaruwan, a fine allrounder from St. Mary’s College Kegalle was named the Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year while Lahiru Sanjaya of St. John’s College Panadura emerged runner-up.
The selection panel was headed by former national selector and the present manager
(From left) Asoka de Silva, Brendon Kuruppu, Vikas Anand (Managing Director of Bata), Jayantha Seneviratne (Chief of Selection Panel), Hatt Tutuko (Financial Controller of Bata), Dilshan de Silva of SLSCA and Sirosha Gunathilake at the selections. In the back row are Bata officials P.K. Kotalawala, Ajith Fernando, A.P. Nakandala, Gayani Rajapakshe, Srilath de Silva, Nalin Weerawardana, Prasanna Andaraveera, Sanath Balasuriya and Chamath Kumara.
of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team — Jayantha Seneviratne with former national Test cricketers Brendon Kuruppu and Asoka de Silva along with experts from the field of cricket such as Carlton Bernadus, Aubrey Kuruppu and Upul Sumathipala assisting in picking the talents of tomorrow. Also in the panel were the officials of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association, namely its Secretary Dilshan de Silva, Nihal Fernando, K.S. Indrajith and Keerthi Gunaratne.
Dhanushka Sandaruwan
Representing the Association of Cricket Umpires of Sri Lanka were its officials led by Shirosha Gunatilleke, Saman Hewawitharana, Kapila Jayalath, Saman Mohan, U.G. Saman, Rusiru de Silva and Vidura Prasad. Officials from the Bata Shoe Company, Vikas Anand its Managing Director, Financial Controller Hatta Tutuko, Chamath Kumara and Gayani Rajapaksha also played pivotal roles.
All winners will be given prior notice by the organisers to gather at the BMICH in Colombo on August 2 which will be the special day dedicated for them. This day promises to be an unforgettable one for all winners especially the top award winners who will experience a memorable day in their lives.
For detailed results of the Bata-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2013, please turn to Sunday Times 2 Page 16.
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