Asalanka makes it two-in-a-row
The selection panel headed by Jayantha Seneviratne had very little hesitation in picking Richmond’s versatile cricketer, all-rounder and Sri Lanka (SL) Under-19 skipper Charith Asalanka as the 37th Bata-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year for 2016. Charith becomes the fourth schoolboy cricketer to win the coveted title twice in the 37-year history of the competition, and the third to win it back-to-back. Previously, 1996 World Cup-winning Captain Arjuna Ranatunga of Ananda College, was the first to win the title twice in 1980 and 1982. Nalanda’s Roshan Mahanama, who became a top class international cricketer and later, an ICC Match Referee, won the title in 1983 and 1984. Ten years later, Thilan Samaraweera of Ananda College clinched the double in 1994 and 1995.
Charith, who won it last year, wins the title again — mainly because of his solid contribution as skipper of the SL Under-19 team and as a versatile all-rounder. Charith is an all-rounder and skipper of Richmond College Galle who also led the SL Under-19 team – any schoolboy cricketer’s dream — at the ICC Youth World Cup. He was initially picked as the Best Batsman, while his deputy in the SL Under-19 side, Sammu Ashan of Ananda College was 1st Runner-up. Last year Charith won Best All-rounder and was 1st Runner-up in the Best Bowler category, while Sammu was 1st Runner-up in the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2015. Asitha Fernando of St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya was 2nd Runner-up to Charith and Sammu. All three were top performers for Sri Lanka at the ICC Youth World Cup, as well as against other international sides.
Rasith Upamal Dias of Dharmaloka Vidyalaya was the Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016. The selections kicked off with the first award of the All-Island category, Best Batsman, where over 50 candidates from Division I Cricket playing schools were eligible, but only 15 were considered in the 1st round. The final records came for intense scrutiny by the selectors, before they decided upon Charith as the eventual winner, with Sammu as 1st Runner-up. Over 40 candidates vied for the All-Island Best Bowler’s award which eventually went to Asitha Fernando of St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya, a Division II school. Competition was fierce among Lasith Embuldeniya of Royal College, Runner-up Avishka Fernando of St. Joseph Vaz College and eventual winner, Asitha, who was the strike bowler for the SL Under-19.
The All-Island Best All-rounder award was not a tough choice for the selectors who had no hesitation on picking Pramod Maduwantha of Isipathana College, from among the 12 nominations. After his efforts for the SL Under-19, Wanindu Hasaranga of Richmond College Galle was an easy choice for the All-Island Best Fielder award, who stood out from the other 16 contenders. Hasaranga was Runner-up for the same award last year, and this year he becomes one of two from last year, to win a main award. Runner-up was Asitha Gihan of St. Joseph Vaz College.
With 14 schools eligible for the All-Island Best Team award, the winner was Trinity, with 9 wins from 14 games and Runner-up was Thurstan with 6 wins from 14 games, while Raveen Sayer of Trinity College Kandy virtually picked as the All-Island Best Captain.
The selectors next had the daunting task of picking the 37th Bata-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016 and the Runners-up. However, Charith Asalanka’s contribution to his alma mater and SL Under-19, as an outstanding all-rounder made it easy for the selectors.
The Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016, Rasith Upamal Dias of Dharmaloka had it tough earlier on, as he had to battle out with Dilum Sudeera of Karandeniya Central. The selectors had to spend extra time before deciding on the eventual winner, based on records and observations made by provincial officials and umpires. The Emerging Best Batsman’s award had a long list of 35 players, with Rasith Upamal Dias of Dharmaloka winning the title. Sebamalaipillai Jeniflemin of St. John’s College Jaffna was the Runner-up.
Nearly 30 contenders were in the fray for the Emerging Schools Best Bowler’s award which was awarded to Dilum. The list for the Emerging Schools Best Fielder award was not so big this season with a three-cornered battle eventually won by Kavindu Sahan of Devananda College. Kavindu had a tough call against Runner-up Nimesh Dananjaya of St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya. There were 15 contenders for the Emerging Schools Best All-rounder award eventually won by Raveen Yasas of Devapathiraja Vidyalaya. After being a contender in virtually every other category, Raveen finally made it, with Dilum Sudeera of Karandeniya Central as his Runner-up. Selection of the Best Teams from the Provinces was next.
Wesley College Colombo, with 4 wins and 6 drawn from 12 games, was the winner from the Western Province, while St. Anthony’s College Katugastota, with 4 wins and 5 drawn from 10 games won from the Central Province. Devananda College Ambalangoda was the Best Team from the Southern Province, with 6 wins and 2 drawn from 11 games. St. Mary’s College Kegalle with 6 wins from 16 games was the Best Team from the Sabaragamuwa Province and St. John’s College Jaffna, with a solitary win from 10 outings, was the Best Team from the Northern Province, both for the third year running.
The winner from the North Western Province was St. Anne’s College Kurunegala, with 3 wins from 14 games. Overall, St. Mary’s College Kegalle was named Best Emerging Team. Division III champions, St. Peter’s College Negombo, were declared Most Promising Team All-Island. All winners will be notified by the organisers to gather at the BMICH in Colombo, on July 22 which will be the special day dedicated to them. D-Day Friday promises to be an unforgettable one to all winners, particularly to those who won the top awards. The Bata Shoe Company and the Sunday Times sincerely wish all winners will continue with their fine performances, which enabled them to win these prestigious awards, and reach greater heights in Cricket.
| All-Island | |
| Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016 Winner: Charith Asalanka (Richmond College Galle) 1st Runner-up: Sammu Ashan (Ananda College Colombo) 2nd Runner-up: Asitha Fernando (St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya) Best Batsman Winner: Charith Asalanka (Richmond College Galle) Runner-up: Sammu Ashan (Ananda College Colombo) 1st Round: Charana Nanayakkara, Sanjula Abeywickrama, Ramesh Nimantha, Lakshina Rodrigo, Pramod Maduwantha, T. Dilshan, Dilan Jayalath, Himesha Liyanage, Tiran Danapala, Charith Asalanka, Sammu Ashan, Vishad Randika, Kavindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Kaveen Bandara. 2nd Round: Sanjula, Ramesh, Himesha, Lakshina, Charith, Sammu, Avishka, Kaveen. 3rd Round: Sanjula, Ramesh, Charith, Sammu. Best Bowler Winner: Asitha Fernando (St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya) Runner-up: Avishka Fernando (St. Joseph Vaz) 1st Round: Raveen Sayer, Lasith Embuldeniya, Avishka Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Tilan Nimesh, Asitha Fernando, Damitha Silva, Lahiru Kumara, Sammu Ashan, Kavindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka 2nd Round: Raveen, Lasith, Avishka, Tilan, Asitha, Damitha, Charith. 3rd Round: Lasith, Avishka, Asitha. Best All-rounder Winner: Pramod Maduwantha (Isipathana College Colombo) Runner-up: Akash Seneviratne (De Mazenod College Kandana) 1st Round: Pramod Maduwantha, Raveen Sayer, Akash Senaviratne, Jayamal Wanniarachchi, Malshan Rodrigo, Sachitha Jayathilake. 2nd Round: Pramod, Akash, Jayamal, Sachitha 3rd Round: Pramod, Akash, Jayamal. Best Fielder Winner: Wanindu Hasaranga (Richmond College Galle) Runner-up: Asitha Gihan (St. Joseph Vaz) 1st Round: Dilan Jayalath, Asiri Wageesha, Tiran Dhanapala, Pasindu Bimsara, Asitha Gihan, Sandaruwan Fernando, D. Gunathilake, Sanogeeth Sanmuganathan, Raveen Sayer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Vishad Randika. 2nd Round: Tiran, Asitha, Gunathikale, Sanmuganathan, Hasaranga. Best Captain Winner: Raveen Sayer (Trinity College Kandy) Best Team Winner: Trinity College Kandy Runner-up: Thurstan College Colombo 1st Round: Trinity College, Thurstan College, Isipathana College, Richmond College, St. Joseph’s College, Gurukula Vidyalaya. Emerging Schools Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016 Winner: Rasith Upamal Dias (Dharmaloka College) Best Batsman Winner: Rasith Upamal Dias (Dharmaloka) Runner-up: Sebamalaipillai Jeniflemin (St. John’s Jaffna) 1st Round: Dilshan Madushanka, Rasith Upamal Dias, Lahiru Vimukthi, Sebamalaipillai Jeniflemin, Raveen Yasas. 2nd Round: Madushanka, Dias, Vimukthi, Jeniflemin. Best Bowler Winner: Dilum Sudeera (Karandeniya Central) Runner-up: Lasith Udage (St. Mary’s College) 1st Round: Raveen Yasas, Lasith Udage, Pathum Madusanka, Timira Supun Kumara, Damith Sampath, Prasad Anbalan, Dilum Sudeera, A.D. Parais, Pitumal Sinhawansa, Praveen Madushan, Hashin Dilmal. 2nd Round: Yasas, Udage, Sudeera, Parais, Piyumal. Best Fielder Winner: Kavindu Sahan (Devananda) Runner-up: Nimesh Dananjaya (St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya) 1st Round: Nimesh Dananjaya, Nilanka Rukshitha, Kavindu Sahan, Sebamalapillai Jeniflemin, G.D.K. Kotuwegoda. 2nd Round: Nimesh, Nilanka, Kavindu. Best All-rounder Winner: Raveen Yasas (Devapathiraja MV) Runner-up: Dilum Sudeera (Karandeniya Central) 1st Round: Raveen Yasas, M.R.M. Raheem, Lahiru Vimukthi, Lasith Udage, Dilum Sudeera, Chalitha de Silva, Damith Sampath. 2nd Round: Yasas, Rahim, Lahiru, Lasith, Dilum. Best Team Emerging Overall: St. Mary’s College Kegalle Western Province Winner: Wesley College Central Province Winner: St. Anthony’s College Katugastota Southern Province Winner: Devananda College Ambalangoda Sabaragamuwa Province Winner: St. Mary’s College Kegalle Northern Province Winner: St. John’s College Jaffna North Western Province Winner: St. Anne’s College Kurunegala North Central Province Winner: Anuradhapura Central Most Promising Team Winner: St. Peter’s College Negombo |