Kamindu Mendis is the best of the best
Kamindu Mendis - Pic courtesy SLC
While at school when at walked on to the crease for Richmond, he scored hundreds and he was the automatic captain for the SLC Under 19 team. Besides that when he bowls he is ambidextrous.
Kamindu is the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2018 and his performances in the school tournaments and in the international arena reasonably justifies the selection. Kamindu has already begun his journey in the path of cricket, and is currently in action in the ongoing
Sri Lanka Cricket Super 4 Provincial Limited Overs Tournament, representing Team Colombo.
Besides winning the topmost award in the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2018, Kamindu has two other awards under his belt — the Best Batsman and Best Fielder awards in the All-Island Schools category. Winning a hat-trick at any event will be dream run for any athlete and Kamindu, deservedly has earned this honour. He belongs to the generation of national cricket.
Coming second best to Kamindu is Savindu Peiris of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, who will be crowned the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2018 runner-up. Savindu became the Best Allrounder in addition to finishing second best among Bowlers among All-Island Schools.
Hareen Buddhila of St. Aloysius College Galle won the Best Bowler award making Savindu to second best, while two St. Joseph’s College players finished second to the best of the best, Kamindu Mendis in the two award categories he clinched. Josephian Revan Kelly was the runner-up in the Best Batsman while his team mate Sachintha Ravindu was the runner-up in the Best Fielder both behind Kamindu, the showstopper.
S. Thomas’ College will have many reasons to rejoice this season with the brand of cricket they dished out during this season. To garnish their top award was Dellon Peiris’ success as the runner-up in the Best Allrounder award, which the top was won by Cambrian, Savindu. Then came the second, when Sithara Hapuhinna was picked as the Best Wicketkeeper, ahead of Teron Baskaran of D.S. Senanayake College.
After heavy scrutinise S. Thomas’ College was declared the Best All-Island Team, for their unbeaten record and by virtue skipper Dellon Peiris was named the Best Captain.
Coming second best to the Thomians were two teams from the south, who maintains a healthy rivalry in cricket — Richmond and Mahinda colleges. Both teams were declared joint runners-up after heavy discussions and hot air that came across.
The southern region looks to have a healthy system of producing good cricketers as Raveen Yasas of Devapathiraja College, Rathgama was named the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2018. Raveen should definitely be proud of his achievement as he became the Best Batsman among Emerging Schools, which includes institutions that play Division II and III cricket, and help his team reach Division I next season.
Raveen Yasas
Coming second to Raveen at both occasions is Randeera Ranasinghe from St. Anne’s College Kurunegala. Randeera emerged runner-up in Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer, Best Batsman and Best Allrounder, which was won by Pathum Madushanka of Devapathiraja Rathgama.
Tamashana Abeykoon of St. Anthony’s College Kandy emerged the Best Fielder among Emerging Schools as Ishara Maduwantha of Karandeniya Central pocketed the runner-up award. After a long lapse St. Peter’s College Negombo produced a champ, when Umesh Kurera grabbed the Best Wicketkeeper award while its runner-up title went to Kavindu de Livera of Devananda College, Ambalangoda.
Rohan Sanjaya Silva of Tissa Central, Kalutara was the pick among the rest, as he became the Best Bowler among Emerging Schools, while Chathura Jayanath proved cricket is for all when he won the runner-up title and gave his school, Debarawewa National School in Tissamaharamaya, the much needed attention.
Tissa Central College, Kalutara had a good record to be named the Best Emerging Team as St. Anthony’s College, Kandy emerged runners-up. Awards for teams on Provincial level were also picked by the selection committee prior to selecting the winners of the newly introduced category, the Girls’ Schools.
With cricket among girls picking up gradually, it was an easy task to pick the best with only one official tournament taking place. Worthy champions, Devapathiraja College, Rathgama were declared the Best Girls’ Team while Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda emerged runners-up. Kaveesha Dilhari of Devapathiraja, was picked the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Promising Girls Cricketer of the Year 2018.
Special Dialog 4G awards
With enthusiasm picking up, Dialog Axiata, the partners of the show, introduced a new set of awards for the ever improving awards ceremony, all related to their brand Dialog 4G and its main theme –speed. Two of the awards were based on the theme and the third was on the fastest to 1000 runs. From the Limited Overs competition the Dialog 4G Fastest to 50 Runs award was claimed by Josephian Revan Kelly while the Dialog 4G Fastest to 100 Runs went to Hasitha Boyagoda of Trinity College, Kandy.
The Dialog 4G Fastest to 1000 Runs award had just one contender and that was none other than Revan Kelly of St. Joseph’s College. The fourth award was for the Dialog 4G Most Number of Outright Wins in 2018, which Richmond College Galle claimed with ease.
ICC Under-19 Cricket
World Cup 2018
The organisers also made it a point to recognise and honour the Sri Lanka Under-19 team that participated in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2018, held in New Zealand. This team was led by the glamour boy Kamindu Mendis and the team had a total of 15 players. Hasitha Boyagoda of Trinity College, who claimed the world record for the highest knock in a Youth ODI, is in line to receive the Most Promising Player from the international competition.
The talents of all schoolboy cricketers were highly considered and scrutinised before being aptly picked by a large selection panel of experts, headed by renowned cricketing personality Jayantha Seneviratne, the Chairman. Others who contributed with their expertise were Brendan Kuruppu, Carlton Bernadus, Aubrey Kuruppu, Upul Sumathipala and Lakshman Ranasinghe as independent judges, SLSCA officials Oshara Panditharathna (President and Co-Chairman of Selection Panel), Dilshan de Silva (Secretary), Jagath Senaratne (Vice President), Kapila Jayalath (Vice President), Nihal Fernando (Treasurer), Kamal Indrajith (U-19 Tournament Secretary) and representing the Association of Cricket Umpires’ — Daminda Cooray (Vice President), Harsha Peiris (Vice President), Rohitha Kottachchi (General Secretary), Thassim Junkeer (Assignment Secretary, Rohan Chandrakantha (Assistant General Secretary) and Nishantha Dissanayake (ExCo/Provincial Representative). The statistics for selection was provided by Batsman.com run headed by Kumara Gamhewage and his team consisting Chaminda Kaushan, Eranga Madushanka and Viraj, based on matches played in the concluded Singer Schools Under-19 Cricket Tournaments. The coordinator for the selection and the event is evergreen Ajit Bodinagoda.
All winners have been given prior notice by the organisers to gather at the BMICH in Colombo on June 20 which will be the special day dedicated for them. The eventful Wednesday promises to be an unforgettable one to all winners in particular those who won the top awards. Dialog Axiata and the Sunday Times humbly wish that, all winners will be able to continue with their fine performances, which were helpful in being recipients of these awards, to reach greater heights in cricket.
Selection Results
All-Island
- Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2018
Winner: Kamindu Mendis (Richmond College, Galle)
Runner-up: Savindu Peiris (Prince of Wales College)
- Best Batsman:
Winner: Kamindu Mendis (Richmond College, Galle)
Runner-up: Revan Kelly (St. Joseph’s College)
Top 10: Kamindu Mendis (Richmond), Revan Kelly (St. Joseph’s), Navod Paranavithana (Mahinda), Lasith Croosepulle (Maris Stella), Lahiru Attanayake (Ananda), Ravindu Sebukuttige (St. Aloysius), Kevin Perera (Maris Stella), Hasintha Jayasooriya (Trinity), Tharusha Fernando (St. Sebastian’s), Pubudu Bandara (Trinity)
- Best Bowler:
Winner: Hareen Buddhila (St. Aloysius College, Galle)
Runner-up: Savindu Peiris (Prince of Wales, Moratuwa)
Top 10: Savindu Peiris (Prince of Wales), Mohamed Ameen (St. Peter’s), Vimukthi Nethumal (Trinity), Pasindu Ushetti (Maris Stella), Hareen Buddhila (St. Aloysius), Dhyan Vimukthi (Lumbini), Sandun Mendis (Richmond), Kaumal Nanayakkara (Prince of Wales), Dunith Wellalage (St. Joseph’s)
- Best Fielder:
Winner: Kamindu Mendis (Richmond College, Galle)
Runner-up: Sachintha Ravindu (St. Joseph’s College)
Top 5: Sachintha Ravindu (St. Joseph’s), Dellon Peiris (S. Thomas’), Kamindu Mendis (Richmond), Ravindu Rashantha (Dharmasoka), Lakshan Gamage (St. Joseph’s)
- Best Allrounder:
Winner: Savindu Peiris (Prince of Wales, Moratuwa)
Runner-up: Dellon Peiris (S. Thomas’ College)
Top 8: Mahesh Theekshana (St. Benedict’s), Savindu Peiris (Prince of Wales), Ravindu Fernando (Maris Stella), Dellon Peiris (S. Thomas’), Thimira Supun (St. Mary’s Kegalle), Asel Sigera (Ananda), Dulaj Ranatunga (Maliyadeva), Dunith Wellalage (St. Joseph’s)
- Best Wicketkeeper:
Winner: Sithara Hapuhinna (S. Thomas’ College)
Runner-up: Teron Baskaran (D.S. Senanayake College)
Top 10: Thisuraka Akmeemana (Wesley), Amila Dayanaka (Dharmapala), Chathura Prabath (St. Aloysius), Dushan Ranmal (Lumbini), Pathum Mahesh (Gurukula), Sithara Hapuhinna (S. Thomas’), Malintha Peiris (St. Sebastian’s), Risira Weerasooriya (St. John’s Panadura), Vinura Hiranjith (Mahinda), Teron Baskaran (DSS)
- Best Team:
Winner: S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia
Runners-up (Joint): Mahinda College and Richmond College
Top 10: S. Thomas’, Mahinda, Richmond, Maris Stella, Trinity, St. Peter’s, Prince of Wales, St. Aloysius, D.S. Senanayake, St. Joseph Vaz
- Best Captain:
Winner: Dellon Peiris (S. Thomas’ College)
Emerging Schools
- Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2017
Winner: Raveen Yasas (Devapathiraja College, Rathgama)
Runner-up: Randeera Ranasinghe (St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala)
- Best Fielder
Winner: Tamashana Abeykoon (St. Anthony’s College, Kandy)
Runner-up: Ishara Maduwantha (Karandeniya Central)
Top 10: Umesh Lakshan (St. Peter’s Negombo), Kavindu Irosh (St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya), Sohan de Livera (Devananda Ambalangoda), Tamashana Abeykoon (St. Anthony’s Kandy), Dineth Chandimal (St. Anne’s Kurunegala), Pasindu Shanadith (Sri Sumangala Panadura), Pulasthi Atapattu (Kegalu Vidyalaya), Shehan Fonseka (Holy Cross), Dhananjaya Maduranga (Kingswood), Ishara Maduwantha (Karandeniya Central)
- Best Batsman
Winner: Raveen Yasas (Devapathiraja College, Rathgama)
Runner-up: Randeera Ranasinghe (St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala)
Top 10: Wanitha Wanninayake (St. Anne’s Kurunegala), Umesh Kurera (St. Peter’s Negombo), Nipuna Deshan (Sri Sumangala Panadura), Randeera Ranasinghe (St. Anne’s Kurunegala), Pasindu Sooriyabandara (Royal College), Raveen Yasas (Devapathiraja), Kavindu Irosh (St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya), Pathum Madushanka (Devapathiraja), Rajitha Ashan (Siri Piyarathana), Sohan Livera (Devananda Ambalangoda)
- Best Bowler:
Winner: Rohan Sanjaya (Tissa Central, Kalutara)
Runner-up: Chathura Jayanath (Debarawewa MMV, Tissamaharama)
Top 10: Rohan Sanjaya (Tissa Central), Anuka Jayasinghe (Sri Sumangala Panadura), Chathura Jayanath (Debarawewa MMV), Pathum Madushanka (Devapathiraja), Nimnaka Jayathilaka (St. Anthony’s Kandy), Dishan Pramod (St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya), Kavindu Jayawickrama (Kalutara V), Heshan Madushanka (Piliyandala C), Dilhara Kumara (Holy Cross), Manula Perera (Royal College)
- Best Wicketkeeper:
Winner: Umesh Kurera (St. Peter’s College, Negombo)
Runner-up: Sohan de Livera (Devananda College, Ambalangoda)
Top 10: Umesh Kurera (St. Peter’s Negombo), Kavindu Irosh (St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya), Yohan Ravishka (Tissa C), Gayashan Chathuranga (Piliyandala C), Shehan Malinda (Debarawewa MMV), Hasith Hansidu (Ananda Shasthralaya), Dunith Nimhan (Kalutara V), Joel Praveen (St. John’s Jaffna), Hareen Achintha (Devapathiraja), Sohan de Livera (Devananda Ambalangoda)
- Best Allrounder:
Winner: Pathum Madushanka (Devapathiraja College, Rathgama)
Runner-up: Randeera Ranasinghe (St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala)
Top 10: Pathum Madushanka (Devapathiraja), Raveen Yasas (Devapathiraja), Randeera Ranasinghe (St. Anne’s Kurunegala), Kavindu Jayawickrama (Kalutara V), Pubudu Ganegama (St. Anne’s Kurunegala), Madhawa Mavindu (Dharmaloka), Yugeesha Dishan (Dharmaloka), Sasith Ruwantha (Rahula Matara), Shaminda Senaratne (St. Anthony’s Kandy), Navodya Imesh (St. Anthony’s Kandy)
- Best Emerging Provincial Teams
Western Province: Sri Sumangala College, Panadura
Southern Province: Devananda College, Ambalangoda
Central Province: Vidyartha College
Uva Province: Bandarawela Central College
North Western Province: St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala
Northern Province: St. John’s College, Jaffna
Sabaragamuwa Province: Dudley Senanayake Central, Tholangamuwa
- Best Emerging Team:
Winner: Tissa Central College, Kalutara
Runners-up: St. Anthony’s College, Kandy
- Girls’ Schools
Best Team:
Winner: Devapathiraja College, Rathgama
Runner-up: Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda
- Most Promising Player:
Winner: Kavisha Dilhari (Devapathiraja College, Rathgama)
Top 6: Shikari Nuwanthi (Devapathiraja), Sathya Sandeepani (Devapathiraja), Harshitha Madhavi (Anula), Sanduni Nisansala (St. Anthony’s GS Kandy), Rashmi Silva (Rathnavali BV Gampaha), Kavisha Dilhari (Devapathiraja)
- Dialog 4G Special Awards
Limited Overs Fastest 50: Revan Kelly (St. Joseph’s College)
Limited Overs Fastest 100: Hasitha Boyagoda (Trinity College)
Fastest to 1000 runs: Revan Kelly (St. Joseph’s College)
- Team with most number of outright wins: Richmond College, Galle
- Sri Lanka Under-19 Team for World Cup
Most Promising Player: Hasitha Boyagoda (Trinity College, Kandy)