The Pinnacle of Success at the end of a demanding season
Allrounder Kamindu Mendis won the pinnacle award last year
The dream of every Schoolboy/girl Cricketer is to be selected Best Schoolboy/Girl Cricketer of the Year. Every year the winner receives a glittering trophy which will occupy a special place at the winner’s residence for life.
Winning the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year opens the way for a young cricketer to go a long way in his cricketing career.
The 1918-’19 season produced a large number of excellent performances, both in batting and bowling, with many scoring 1000 runs and capturing 100 wickets in all 3 segments.
Three cricketers stood head and shoulders above the others among the Premier Schools. They enjoyed a very successful season and thus caught the eye of the Selection Panel. They are Santhush Gunathilaka, Lakshitha Manasinghe and Kavishka Senadheera.
Santhush Gunathilaka, the Peterite run machine performed exceptionally in bowling too. Having topped the 1,000-run milestone, he captured 27 wickets as a right arm opening bowler. Gunathilaka’s all-round performances contributed significantly towards the Peterite’s average performance of two victories from 15 matches. As a Junior National player and a senior member of the side, Gunathilaka’s mentoring of the juniors had helped them in a big way.
Nalanda skipper Lakshitha Rasanjana Manasinghe leading the side from the front with his contributions, both in batting and bowling, helped Nalanda register 7 victories from 15 matches. A cricketer par excellence, Manasinghe’s bat looked broad as he topped the 1,000-run mark and had a rich haul of over 100 wickets.
A keen student of the game, he always liked to accept a challenge and also throw a challenge at the opponents. His contributions with the bat and ball, along with his panther like fielding, makes Nalanda a side to be reckoned with.
Third in line is Trinity College cricketer Kavishka Senadheera. Senadheera became the first bowler to reach the 100-wicket mark. His off-spinners were the key weapon of the Kandy school to keep most of the opposing batters guessing. His variations and the ability to deceive batsmen in flight is the secret behind this talented bowler’s success. With Senadheera operating from one end, it encourages and inspires his fellow bowlers to put continuous pressure on their opponents.
In the Emerging Schools segment, the high riding all-round cricketers in the fray for Schoolboy Cricketer are Chamod Sandaru (Piliyandala Central), Samith Isuru (Karandeniya MMV) and Heshan Madusanka (Piliyandala Central).
Chamod Sandaru of Piliyandala Central is a batsman of the highest calibre who scored 1,068 runs with a highest score of 104 runs. His 4 centuries were scored under difficult situations, helping his school to remain unbeaten. The Piliyandala School has 7 victories from 15 matches.
A fine right handed, technically sound bat of the attacking mould, Sandaru gives very little chances for the bowlers to unsettle him. He gets into stride very early and when in full flow, is a delight to watch.
Another complete cricketer is Samith Isuru of Karandeniya MMV. This young all-rounder who rises to the occasion, has contributed much to Karandeniya MMV in their 7 victories this season. A right arm leg-spin and googly bowler who makes the batsman play at every ball, he uses the crease for variations.
As a batsman, Isuru has scored 833 runs with two centuries. A batsman who takes time to settle in, once settled, he is capable of sending the bowlers on a leather hunt.
Another Piliyandala Central cricketer Heshan Madusanka is a fine all-rounder who scored 684 runs, including two centuries. As a bowler, Madusanka has captured 87 wickets. Madusanka’s all-round abilities combined with Sandaru’s batting talent have been the mainstay in the Piliyandala School’s success having 7 outright wins from 15 matches in the concluded season.