U-19 Cricket: Charith Asalanka is Bata-ST Schoolboy Cricketer 2015

The selection panel headed by Jayantha Seneviratne had very little problems in picking Charith Asalanka, the versatile cricketer with all-round capabilities, as the 36th Bata-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year for 2015.   Charith, who represents Richmond College Galle, is an all-rounder who leads his school team as well as the Sri Lanka Under-19s team – any schoolboy cricketer’s dream.   Charith was initially picked as the Best Allrounder and also was named the runner-up in the Best Bowler’s category.   He was an undisputed choice while Avishka Fernando, another promising and emerging allrounder representing St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa and the vice captain of Sri Lanka Under-19s, was the second best next to Charith in the All-Island Schools category.   The Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2015, Asitha Madushan of St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya did not have an easy race with winner of last year Lasith Laskhan of St. Thomas’ College Matara and Shamsul Muneer of St. Anthony’s College Wattala fighting for the spot.   All winners will be given prior notice by the organisers to gather at the BMICH in Colombo on July 24 which will be the special day dedicated for them.   The eventful Friday promises to be an unforgettable day to all winners especially those who won the top awards.   Final results of selection:   All-Island Schools Schoolboy cricketer of the Year 2014 Winner: Charith Asalanka (Richmond College) Runner-up: Avishka Fernando (St. Sebastian’s College) Best batsman Winner: Avishka Fernando (St. Sebastian’s) Runner-up: Akhil Inham (DS Senanayake) First round: Avishka Fernando, Nisal Fransisco, Naveen Vithanapathirana, Charith Sasalanka, Shehan Weerasinghe, Lakkana Jayasekera, Ramesh Nimantha, Arjuna Jayasekera, Thanuka Dabare, Hasitha Lanka, Charith Asalanka. Second round: Fernando, Fransisco, Vithanapathirana, Inham, Asalanka. Third round: Fernando, Fransisco, Inham. Best bowler Winner: Dilanka Sandaken (Ananda) Runner-up: Charith Asalanka (Richmond) First round: Ravin Sayer, Dilanka Sandaken, Dulanjana Seneviratne, Chanaka Devinda, Akash Seneviratne, Naveeb Peiris, Charith Asalanka, Lasith Ambuldeniya, Naveen Gunawardane, Harith Samarasinghe. Second round: Sayer, Sandaken, Seneviratne, Devinda, Asalanka, Gunawardane. Third round: Sayer, Sandaken, Asalanka. Best all-rounder Winner: Charith Asalanka (Richmond) Runner-up: Naveen Peiris (Maliyadeva) First round: Naveen Peiris, Tuan Safran, Raveen Tharindu, Charith Asalanka, Thimira Jayasinghe, Shifran Muthalif, Sammu Ashan, P.G.R. Pupulewatta. Second round: Peiris, Asalanka, Muthalif, Ashan. Third round: Peiris, Asalanka, Ashan. Best fielder Winner: Jammika Darana (Lumbini) Runner-up: Wanindu Hasaranga (Richmond) First round: Kaveesh Dilranga, K.L.B. Rathnayake, Jammika Darana, K.P.L. Perera, Sithara Gimhana, Wanindu Hasaranga. Best Captain Winner: Chandula Jayamanne (St. Peter’s) Runner-up: Tharusha Iddamalgoda (Lumbini) Best team Winner: St. Peter’s College Runner-up: Lumbini College First round: S. Thomas’ College, Trinity College, Thurstan College, Lumbini College, Richmond College, St. Peter’s College, Royal College Colombo. Emerging Schools Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2014 Winner: Asitha Madushan (St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya) Best batsman Winner: Pathum Nissanka (Kalutara Vidyalaya) Runner-up: Lasith Lakshan (St. Thomas’ Matara) First round: Risith Dias, Asiri Wageesha, Pathum Nissanka, Harith Lakshan, Yohan Madushanka, Paramananthan Thuvarakaseelan, Lasith Lakshan, Sebamalaipillai Flemin. Second round: Dias, Wageesha, Nissanka, H. Lakshan, L. Lakshan. Third round: Dias, Wageesha, Nissanka, L. Lakshan. Best bowler Winner: Asitha Madushanka (St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya) Runner-up: Shamsul Muneer (St. Anthony’s Wattala) First round: Shamsul Muneer, Ravindran Lohathieswar, W.T.S. Kumara, Kosala Bandara, Dilum Weeraratne, Roshen Fernando, I.N. Wijerathne, Sameera Costa, Sevinda Thulakshana, Maleesha Harshajeewa, Asitha Madushanka. Second round: Muneer, Lohathieswar, Kumara, Weeraratne, Madushanka. Third round: Muneer, Madushanka. Best fielder Winner: Nimesh Jayakody (St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya) Runner-up: Suraj Indramal (Karandeniya Central) First round: Nimesh Jayakody, Suraj Indramal. Best all-rounder Winner: Sameera Vithanage (S. de S. Jayasinghe MV) Runner-up: Yohan Madushanka (Karandeniya Central) First round: Yohan Madushanka, Sameera Vithanage, Pandula Udupihilla, Lahiru Vimukthi, Mahesh Sanjeewa, Heshan Danushka, Roshen Fernando, Lakshitha Dilshan, Shamsul Muneer. Second round: Madushanka, Vithanage, Udupihilla, Vimukthi, Sanjeewa, Fernando, Muneer. Third round: Madushanka, Vithanage, Vimukthi, Muneer. Best team Western Province Winner: St. Anthony’s College Wattala Central Province Winner: St. Anthony’s College Katugastota Southern Province Winner: P. de S. Kularatne Maha Vidyalaya Sabaragamuwa Province Winner: St. Mary’s College Kegalle Northern Province Winner: St. John’s College Jaffna North Western Province Winner: St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya Best Emerging team Winner: P. de S. Kularatne Maha Vidyalaya Most promising team Winner: St. John’s College Jaffna