Samarasinghe is Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year (22 Sep 1996)

Sunday 22, September 1996

Samarasinghe is Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year

Daily News

Nimesh Perera is OBSERVER-BATA Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year

Nimesh Perera of St. Sebastian's, Moratuwa was unanimously picked as Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 1996 and Sri Piyaratne Maha Vidyalaya, Padukka skipper Chandana Samarasinghe - the Outstation Schoolboy cricketer of the Year 1996 by the panel of umpires from the three umpiring associations - Association of Cricket Umpires Association (Sri Lanka), Central Province Cricket Umpires Association and Southern Province Cricket Umpires Association at a meeting held at Galadarai Hotel.

This is the 19th year in succession that the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contests have been conducted and these contests have no doubt opened the door of the young cricketers aspiring for national honours.

The Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contests have been the only contests that have had a run without a break for 19 years. These contests have encouraged the cricketers to better deeds and gain entry to the national team.

The fact that 10 of the present Sri lanka squad of 16 cricketers have been winners of various titles, speaks for itself. Arjuna Ranatunga won the top award twice, Roshan Mahanama twice, Asanka Gurusinha once, Aravinda de Silva was runner-up to Mahanama in 1984, Marvan Atapattu, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumara Dharmasena, then Aravinda de Silva, Hashan Tillekeratne, Romesh Kaluwitharana have won sectional awards.

Sanath Jayasuriya from St. Servatius College, Matara won the Outstation Schoolboy cricketer of the Year Award in 1988.

Besides winning the top title, Nimesh Perera, who had a haul of over 100 wickets for the second successive year, also won the awards for the best bowler and was runner-up in the best all-rounder's award. Last year, Nimesh got 130 wickets, and this year, he had a haul of 134 wickets for 1,605 runs which gave him an average of 11.97 a piece. He also batted well to collect 764 runs from 26 innings with two not outs to have an average of 31.83 runs per innings.

Last Year, Nimesh was runner-up in the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award to Tilan Samaraweera of Ananda. This year, the result was reversed with Perers being picked as the Schoolboy cricketer of the Year and Tilan Samaraweera - the runner-up. Tilan Samaraweera, however, keeps the title of best all-rounder which he won last year and Nimesh was runner-up last year.

For Sri Piyaratne skipper Chandana Samarasinghe, his elevation as Outstation Schoolboy cricketer of the year is almost a dream come true. Last year, Sri Piyaratne Maha Vidyalaya in Padukka were picked as the Best up and Coming Team and this year, the school has produced the Outstation schoolboy cricketer of the Year.

Besides winning the coveted Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award, Samarasinghe was also picked as the best all-rounder. He had a total of 1,192 runs from 27 innings with two not outs to have average of 47.92 per innings, while in bowling, he bagged 105 wickets giving away 1,469 runs for an average of 13.98 per wicket. He also captained Sri Piyaratne Maha Vidyalaya to 11 wins this season from 18 matches, while 5 matches were drawn and two lost.

It was also encouraging to note the re-entry of Trinity College and St. Benedict's College among the winners. Trinity's C. K. Sangakkara was picked as the best batsman, while Benedictine P. Hewage was picked as the best fielder in the All-Island Contest. Trinity was also picked as the best team in the Central Province.

Two cricketers who toured England with the Sri Lanka under 15 team for the Junior World Cup in England also figure among the award winners. St. Anthony's Wattala wicketkeeper J. Sivanesharaja who distinguished himself well in England, was picked as the runner-up in the best fielder's award in the Outstation Section, while Lumbini Maha Vidyalaya's Ranil Dhammika was picked for the merit award. Ranil Dhammika, while still being under 15, has taken 99 wickets this season conceding 896 runs for an average of 9.05 runs per wicket.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)