Sri Lanka: Pushpakumara Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year (1 August 1999)

1 August 1999

Sri Lanka: Pushpakumara Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year

A C de Silva and Leslie Fernando

Ananda College allrouder Muthumudalige Pushpakumara was unanimously picked as Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year for the 1998-99 season by the panel of cricket umpires at Trans Asia Hotel last Tuesday.

While Pushpakumara got the top award, Panadura Royal's star batsman Chamara Silva was picked as the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year.

These two cricketers and many other sectional winners will receive their awards at a glittering show to be held later this year.

Besides winning the main award, Pushpakumara had a bagful of awards coming his way for the wonderful performances with both bat and ball this season. He was also picked as the Best Bowler, Best Allrounder and Best Fielder in the all-island contest. He scored 650 runs this season with 122 not out against St. Sebastian's as his highest. He captured 63 wickets with his off spinners and held 26 catches.

Chamara Silva who is right now in England with the Sri Lanka 'A' side, was also picked as the Best Batsman in the Outstation Contest. He represented U 19 team on the Indian tour too.

The Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and other allied contests have been held for 21 years without a break and these contests are eagerly looked forward to and they serve as incentives for the long drawn out inter-school cricket season which starts around September the previous year and ends in April the following year.

In the all-island contest, the Best Batsman is Josephian opening batsman Ian Daniels, who was also runner-up to Pushpakumara in the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest. St. Peter's were picked as the Best Team and its skipper Jerome Fernando - the Best Captain.

In the Outstation Contest, Ranil Dhammika of Lumbini MV was runner-up to Chamara Silva in the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year. Dhammika was also picked as Best Bowler, Best Allrounder.

The Best Fielder in the Outstation Contest - J. Sivanesarajah of St. Anthony's College, Wattala.

Round 1: Nimesh Perera (President's College Rajagiriya), D. Perera (Sri Sumangala Panadura), Suraj de Alwis (De Mazenod College) M. Fernando (Maris Stella), Susantha Pradeep (Kalutara Vidyalaya), D. Perera (Raddoluwa MV), Chanaka Wijesinghe (St. Sylvesters College), Ranil Dhammika (Lumbini MV), R. Dissanayake (St. Sylvesters College), T. Mendis (Ananda Sastralaya Kotte), C. Buddika (St. John's Panadura), Chamara Silva (Royal Panadura), D. K. Ranaweera (Vidyartha College), J. Sivanesarajha (St. Anthony's Wattala), A. D. Ratnasiri (Harischandra MV), Chamila Perera (Richmond College), T. Paranavitharana (St. Mary's Kegalle), N. N. Liyanage (Piliyandala Central), S. Kumara (Gurukula MV), R. Prasanda (Piliyandala Central), T. A. Fernando (Joseph Vaz), J. Weerasinghe (Bandaranayake MMV Gampaha), S. Nayanajith (President's College Maharagama), N. Pattiarachchi (Dharmaloka College), R. M. S. Ranaweera (Yapalawatta MMV), Manoj Dushantha (Asoka Vidyalaya).

Round 2: Nimesh Perera, D. Perera, S. de Alwis, M. Fernando, S. Pradeep, C. Wijesinghe, R. Dhammika, T. Mendis, C. Buddika, C. Silva, J. Weerasinghe.

Round 3: N. Perera, C. Wijesinghe, R. Dhammika, T. Mendis, C. Silva, J. Weerasinghe.

Winner: Chamara Silva (Royal College Panadura)

Runner-up: Chanaka Wijesinghe (St. Sylvesters College)

Round 1: S. Mendis (St. Annes College), C. Buddika (St. John's Panadura), C. Dilruk (Moratu Vidyalaya), S. Ranaweera (Vidyartha College), P. Sathyapala (Mahanama), W. Hemal (Royal Panadura), P. Rajasekera (Taxila MV), M. Deshapriya (Moratu Vidyalaya), V. Perera (Taxila MV), P. A. Ariyadasa (St. Mary's Kegalle), R. Dhammika (Lumbini MV), R. Jayasundera (President College Rajagiriya), U. Irandika (St. Aloysious College), N. V. K. Pannilavithanage (Raddoluwa MV), S. de Alwis (De Mazenod College), C. Wijesinghe (St. Sylvesters College), R. Dissanayake (St. Sylvesters), N. Gunathilaka (Raddoluwa MV), R. Arunadeva (Asoka Vidyalaya), B. R. Sanjaya (S. de S. Jayasinghe Vidyalaya), D. Roshan (St. John's Nugegoda), H. W. Mahes (Sri Devananda MV), S. S. Kahingala (Aluthgama Vidyalaya), G. Indika (Kegalu Vidyalaya).

Round 2: C. Dilruk, S. Ranaweera, P. Sathyapala, P. Rajasekera, V. Perera, R. Dhammika, P. Jayasundera, U. Irandika, H. V. K. Pannilavithanage, S. de Alwis, C. Wijesinghe, R. Dissanayake, S. S. Kahingala.

Round 3: S. Ranaweera, P. Sathyapala, R. Dhammika, P. Jayasundera, U. Irandika, S. S. Kahingala.

Winner: Ranil Dhammika (Lumbini MV)

Runner-up: Sarath Ranaweera (Vidyartha College Kandy)

Round 1: Hasanka Dilhan (St. Aloysius College), J. Weerasinghe (St. Sylvester's College), S. Soyza (Dharmasoka College), K. Bulathsinghala (Maris Stella), S. Senanayake (Lumbini MV), A. Buddirathna (Sri Sumangala), D. M. Sampath (Kalutara Vidyalaya), D. Maduranga (De Mazenod), J. Sivanesava-Rajah (St. Anthony's Wattala), N. Paliyawadana (Taxila MV), U. Sepala (Mahanama), M. Chandralal (Siripiyaratna MV), Sampath Perera (Moratu Vidyalay), S. Kumara (Gurukula MV), P. D. L. Gunawardena (St. Mary's Kegalle), D. R. Jayakoddy (Wickramasheela MMV), N. Colambage (S. de S. Jayasinghe Vidyalaya).

Round 2: H. Dilhan, S. Soyza, K. Bulathsinghala, S. Senanayake, J. Sivanesvarajah, N. Paliyawadana, U. Sepala, M. Chandralal, P. D. L. Gunawardena, D. R. Jayakoddy.

Round 3: H. Dilhan, K. Bulathsinghala, S. Senanayake, J. Sivanesvarajah, D. R. Jayakoddy.

Winner: J. Sivanesvarajah (St. Anthony's College Wattala)

Runner-up: Hasanka Dilhan (St. Aloysius College Galle).

Round 1: Suraj de Alwis (De Mazenod), C. Wijesinghe (St. Sylvesters), R. Dhammika (Lumbini MV), R. Dissanayake (St. Sylvesters), N. Abeyratne (Lumbini MV), P. Jayasundara (President's College Rajagiriya), D. Perera (Sri Sumangala), T. Mendis (Ananda Sastralaya Kotte), C. Buddhika (St. John's Panadura), P. A. Ariyadasa (St. Mary's Kegalle), S. Mendis (St. Annes Kurunegela), P. Rajasekera (Taxila MV), M. Deshapriya (Moratu Vidyalaya), S. Bulathgama (Taxila MV), V. Perera (Taxila MV), S. Nayanajith (President's College Maharagama), D. Roshan (St. John's Nugegoda), T. Indika (Kegalu Vidyalaya), P. Dharmapala (Wickramasheela MMV), R. Sanjaya (S. de S. Jayasinghe Vidyalaya), S. Kahingala (Aluthgama Vidyalaya), H. W. Mahes (Sri Devananda MV).

Round 2: S. de Alwis, C. Wijesinghe, R. Dhammika, R. Dissanayake, N. Abeyratne, P. Jayasundara, D. Perera, T. Mendis, C. Buddika, S. Mendis, P. A. Ariyadasa, P. Rajasekera, T. Indika, H. W. Mahes.

Round 3: S. de Alwis, C. Wijesinghe, R. Dhammika, T. Mendis, S. Mendis, H. W. Mahes.

Winner: Ranil Dhammika (Lumbini MV)

Runner-up: H. W. Mahes (Sri Devananda MV Ambalangoda).

Round 1: Chamara Silva (Royal College Panadura), Chanaka Wijesinghe (St. Sylvester's College), Ranil Dhammika (Lumbini MV), Sarath Ranaweera (Vidyartha College Kandy), J. Sivanesvarajah (St. Anthony's College Wattala), Hasanka Dilhan (St. Aloysius College Galle), H. W. Mahes (Sri Devananda College Ambalangoda).

Winner: Chamara Silva (Royal Panadura)

Runner-up: Ranil Dhammika (Lumbini)

Round 1: Ian Daniels (St. Joseph's College), M. Gajanayake (D. S. Senanayake College), Upeka Fernando (S. Thomas' College), Thushan Amarasuriya (Royal), Roshan Peiris (Prince of Wales College), Suranga de Silva (St. Sebastian's College), M. Pushpakumara (Ananda), Hasantha Fernando (Prince of Wales), N. de Silva (Thurstan College), S. Gunasekera (St. Peters College), Tilina Kandambi (Ananda), N. Pradeep (D. S. Senanayake), J. Jayasooriya (St. Joseph's), Dilanka Perera (St. Joseph's), S. Pinnaduwa (St. Anthony's Katugastota), P. Seneviratne (Dharmaraja College), Chamila Perera (Richmond College), Chamara Silva (Royal Panadura), Chanaka Wijesinghe (St. Sylvester's), Mahesh Perera (St. Peters), Jerome Fernando (St. Peters).

Round 2: Ian Daniels, M. Gajanayake, Upeka Fernando, Thushan Amarasuriya, Roshan Peiris, Suranga de Silva, S. Pinnaduwa, P. Seneviratne, C. Perera, C. Silva.

Round 3: Ian Daniels, M. Gajanayake, Upeka Fernando, Thushan Amarasuriya, P. Seneviratne, C. Perera.

Winner: Ian Daniels (St. Joseph's College)

Runner-up: Pubudu Seneviratne (Dharmaraja College Kandy).

Round 1: A. Wijeratne (St. Joseph's College), I. Hettiarachchi (St. Joseph's), D. Fernando (St. Joseph's), K. Fernando (Ananda), M. Pushpakumara (Ananda), A. Samsudeen (St. Peters College), C. Peiris (St. Peters), J. Gunaratne (Prince of Wales College), M. Alwis (D. S. Senanayake College), T. Pushpasinghe (Mahinda College), T. Madanayake (Kingswood College). P. Jayawardena (St. Anthony's Katugastota), A. Marapona (Dharmaraja College), D. Gunathilaka (Maliyadeva College), S. Pinnaduwa (St. Anthony's Katugastota), R. Dhammika (Lumbini MV), S. Ranaweera (Vidyaratha College).

Round 2: I. Hettiarachchi, D. Fernando, M. Pushpakumara, C. Peiris, J. Gunaratne, M. Alwis, T. Madanayake, R. Dhammika, S. Ranaweera.

Round 3: I. Hettiarachchi, M. Pushpakumara, J. Gunaratne, T. Madanayake, R. Dammika.

Winner: M. Pushpakumara (Ananda College)

Runner-up: Ranil Dhammika (Lumbini MV)

Round I: L. Chaththuranga (Ananda), K. Cooray (St. Sebastians College), H. de Mel (Ananda), J. Saverimuthupulle (St. Benedicts College), S. Lafir (D. S. Senanayake College), K. Rodrigo (Wesley College), Jerome Fernando (St. Peters College), Roshan Peiris (Prince of Wales), M. Pawas (St. Anthony's Katugastota), N. S. Sumanasekera (Mahinda College), N. Ratnayake (Richmond College), S. Ranasinghe (Dharmaraja College), M. Pushpakumara (Ananda), H. Dilhan (St. Aloysius College), J. Sivanesvarajha (St. Anthony's Wattala), P. Seneviratne (Dharmaraja College).

Round 2: L. Chathuranga, K. Cooray, J. Fernando, R. Peiris, M. Pushpakumara, H. Dilhan, J. Sivanesyararajha, P. Seneviratne.

Round 3: J. Fernando, M. Pushpakumara, J. Sivanesvararajha, P. Seneviratne.

Winner: M. Pushpakumara (Ananda)

Runner-up: Jerome Fernando (St. Peters College)

Round I: M. Pushpakumara (Ananda), H. Fernando (Prince of Wales), P. Ranaweera (Prince of Wales), M. Fernando (St. Sebastians College), T. Kandambi (Ananda), S. Pinto (St. Peter's), T. Rupasinghe (Mahinda), A. Marapona (Dharmaraja), S. Pinnaduwa (St. Anthony's Katugastota), H. W. Mahes (Sri Devananda MV), R. Dhammika (Lumbini MV), P. Seneviratne (Dharmaraja).

Round 2: M. Pushpakumara, H. Fernando, P. Ranaweera, M. Fernando, T. Kandambi, H. W. Mahes, R. Dhammika, P. Seneviratne.

Round 3: M. Pushpakumara, H. Fernando, T. Kandambi, P. Seneviratne.

Winner: M. Pushpakumara (Ananda College)

Runner-up: Tilina Kandambi (Ananda)

Round I: M. Pushpakumara (Ananda), Tilina Kandambi (Ananda), Jerome Fernando (St. Peters), Ranil Dhammika (Lumbini MV), Ian Daniels (St. Josephs College), Pubudu Seneviratne (Dharmaraja College), Chamara Silva (Royal College Panadura).

Winner: Muthumudalige Pushpakumara (Ananda College)

Runner-up: Ian Daniels (St. Josephs College)

Jerome Fernando (St. Peters College)

Round I: Trinity, St. Anthony's Katugastota, Kingswood, Dharmaraja College, St. Sylvesters College, Vidyaratha College, Sri Sumangala, St. Annes College, Maliyadeva College, Sri Rahula College, St. Mary's Kegalle, Kegalu Vidyalaya.

Winner: St. Sylvesters College

Runner-up: St. Annes College Kurunegala

Round I: Mahinda, St. Aloysious Collge, Richmond, Dharmasoka, Sri Devananda, Revatha MV, St. Thomas' Matara, St. Servatious, Sri Rahula, Meepawala Amarasuriya MV.

Winner: Mahinda College Galle

Runner-up: Revatha MV Balapitiya

Round I: St. Peters, St. Josephs, Isipatana, Ananda, St. Sylvesters, St. Annes Kurunegela, Mahinda.

Winner: St. Peters College

Runner-up: Ananda College

Ginigathhena MMV

J. Weerasinghe of Bandaranayake MMV Gampaha-Performances 1247 runs including six centuries and five half centuries at an average of 124.70

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)