Lanka News – Lanka Gazette – Sri Lanka News Portal

CRICKET: “I am thoroughly impressed in the manner the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year competition has been organised. It was heartening to note that the competition had catered to cricketers around the country. The young cricketers blossom out from the schools and are prepared to accept the challenges from the outside world of cricket.” So said Keheliya Rambukwella – Minister of Mass Media and Information who was the chief guest at the 32nd Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year awards presentation at the Bandaranaike ‘A’ Hall, BMICH on Monday evening.

The awards presentation show this year was quite different from the ones held in former years as no speeches were made and Minister Rambukwella whispered his thoughts to me.

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OUTSTATION CRICKETER: Playing cricket for six years for the 1st XI team of a school is a unique achievement and Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Malith Chathuranga Gunasekera can well be somewhat proud of the fact that he captained Tissa MMV of Kalutara this year.

He has performed well with the bat and ball this season. A capable batsman Malith Chathuranga Gunasekera has gathered 1,607 runs in the season which has just ended. He had top score of 217 against Sri Jayawardenapura College, Kotte. He has scored four centuries and ten half centuries in the 15 matches this season. His cricketing prowess does not end with his batting. He is also a clever bowler and he has claimed 118 wickets with his medium pacies. He has got five-wicket hauls eleven times. His best effort has a match haul of 16 wickets _ 9 for 19 and 7 for 26 in the first and second innings against Horana Royal College. It was a satisfying performance for him.

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CRICKET AWARDS: Two captains Bhanuka Rajapakse of Royal College and Malith Chathuranga Gunasekera of Tissa MMV Kalutara were the proud winners of the two main awards in the 32nd Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the year All-Island and Outstation awards respectively at the awards ceremony held on Monday night-June 14 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Hall, BMICH.

Bhanuka Rajapakse, the Captain of Royal College was the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year All Island and Malith Chathuranga Gunasekera of Tissa MMV Kalutara was the winner of the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year. They were picked by the panel of Umpires from the Association of Cricket Umpires Sri Lanka, Central Province Cricket Umpires Association, Southern Province Cricket Umpires Association and assisted by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association.

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Come tomorrow and Mobitel and Sunday Observer’ will, as they usually do every year honour the stars that shone brightly in the inter-school firmament by bringing them on stage at the Bandaranaike International Hall and richly rewarding tham.

Initially, this column gives credit to sponsors Mobitel for partnering the best selling weekly the ‘Sunday Observer’ at the wicket and scoring for the cricketer, the game and the schools who shone like beacons in the recently concluded school season.

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CRICKET: Two former Sri Lanka school cricket captains – Rohan Buultjens of St. Peter’s College and Rohan Weerakkody of St. Joseph’s College who won the coveted Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest in 1981 and 1987 respectively, said at a recent meeting that they appreciated much for the efforts in organising the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest as this contest gave the boys much needed enthusiasm to do well.

Both Buultjens and Weerakkody who had the honour of captaining the Sri Lanka under-20 team and Sri Lanka under-19 sides in 1980 and 1988 are presently in Australia. At a recent visit here, both said that the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest proved to be the best in the country.

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THilan Samaraweera 10th Anandian to represent Sri Lanka in Test cricket. Twice winner of the Observer schoolboy cricketer of the year award in 1994 and 1995.

Thilan Samaraweera of Ananda College won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title in 1994 and 1995.Marvan Atapattu of Ananda College won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1990. 

Then Marvan Atapattu, a former Sri Lanka skipper, won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the year award in 1990. Captain of Ananda in 1989.

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CRICKET: Look to the Sunday Observer for your cricket stars – you will be able to pick them quite easily. There is one cricketer who really stands out from the rest and he is none other than Arjuna Ranatunga who was Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1980 and 1982 and then climbed the ladder of success in inter-club and international cricket.

December 1st, 1963 was the day that Arjuna Ranatunga came into this world and from his young days he took a liking for cricket and he went for it in a big way and there was success coming his way as he devoted his heart and soul to the game.

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SOUTH AFRICA: South Korea registered the first win at the 2010 World Cup, a richly deserved 2-0 victory against Greece here Saturday to give them a live chance of achieving their ambition of a last 16 berth.

South Korea, semi-finalists when they co-hosted the competition in 2002, were too quick and too smart for Otto Rehhagel’s Euro 2004 champions, who were sent packing by goals from Lee Jung Soo and captain and Manchester United midfielder Park Ji Sung.

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RUGBY: After a keen tussle for supremacy in the pinnacle of schools rugby, Royal College won the first leg of the Bradby Shield beating the Trinity Lions 38-37 in a nail biter. The mammoth crowd gathered at the Royal College Sports complex witnessed a thrilling encounter where the powerful pack of Royal forwards were up against probably one of the best three quarter lines of Trinity. Both sides made mistakes under slippery conditions but Royal were the worst affected with their weak defense line being exposed. Royal scored 3 goals, 1 try, 3 penalties and a drop goal while Trinity scored 3 goals, 2 tries and 2 penalties.

Trinity drew first blood in the second minute of play with a wonderful second phase move by fly half Rehan Weerakoon who passed the ball on to Wing three quarter Akila Dissanayake who scored a scintillating try. Kanchana Ramanayake who had a marvellous game for Trinity converted for his team to lead 7-0 in the opening minutes of play.

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The Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest opened the door for budding cricketers to further their interest in the game. The contest is a forerunner for cricketers to gain recognition at highest level. Ranjan Madugalle was the Observer first Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1979 and (earlier in 1978 Madugalle won the award when the contest was sponsored by Warner-Hudnut-Limited. Madugalle needs no introduction in cricket be it is Sri Lanka or in the outside world these days. He is a past Sri Lanka captain and what’s most important is the fact he was the youngest in the international panel of match referees and was in charge of 1999 World Cup final and now is the Chief Match Referee of the ICC.

The fact that these contests cater to the very best is reflected in the results.

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