Memorable moments for...:

Malith and Ranga

Observer - Bata Cricket Awards tomorrow:

Leslie Fernando

The awards ceremony of the 29th Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contests will be held on August 9 from 6.15 p.m. onwards at the BMICH. Two youngsters Ananda Schoolboy Malith Gunatilleke and all-rounder Ranga Cooray of Holy Cross College, Kalutara have been picked Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2007 and Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the year 2007 respectively.

The chief guest at the show this year is a former cricketer Sidath Wettimuny who was a reputed opener. Raphael Mollo, Managing Director of Bata Shoe Company and Mrs. Mollo and Bandula Padmakumara, Chairman and Managing Director of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited and Mrs. Samanmalie Padmakumara will be the guests of honour.

The show will be backed by Ultimate with guest performances by Sunil Perera of Gypsies and Ronnie Leitch with host of other artistes too. The show will be compered by Brian Thomas.

Malith and Ranga will receive their awards for all the sweat and toil they put in during 2006-2007 inter school cricket season.

This show is eagerly looked forward to by the cricketers and supporters of school cricket as it is the oldest schools cricket show.

This contest has not only brought out talent from the regular playing schools but it has gone into the interior and unearthed fresh talent, for example Royal, Horana which team was picked as the best up and coming team and also Kegalu Vidyalaya being selected the Best Outstation Cricket Team.

Malith Gunatileka the Ananda skipper and all-rounder who was picked the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year by the special panel of cricket umpires (who have decided on the winners from the very contest in 1979 and they are undoubtedly the best judges of the game) was also voted in by Sunday Observer readers as the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2007. In addition to the two top awards, Gunatileka has also been picked as the Best All-rounder in the All-Island Contest.

The Observer-Bata Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year is Ranga Cooray of Holy Cross College, Kalutara. He also wins the award for the Best Batsman and Best All-rounder.

Besides the awards for Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, there are the sectional awards for cricketers in the All-Island category and those who come from the Outstation.

Then there are awards for cricketers who have been voted in by Observer readers for the Observer-Bata Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and Most Popular Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year.

The Observer-Bata and other allied contests have been held for 28 years without a break and these contests are eagerly looked forward to and they serve as incentives for the year.

The Observer-Bata show in previous years has winners who have made their mark in the world of cricket after leaving school.

The Past Winners of the top award

Past winners of the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year: 1979: Ranjan Madugalle (Royal College) 1980: Arjuna Ranatunga (Ananda), 1981: Rohan Buultjens (St. Peter’s College), 1982: Arjuna Ranatunga (Ananda) 1983: Roshan Mahanama (Nalanda) 1984: Roshan Mahanama (Nalanda) 1985: Asanka Gurusinghe (Nalanda) 1986: Roshan Jurangpathy (Royal) 1987: Rohan Weerakkody (St. Joseph’s College) 1988: Sanjeewa Ranatunga (Ananda) 1990: Marvan Atapattu (Ananda) 1991: Muttiah Muralitharan (St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota), 1992: Sajith Fernando (St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota) 1993: Naveed Nawas (D. S. Senanayake College) 1994: Thilan Samaraweera (Ananda) 1995: Thilan Samaraweera (Ananda) 1996: Nimesh Perera (St. Sebastians College) 1997: Chinthaka Jayasinghe (Dharmapala Vidyalaya) 1998: Pradeep Hewage (St. Benedict’s College) 1999: Muthumudalige Pushpakumara (Ananda) 2000: Kaushalya Weeraratne ((Trinity College) 2001: Kaushalya Lokuarachchi (St. Peter’s College) 2002: Sahan Wijeratne (Prince of Wales College) 2003: Farveez Maharoof (Wesley College) 2004 and 2005: The main contest not held, but the Observer-Bata Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest - Lahiru Peiris of St. Peter’s College was the winner on both occasions. 2006: Gihan Rupasinghe (Nalanda) The winners in the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2007.

All-Island Contest

Best Batsman: P. K. J. R. N. Nonis (De Mazenod College). Runner-up: Angelo Mathew (St. Joseph’s College). Best Bowler: A. R. Laksiri (D. S. Senanayake College). Runner-up: Lakshan Rodrigo (St. Peter’s College). Best Fielder: S. M. Wijesiri (St. Joseph’s College), Runner-up: L. D. Chandimal (Ananda). Best Allrounder: Malith Gunatileka (Ananda). Runner-up: T. M. U. S. Karunaratne (Thurstan College). Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year: Malith Gunatileka (Ananda). Runner-up: P. K. J. R. N. Nonis (De Mazenod College). Best Captain: Lahiru Peiris (St. Peter’s College).

Outstation Contest

Best Batsman: Ranga Cooray (Holy Cross College, Kalutara) Runner-up: R. A. N. Ranasinghe (Ibbagamuwa Central). Best Bowler: Janaka Sampath (Royal Horana). Runner-up: S. P. L. O. Pathirana (Kegalu Vidyalaya). Best Fielder: K. N. R. Madushanka (St. Anne’s College). Runner-up: J. A. A. A. Jayasinghe (Kegalu Vidyalaya). Best Allrounder: Ranga Cooray (Holy Cross College). Runner-up: R. S. Tennakoon (Kegalu Vidyalaya). Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year: Ranga Cooray (Holy Cross College). Runner-up: Janaka Sampath (Royal Horana)

Best Teams

All-Island: St. Joseph’s College. Runner-up: St. Peter’s College.

Central Province: Dharmaraja College, Runner-up: St. Sylvester’s College.

Southern Province: Revatha MV, Runner-up: Richmond College.

Outstation Best School: Kegalu Vidyalaya.

Best up and coming team: Royal, Horana.

Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer All-Island: Malith Gunatileka (Ananda) 35,130 votes. Runner-up: Rajeeva Weerasinghe (St. Joseph’s College) 26,651 votes.

Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer Outstation: Lahiru Pathirana (Kegalu Vidyalaya) 23,208 votes. Runner-up: Sarinda Abeyratne (Bandaranayake College, Gampaha) 17,489 votes.