Panadura Royal - under 17 cricket champions

Royal College, Panadura won the all island under 17 division one championship by beating the formidable and more fancied Ananda College, Colombo.

Royal College, Panadura Cricket team which clinched the All Island under 17 Division one title. Seated (from left) H A Sumith Prasanna (coach and MIC cricket), Madawa Nimesh, Lakpriya Dananjaya (Captain), H Sarathchandra Silva (Principal), Damindu Ashan (Vice Captain), Akila Lakshan, P W Mahindarathne (Prefect of Games) Standing (from left) Sidath Chaturanga, Deshan Sandeepa, Pavan Madurajith, Hasitha Dananjaya, Vimukthi Madushan, Himesha Ranganath, Vishal Jayanuka, Dinusha Tharaka, Rusiru Ravishanka. (Picture by Dilwin Mendis, Moratuwa Sports Correspondent)

This is the first instance that Panadura Royalists won this championship and on an earlier occasion they became joint champions with Lumbini Vidyalaya.

They were unbeaten throughout the tournament beating eleven schools and in the first round they beat Sri Sumangala, Holy Cross, Tissa Central, Moratu Vidyalaya and St John's College.

In the second round they defeated St Anthony's, Wattala, Vidyartha College and St Anne's in the quarter finals. They beat Anuradhapura Central and in the semi-finals Mahanama College, Colombo.

The team was captained by all-rounder Lakpriya Dananjaya and the vice captain was Damindu Ashen who is also the gloveman of the side. He became the highest run getter of the tournament with 735 runs which included an unbeaten double century against Vidyartha and two centuries.

Akila Dananjaya too scored 361 runs and captured 25 wickets. Madawa Nimesh former under 15 Sri Lanka Schools Captain was among the runs scoring 372 runs.

The team was coached by former Moratu Vidyalaya Cricketer Sumith Prasanna who is the Master in Charge too toiled hard and did a yeomen service to win this Prestigious Trophy.

He extended his fullest support and co-operation at all times and encouraged the players maintaining high discipline.

The Prefect of Games T W Mahindarathne was also a key to their success and not only for cricket but other games of the school.

A special mention should be made of the School Past Cricketers Association and the Parents for their financial support and assistance throughout the tournament.