Sri Lanka U19 and P. de. S Kularathne College Ambalangoda fast bowler Nipun Ransika has been awarded as the Dialog 4G – The Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2017 at the gala awards ceremony held on Wednesday evening at Nelum Pokuna Theatre.
The division 1 schools were awarded in the All Island category while division 2 teams were prized in the Emerging category by a selection panel headed by Jayantha Senevirathne.
Ransika has been the best seamer for Sri Lanka U19 in the past year with exceptional performances in South Africa and Australia. He has claimed 51 wickets at school level and 34 wickets at international level during last year. Playing for a division 2 school, Ransika also bagged the Emerging Schools Best Bowler’s award.
Former Sri Lanka Captain and National Coach Marvan Atapattu graced the occasion as the chief guest along with plenty of dignitaries including CEO/Director, Dialog Axiata, Supun Weerasinghe.
“Just because you fail at a certain juncture that does not mean it is the end of the match or the game. The only weapon that you possess at that moment is self-assurance and self-confidence. You have come so far and have come on stage of this awards ceremony because you have been better than the rest. This is the thought that you must hang on to. You are always better than your opponent and you can sustain it as long as you are involved with this game.“ Atapattu said.
Nipun Dananjaya of St. Joseph Vaz College, Ambalangoda who smashed 880 runs and captured 71 wickets in 13 tournament matches won the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year runner-up award as well as the Best All-Rounder’s award.
Hareen Buddhila of St. Aloysius’ College and Pathum Nissanka of Isipathana College claimed the Best Bowler and Best Batsman awards respectively. Buddhila took 76 scalps in 9 matches before being called for national duty while Nissanka accumulated 923 runs in 10 games with a best of 205.
Lasith Crosspulle of Maris Stella College won the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award collecting 248005 votes edging out stiff competition from Navindu Nirmal of St. Aloysius’ College, Galle who polled 144123 votes.
All-Island Schools Awards
Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year (Winner)– Nipun Ransika (P. de. S Kularathne College, Ambalangoda)
Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year (Runner-Up) – Nipun Dananjaya (St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa)
Best Batsman (Winner) – Pathum Nissanka (Isipathana College)
Best Batsman (Runner-Up) – Ashen Bandara (St. Aloysius’ College, Galle)Best Bowler (Winner) – Hareen Buddhila (St. Aloysius’ College, Galle)
Best Bowler (Runner-Up) – Naveen Gunawardena (Thurstan College)Best Fielder (Winner) – Ravindu Rashantha (Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda)
Best Fielder (Runner-Up) – Santhush Gunathilaka (St. Peter’s College)Best Wicket-Keeper (Winner) – Navindu Nirmal (St. Aloysius’ College, Galle)
Best Wicket-Keeper (Runner-Up) – Dushan Guruge (Maris Stella College)Best All-Rounder (Winner) – Nipun Dananjaya (St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa)
Best All-Rounder (Runner-Up) – Charana Nanayakkara (Thurstan College)Best Captain (Winner) – Kasun Abeyrathne (Thurstan College)
Best Team (Winner) – Thurstan College
Best Team (Runner-Up) – Richmond College
Most Popular Schools Awards
All Island (Winner) – Lasith Croospulle (Maris Stella College)
All Island (1st Runner-Up) – Navindu Nirmal (St. Aloysius’ College, Galle)
All Island (2nd Runner-Up) – Mohammed Najath (Zahira College)Emerging (Winner) – Prabash Maduranga (Siri Piyarathna MV, Padukka)
Emerging (1st Runner-Up) – Pulitha Yasas (Sri Sumangala College, Panadura)
Emerging (2nd Runner-Up) – Sahan Perera (Christ King College, Pannipitiya)International (Winner) – Tariq Haniff (Wycherly International)
International (Runner-Up) – Shimraz Shahil (Alethea International)
Emerging Schools Awards
Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year (Winner) – Dilum Sudeera (Karandeniya Central College)
Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year (Runner-Up) – Wanitha Wanninayake (St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala)Best Batsman (Winner) – Wanitha Wanninayake (St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala)
Best Batsman (Runner-Up) – Lahiru Thambavita (Holy Cross College, Kalutara)Best Bowler (Winner) – Nipun Ransika (P. de. S Kularathne College, Ambalangoda)
Best Bowler (Runner-Up) – Dilum Sudeera (Karandeniya Central College)Best Fielder (Winner) – Ishara Maduwantha (Karandeniya Central College)
Best Fielder (Runner-Up) – Kavindu Irosh (St. Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya)Best All-Rounder (Winner) – Dilum Sudeera (Karandeniya Central College)
Best All-Rounder (Runner-Up) – Nipuna Deshan (Sri Sumangala College, Panadura)Best Team (Winner) – St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala
Best Team (Runner-Up) – St. Thomas’ College, Matara
Emerging Team Awards
Western Province (Winner) – Sri Sumangala College, Panadura
Central Province (Winner) – Vidyartha College, Kandy
North Western Province (Winner) – St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya
Northern Province (Winner) – Jaffna Central College
Southern Province (Winner) – Rahula College, Matara
Uva Province (Winner) – Bandarawela Central College
Sabaragamuwa Province (Winner) – Dudley Senanayake MMV, TholangamuwaUp and Coming Team (Winner) – Rajasinghe Central College, Hanwella
