Charith Asalanka named Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year

By Madushka Balasuriya

Charith Asalanka of Richmond College, Galle was named the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year on Tuesday evening, pipping Sammu Ashan of Ananda College, Colombo 10 to the coveted prize at the Singer Schools Cricket Under-19 Awards held at the Musaeus College Auditorium.

Asalanka, who captains Richmond College, had an impressive 2016 also captaining the Sri Lanka Under-19 side to an undefeated series win away from home against England.

Isapathana College and St. Joseph Vaz College shared the other major awards, with Isipathana’s Sanjula Abewickrama and Promod Maduwantha winning the Division I Best Batsman and Best All-rounder awards respectively, while St. Joseph Vaz’s Avishka Thulanjana Fernando and Asitha Gihan won the Best Bowler and Best Fielder awards.

The best player awards for Division II saw Devapathiraja MMV, Rathgama’s Ravin Yasas and Nilanka Rukshitha win the Best All-rounder and Best Fielder, while Risith Upamal Dias of Sri Dharmaloka MMV, Kelaniya was named Best Batsman and Lasith Udagedara of St. Mary›s College, Kegalle took home Best Bowler accolade.

In Division III St. Aloysius College, Ratnapura’s Rajitha Nirmal won both the Best All-rounder and Best Bowler awards, while Thathsara Weerasinghe of Nugawela MMV won Best Batsman.

In the School Awards, both Division I and II Under-19 Singer Schools Cricket Tournament’s saw Joint Champions with St. Sebastian›s College, Moratuwa and St. Peter›s College, Colombo 4 sharing the Division I trophy, and Wesley College, Colombo 8 and St. Mary›s College, Kegalle sharing the Division II title. 

There was however an outright winner in Division III with St. Peter’s College, Negombo taking home the prize.

St. Peter›s College, Colombo 4 also won the Under-19 Singer Schools Cricket T20 Tournament, while St. Sebastian›s College, Moratuwa won the Under-19 Singer Schools Cricket Limited Overs Tournament.

Pic by Ruwan Walpola