Thomians win U-15 cricket title after three decades

S. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia Under 15 side 

Thomian skipper Dellon Peris 

By Shamseer Jaleel

The only unbeaten side of the Under 15 segment I inter-school cricket tournament, S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia created history when they became champions by overcoming a spirited St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa. 

Last year too St. Sebastian’s finished runners-up. S. Thomas’ last won the Under 15 tournament in 1985 under Sunil Abeynayake.

The Moratuwa school scored 103 with Skipper Dellon Peiris (3), Dinith Wanniarachi (3) and Dineth Kannangara (2) taking the wickets for the Thomians. In reply, S. Thomas’ had a bad start before the lunch break, losing three wickets for 20, before recovering to knock off the required total for the loss of only four wickets. The match-winner was Yohan Perera, who scored a brilliant 60 runs with the support of Dinith Wanniarachi, who sealed the match for the Mount Lavinia lads.

During their journey to the title, skipper Peiris, a left-arm spinner, led the side from the front by being the leading wicket-taker of the side with 28 wickets, his best being 4 for 20 against the Peterites. Thomian vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batsman Sithara Hapuhinna scored over 600 runs in the tournament, emerging as the highest run-scorer for the school with some brisk knocks for his school. Yohan Perera too chipped in with some useful knocks, scoring 96 against Isipathana in the quarter-finals and a quickfire 60 in the finals against St. Sebastian’s.

Peiris was followed in the wicket-taking column by Thevin Eriyagama, Dineth Kannangara, Dinith Wanniarachi and Semal Samarasekara. The most outstanding fielder of the side was Yehen Dias, who took 27 catches.

S. Thomas’ Under 15 side is coached by Lasitha Randunu while the school’s head coach is Dinesh Kumarasinghe.