Ryde Gold medal for Akila
Trinity College cricketer Akila Jayasundera was awarded the Ryde Gold medal by the school. This announcement was made at the school assembly on Friday.
Ryde Gold medal is awarded for the ‘Best All round Student’ at Trinity College every year. The criteria for this award is not only sports but also studies and overall conduct of the nominee and is decided upon by both students and the staff.
One of the past winners of the Ryde Gold Medal is former Sri Lanka cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara.
Also in line for this coveted award this year was rugby captain Murad Ramzeen who brought back the Bradby Shield to Trinity College and Sri Lanka’s swimming captain Heshan Unamboowe.
Akila Jayasundera is one of the finest cricketers to come out of the portals of this hallowed institution. He captured 106 wickets in the 2009 with his leg spinners which saw him being awarded the Lion for cricket at the age of 17. He was only the second bowler from Trinity to capture over a hundred wickets.
The year 2011 was his year of glory having led his side to 10 outright wins which is a record in school cricket and also captured 45 wickets and scored over 700 runs. He was also adjudged the Best Schools Cricket Captain in two separate contests in addition to being the Best Fielder in schools.
This year he has been an asset to the Trinity side with his bowling and batting. He saved the side from a precarious position of 57 for 6 against St. Joseph,s with a great innings of 134 with Dinuk Wickramanayake who made 150 not out and this pair put on a record 262 run partnership for the seventh wicket which pulled the ‘Lions’ out of the woods.