Sasindu ahead in the Emerging category
While Thurstan skipper Sajeewa Salgado still maintains his lead in the All-island category of the Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Cricketer of the Year Competition this year, Sasindu Perera of St. John’s College Panadura remains as the top contender in the Emerging Schools category of contest. Sasindu, the skipper of St. John’s Panadura has been a stalwart to his team during the five seasons he represented the 1st XI team. Playing in his fifth and final year for the school team, Sasindu has gathered 352 runs in five matches which also include four tournament games. His leadership skills apart from being a prominent allrounder in the team has guided S. John’s Panadura to four outright wins in the tournament games of the ongoing inter- school Division III cricket competition.
Sasindu is a left-hand top order batsman and a leading left-arm spinner for his team. From the total of 352 runs, Sasindu scored his career best in 1st XI cricket by hitting a well composed 172 against hometown rivals Mahanama Panadura while scoring 93 against St. Mary’s Matugama and 63 against Royal College Horana in tournament games. So far with his left-arm spins, Sasindu has captured 25 scalps with best figures of 5 for 25 against Sri Palee Vidyalaya Horana. Last year he was able to score nearly 500 runs and capture over 50 wickets with his allround capabilities. This season Sasindu has been a great contributor towards guiding St. John’s Panadura to the second round of the Division III schools cricket tournament after his team emerged champions of the first round from four games. Sasindu who averages 70.4 with the bat also played for Panadura Sports Club during the concluded Sri Lanka Cricket Under-23 Inter- Club season as a leftarm spinner.
Coming back to the main competition Thurstan skipper Salgado strengthened his authority by gaining a massive lead of 5440 votes as he maintains his lead for the tenth consecutive week in the Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2012 competition. Maris Stella skipper Angelo Jayasinghe still remains at his position at number two but De Mazenod all-rounder Shiran Anuruddhika made a sudden surge to the third place from the fifth position. As a result Panadura Royal team-mates Madhawa Fernando and Charith Ruchiranga moved down a place respectively while the rest remain the same.
St. John’s Panadura skipper and allrounder Sasindu happens to maintain his lead in the Emerging Schools category as Shehan Deelaka of Piliynandala Central and Mohamed Shilmy of St. Anthony’s Panadura are still following behind. The International Schools category as usual is the most talked about from all three competitions as Lakshan Kodagoda of Gateway managed to retain his position regained last week. Kodagoda’s closest rival Nishan Perera of Lyceum International has all the possibility of spurring the heat of the competition in the coming weeks. To make the competition more interesting readers can send in as many coupons as they wish until May 23.
ALL-ISLAND SCHOOLS
Player Sajeewa Salgado Angelo Jayasinghe Shiran Anuruddhika Madhawa Fernando Charith Ruchiranga Lakshan Edirisinghe Kavindu Ashan Dishan Dissanayake Sachin Peiris Thanusha Jayawardane Jason Perera Shehan Dilasri
EMERGING SCHOOLS
Sasindu Perera Shenal Deelaka Mohamed Shilmy Tharindu Guruge Samitha Ratnasuriya Aruna Dharmasena Anas Mohamed
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
Team Thurstan College Maris Stella College De Mazenod College Royal College Panadura Royal College Panadura Zahira College Royal College Panadura St. Joseph’s College S. Thomas’ College St. Peter’s College St. Benedict’s College Maris Stella College St. John’s College Panadura Piliyandala Central St. Anthony’s Panadura Presidents College Kotte Seethawaka National School Sri Sumangala Panadura Azhar College Kandy Lakshan Kodagoda Gateway International 17128 Nishan Perera Lyceum Nugegoda 15974 Shehan Hettiarachchi Royal Institute 3895 Amjad Ifthikar Leighton Park 1583 Readers’ prizes go to: 1. Christine Inch, 50/4, Gunasinghe Gardens, Tennekumbura, Kandy. 2. Janani Navoda, 95/1/2, 1st Lane, Bandaranayakapura, Indigolla, Gampaha. 3. K.A.J.R. Fernando 40, Farm Road, Mattakkuliya. 4. R.R. Bopage, 362/A/2/1, Hamuhena, Udupila North, Delgoda. 8914 3474 2346 1950 1530 716 592 321 268 234 126 116 920 447 258 246 9 9 2