Astra Cup Junior Cricket Awards 2007

Words of wisdom from the ‘Master Blaster’

By M. Naushad Amit
Junior cricketers of age groups U-13, U-15 and U-17 were felicitated at the Astra Cup Schools Junior Cricket Awards Ceremony for the year 2007 at the BMICH on Monday amidst a large gathering of school cricketers, parents and officials. It was jointly organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association and the sponsors Unilever Sri Lanka Ltd. Among the distinguished gathering at the awards ceremony were guests of honour Premasara Epasinghe, a well known former cricketer and commentator and D. S. de Silva, a former national player who is at present involved as an administrator at SLC.

The legendary cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya, an outstation product who achieved world fame as the ‘Master Blaster’ in cricket, was the chief guest. Speaking to the future cricket stars on the occasion Jayasuriya said: “It is a very good sign to see the emergence of talent from the outstations. I myself was an outstation cricketer during my schooldays but was not as lucky as all of you are at present. I never thought I would be able to play for Sri Lanka with the facilities available then. But after getting the opportunity to play in the Youth World Cup in 1986 I was more determined. Having used all opportunities at the maximum level, here I am standing in front of you as a cricketing star. It was junior cricket that brought me to where I am now. But remember to be humble, go flat out to ensure you practise and train hard. Someday this will reflect in your success in the future. It all depends on how well-mannered you are in the game. There is no point in being a talented cricketer if you are not well-disciplined. I hope to see future captains, world champions and record breakers emerging from the future stars gathered here.”

Popular commentator Epasinghe gave some words of advice from the vast experience he has gained during his long years in cricket. “In the 1996 World Cup winning team almost 14 players out of 16 were recognised at junior level. No doubt Sri Lanka cricket’s future will be in your hands in years to come. But remember to be a gentleman in the game rather than being just a cricketer,” said Epasinghe.

Mahinda College, Galle won the U-17 Division I championship. St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya won the U-15 division I championship while the championship trophy for Division I in the U-13 age group was won by Wesley College, Colombo. The progress of the game in the outstations was established when as many as 15 outstation schools received championship and runner-up trophies in all age groups in divisions III and IV.

St. Peter’s College walked away with the major honours at the awards night clinching four of the team awards. They received the U-15 division 1 championship trophy, the U-17 runner-up trophy, the U-13 division 1 runner-up trophy and were joint holders of the U-13 division 2 trophy with Royal College, Colombo.

The night’s highlights were focused on the individual award winners. Two junior cricketers from Wesley College, Raninda Sooriyakumara and Ashail Kariyawasam, were among the winners to receive individual honours. Malith Cooray of St. Aloysius’, Galle was named as the most outstanding cricketer in the U-17 age group. Nadun Pathirana of D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo was adjudged the runner-up while M. Rajakaruna of Mahinda College, Galle won the special award in the U-17 age group.

The most outstanding U-15 cricketer was Raninda Sooriyakumara who many coaches consider to be a future prospect for Sri Lanka. Sooriyakumara represented the Wesley 1st XI team, when eight of their senior players received a four match suspension, and went on to score an unbeaten century against Ananda College, Colombo. Pulina Tharanga of Devananda, Ambalangoda was the runner-up, while Sandun Weerakkody of Barrewaerts College, Ampitiya won the special award in the U-15 age group.

In the Under-13 age group the most outstanding cricketer’s award was claimed by M. Athif Nazeer of Carey College. Interestingly the last time a Carey College junior cricketer won an award was in 1979, when Athif’s father Mohamed Nazeer won the best all-rounder award in the U-15 age group. The runner-up award was taken by Venuka Ashan of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda. The skipper of Wesley College U-13, Ashail Kariyawasam who steered his side to a historic win in the U-13 Division I finals received the special award in the U-13 age group.

The winners of team awards:

Under-17
Div. I -- Mahinda College, Galle. Runners-up – St. Peter’s, Colombo.
Div. II – Thurstan College, Colombo.
Div III – Sandalanka MMV, Sandalankawa. Runner-up – Gurukula College, Kelaniya.
Div IV – Sri Buddhajayanthi MMV, Balangoda. Runner-up – Loyola College, Kochchkade.
Under-15,
Div I – St. Peter’s, Colombo.
Div II – St. Anthony’s, Wattala. Runner-up – Sri Devananda, Ambalangoda.
Div III – Sri Chandrajothi MMV, Yakkala. Runner-up – Royal, Polonnaruwa.
Div IV – St. Peter’s, Negombo. Runner-up – Bandarawela MMV.
Under-13,
Div I – Wesley College, Colombo. Runner-up – St. Peter’s, Colombo.
Div II – Joint Champs: Royal, Colombo and St. Peter’s, Colombo.
Div III – Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte. Runner-up – P de S Kularatna MV, Ambalangoda. Div IV – St. Francis MV, Dalugama. Runner-up – Seethawaka MMV, Avissawella.