by Dhammika Ratnaweera
Muthumudalige Pushpakumara of Ananda College was picked as the most outstanding schoolboy cricketer of the year 2001. He received the highest award on offer, that of the ‘Prince of Wales’ trophy, from the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Linda Duffield, who was the joint chief guest with Vivendra Lintotawila, Chairman, John Keells Group, at the "Lemonade Schools Cricket Aw-ards Night".

Ceylon Cold Stores (CSC) sponsored for the third successive year, the inter school under 19 cricket tournament, organized and conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Associ-ation.

"Many rural school cricketers performed well during the tournament and today they will be rewrded for their performances", said Vive-ndra Lintotawila.

The British High Commissioner said England and Sri Lanka have had a good cricket relationship and this was the reason Prince Charles, during his visit to Sri Lanka in 1998, to participate in the country’s 50th Indepen-dence Day celebrations, decided to make an annual award to the most outstanding schoolboy cricketer of the year.

President, SLSCA H.L.B Gomes said Lemonade was the only sponsor for schools under 19 cricket and all other junior cricket tournaments are conducted by SLSCA with no sponsorship.

Lumbini MV won the Group ‘A’ League championship while Maris Stella College Negombo were the runners up. Lunbini MV and Maris Stella Negombo were declared joint champions in the knock out tournament.

Awards

Inter School League tournament

Group’A’ -

Best batsman - Sukith Peiris (Nalanda College, Colombo )

Best bowler - Kaushal Lokuarachchi (St Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya)

Best all rounder -D.A Marage (Raddoluwa MV)

Best team -Lumbini MV

Runners-up - MarisStella Negombo

Group ‘B’ -

Best batsman -Tharanga Paranawithana (Kegalu MV)

Best bowler - C.Deshappriya (Dharmapala M.V Pannipitiya )

Best all rounder -T.Priyadarshana (St John’s College, Panadura )

Best team - Dharmapala MV Pannipitiya

Runners-up - Dharmaraja College Kandy

Group ‘C’

Best batsman -D.Tennakoon (Sri Sum-angala College, Kandy )

Best bowler -Jeewan Chamikara (Tissa MV, Kalutara )

Best all rounder -R.Nirmal (St Servatius, Matara )

Best team -Meepawala Amarasuriya MV, Galle

Runners-up -Tissa MV Kalutara

Inter School Knock out tournament

Maris Stella Negombo and Lumbini MV joint champions .

Knock out final

Best batsman - Ishan Muthalip (Maris Stella, Negombo )

Best bowler - Lasantha Kumara (Lumbini MV)

The Man of the match winners from the pre-quarter finals stage of the knock out tournament also received their awards at this ceremony.