Randev crowns himself in the moment of truth
Finally, the moment of truth has arrived. After weeks of Yo-Yo activity Randev Pathirana of Royal College Colombo has put on board the numbers he needed to become the 35th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2014, making De Mazenod College’s Lahiru Wickramasinghe’s valiant effort a total vain.
Lahiru Vimukthi
Randev raced to the top to crown himself as the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the All-Island contest with a record collection of 60596 votes to outnumber Lahiru as the competition officially ended on May 29. Randev’s cleared himself from Lahiru by a thick margin of 26513 votes while conceding the top spot for two consecutive weeks before close.
Lahiru progressed with 31801 votes to his tally to complete at 115740 but his final count was nowhere near Randev’s mammoth count of 142253. With Lahiru claiming the top spot during the latter stages of the competition, many would have come to an early conclusion that even if Randev emerge, it would be after a close battle. But the final outcome suggests otherwise.
Romesh Madushan
The whole episode of battles, occurred all the way till the end, has been re-scripted as if Randev was the sole and untouched winner after his magnificent feat – receiving over 60000 votes within a matter of five days.
Besides the winner and runner-up the competition has a third place prize, which goes to Akila Lakshan of Royal College Panadura. For many weeks Akila has been holding on to this position without a clear or close
Lahiru Wickramasinghe, finished second to Randev eventually
fight from other contenders. He did not receive a single vote for many weeks but yet remained unchallenged until the final outcome officially came out. In the final week only 25 votes was added to his tally but Akila still stands 5310 votes ahead of Ravin Sayer of Trinity College, who stands at fourth place.
Sayer, however, claims the place by a slender count of 124 votes from the most active contender of the competition, Madushan Chameera of Isipathana College. Madushan finishes off at fifth.
Others in the race, from the sixth position, are Priyamal Perera of St. Joseph’s, Nimesh Gunasinghe of St.
Randev Pathirana took charge in the final week to grab the win
Anthony’s Katugastota, A.K. Tyronne of Richmond, Yashan Samarasinghe of St. Joseph’s and Sri Lanka Under-19 skipper Kusal Mendis of Prince of Wales’.
The Emerging Schools contest finally belonged to Lahiru Vimukthi of Sri Sumangala College Panadura. This segment of the competition was fully under the control of Dhanushka Lahiru of Vidyaloka Vidyalaya Galle, who led for 18 weeks consecutively. Vimukthi gradually picked up momentum during the latter stages of the competition as Dhanushka dropped back for no reason. Had Dhanushka gained a bit extra momentum, he could have had a wonderful ending to his extensive effort but Vimukthi clinched the crown with a lead of 1173 votes.
In the penultimate week, Vimukthi’s first week as the leader, he led by a slender 53 votes. But by the final week he obtained 1441 votes to secure the top position. Dhanushka was just able to add up 321 votes to his tally. Kalana Hasaranga of Rahula College Matara, despite not receiving a single vote for many weeks, finishes off at third. Others in the race are Harsha Rajapakse of Rahula Matara, Lasitha Lakshan of St. Thomas’ College Matara and Sachin Jayakody of St. Anthony’s College Wattala.
The International Schools contest finally became the forte of Romesh Madushan of Leighton Park. He finishes off the competition with a healthy count of 29847 votes, 24771 votes ahead of Rasanjana Mallikarachchi of Lyceum Nugegoda, his onetime closest rival.
Madushan’s progress has been unquestionable from the midway of the competition, soon after Rasanjana decided not to challenge him. Rasanjana finishes at second with 5076 votes to his name. Farshath Fazal of Gateway Colombo completes at third followed by Nimasha Perera of Lyceum Wattala.
