Peterite Sachin still leads as others eye top position
So began the competition to heat up. Last week St. Peter’s College’s Sachin Dalpethado turned tables by becoming the leader and this week it seems that he will have to work hard to maintain his position. As the sixth week of the 36th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the year 2015 contest comes to an end; Sachin has gained two close rivals to push along with.
Himesha Ranganath of Royal College Panadura, who held the leadership in the first three weeks, now has been pushed down to fourth. He was second last week and with St. Joseph’s College all-rounder Aravinda Akurugoda stepping on the gas, he had to bow down. Aravinda moved to second from third.
The biggest surprise for the week was the progress of Malinga Amarasinghe of Nalanda College. Malinga was 14th last week with a mere number of votes but a staggering addition of 1410 within a week pushes him up by 11 places. St. Joseph’s College skipper Pathum Madushanka remains at fifth, forcing last year’s winner Randev Pathirana of Royal College Colombo to sixth. The remaining contestants are yet to reach the 900-vote mark and with 10 more weeks on a lot can be expected from the bottom-seeds.
In the Emerging Schools category Nipun Malinga of Vidyaloka College Galle and Udith Dilsara of St. Peter’s College Negombo remain at their respective slots from last week. The deficit between the two rivals has lessened a bit than last week. Shimraz Shahill of Alethea International was the sole runner in the International Schools category for weeks but from this week he is not alone. Joining him is Sahan Thennakoon of Lyceum International Panadura, who can be a threat to the leader in weeks to come.
Coupons of the 36th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2015 will appear on Wijeya Newspaper’s dailies, the Daily Mirror and Lankadeepa and also its weekend English issue, the Sunday Times and the Sinhala weekly Deshaya. Readers will be able to send in as much as coupons in favour of their favourite schoolboy cricketers until mid June.
All-Island
Sachin Dalpethado St. Peter’s College 2302
Aravinda Akurugoda St. Joseph’s College 1811
Malinga Amarasinghe Nalanda College 1707
Himesha Ranganath Royal College Panadura 1634
Pathum Madushanka St. Joseph’s College 1148
Randev Pathirana Royal College Colombo 1134
Charith Asalanka Richmond College Galle 840
Lakshina Rodrigo St. Peter’s College 779
Shehan Weerasinghe Zahira College Colombo 765
Harith Samarasinghe Royal College Colombo 653
Ravin Sayer Trinity College 598
Sachindu Kolambage Maris Stella College 552
Wanindu Hasaranga Richmond College 409
Thimira Jayasinghe Thurstan College 397
Dineth Navodya St. Peter’s College 302
Hansamal Perera St. Sylvester’s College 284
Nipun Sumanasinghe St. Joseph’s College 253
Nipuna Gamage S. Thomas’ College 178
Prabath Kappetipola Maliyadeva College 177
Kanishka Ukgalpaya St. Anthony’s College 158
Tharindu Rathnayake S. Thomas’ College 127
Sammu Ashan Ananda College 113
Sahan Arachchige Ananda College 101
Thanisha Weerakoon St. Peter’s College 98
Lasith Ambuldeniya Royal College Colombo 61
Vinu Mohotti St. Peter’s College 47
Emerging
Nipun Malinga Vidyaloka College Galle 823
Udith Dilsara St. Peter’s College Negombo 424
International
Shimraz Shahill Alethea International 142
Sahan Thennakoon Lyceum International Panadura 49
Readers’ prizes go to: 1. Ruwan Lankasara, 978/3C, Malabe Road, Kottawa, Pannipitiya. 2. Harshini Peiris, 32, 2nd Lane, Agaradaguru Mawatha, Tudella Jaela. 3. Ramya Priyangani, 68, Dewapottawa, Adiambalama. 4. Binol Kithnal, 188, Katana Road, Akaragama.