Sachin, Nipun and Sahan lead each segment sans challenge
By the looks of it the contest is going to be a tough affair for the contestants of the All-Island Schools category of the 36th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2015 competition, besides the incumbent leader Sachin Dalpethado. After adding up 2344 votes over the week, Sachin, the St. Peter’s College allrounder’s, tally moves up to 7345.
The only rivalry he can expect is from Nalanda College allrounder Malinga Amarasinghe who has 5506 votes. The deficit between the top two contestants is 1839 and with the amount of votes received each week by Sachin and Malinga, it’s unclear of a change in the top position very soon. However it is not impossible if Malinga pushes for more votes. But Sachin’s pace secures him the top place as for now.
In the third place is St. Joseph’s College cricketer Aravinda Akurugoda, who is well far behind from Sachin and Malinga, with 3157 votes. Next to him is the leader of the first three weeks running, Himesha Ranganath of Royal College Panadura. His progress was overwhelming at the beginning but as weeks passed by it gradually slowed down. At fifth is St. Joseph’s College skipper Pathum Madushanka, who is closing in Ranganath.
Last year’s Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year winner Randev Pathirana remains at fifth followed by Lakshan Rodrigo of St. Peter’s College, Charith Asalanka of Richmond College, Shehan Weerasinghe of Zahira College and Harith Samarasinghe of Royal College Colombo who remain as they were in the previous few weeks.
In the Emerging Schools category, Nipun Malinga of Vidyaloka College Galle holds the lead over the other contender in battle Udith Dilsara of St. Peter’s College Negombo. His lead over the only remaining rival is 770, which is more than a double count of the second placed Udith’s final tally.
Sahan Thennakoon of Lyceum International Panadura who managed to topple Shimraz Shahill of Alethea International to take the top position of the International Schools category of the competition, keeps up to his place with 660 votes. The deficit, which is 289, is an easy number to overcome if Shimraz is looking forward to snatch the top spot again.
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 cricketer until mid June.
