Now it’s calm before the storm with Sachin and Malinga revving
Sadly, it is reaching the boiling point with a week to go before the final announcement of the 36th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2015 competition. Sachin Dalpethado of St. Peter’s College has enjoyed a fruitful season so far in the All-Island Schools’ category, but uncertainty crops up with the unfathomed progress of his only rival and risk, Malinga Amarasinghe of Nalanda College.
Last week the deficit between Sachin and Malinga was 2509 but by this weekend it has just expanded only by a single vote, which can be both healthy and disturbing for both. With the deadline for receiving coupons set at 12.00noon on Thursday (11) after the final coupon appearing today in the Sunday Times, anything is possible.
The rest of the lineup, which includes 13 schoolboy cricketers seem to have given up the race already but that too cannot be predicted until the final, official result comes out, given the fact of the nature the competition ended in the recent years. So, it will be a period of anxiety for Sachin and Malinga, this coming week.
In the penultimate weekend Sachin added 2477 votes to his tally, as he surpassed another milestone to reach the landmark of 21084 votes. In contrast Malinga’s consistency moves forward the way it was with the addition of 4736 during the ended week, taking his tally to 18574, which is a worrying fact to Sachin indeed. Others in the fray virtually remain with the same figures as the previous week.
Nipun Malinga of Vidyaloka College Galle is another schoolboy cricketer who has enjoyed the top spot — the Emerging Schools contest. His progress is not so overwhelming but with just two others in the battle and just one within the reach he can easily relax. But Nipun’s deficit with Udith Dilsara of St. Peter’s College Negombo, which is 1685, could take the final blow either way.
In the International Schools segment too uncertainty looms with the gap between the two contestants Sahan Thennakoon of Lyceum International Panadura and Shimraz Shahill of Alethea International School reading as 1263. As the competition has just five days left contestants of all segments will without a doubt, try their utmost to breast the tape in style. The competition ends today and coupons will be received till 12.00noon on Thursday.
Name School
All-Island Schools
Sachin Dalpethado St. Peter’s College 21084
Malinga Amarasinghe Nalanda College 18574
Aravinda Akurugoda St. Joseph’s College 4935
Himesha Ranganath Royal College Panadura 2251
Pathum Madushanka St. Joseph’s College 1561
Randev Pathirana Royal College Colombo 1549
Lakshina Rodrigo St. Peter’s College 1094
Charith Asalanka Richmond College 916
Shehan Weerasinghe Zahira College 848
Thimira Jayasinghe Thurstan College 723
Harith Samarasinghe Royal College Colombo 655
Ravin Sayer Trinity College 638
Sachindu Kolambage Maris Stella College 636
Wanindu Hasaranga Richmond College 420
Dineth Navodya St. Peter’s College 311
Emerging Schools
Nipun Malinga Vidyaloka College Galle 2537
Udith Dilsara St. Peter’s Negombo 852
Achintha Ushan Vidyaloka College Galle 11
International Schools
Sahan Thennakoon Lyceum Panadura 3470
Shimraz Shahill Alethea International 2207
Sasika Ratnathilake Lyceum Nugegoda 54
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