Pawan leads but Lakshana Rodrigo also marks the list
Pawan Dias of Royal College Panadura, the inaugural leader of the All-Island Schools segment of the 37th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016 contest, continues with his dominance for the second week running. He received the 366 votes in the concluded week, taking his tally to 634 as he leads second placed Lakshina Rodrigo of St. Peter’s College by 146 votes. At third is Ravin Sayer of Trinity College while Malshan Rodrigo of St. Joseph’s College and Lahiru Thmabawita of Holy Cross College, forming a formidable top five. With Pasindu Sooriyabandara of Royal College Colombo at sixth close behind the top five, the contest of this segment can give surprising results as the competition grows.
Top names in the ongoing Schools Under-19 Division I Tournament are well within reach to become close contenders for the Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year crown from the seventh place to the bottom. Among them are players from top cricket playing schools who are better than the other in different aspects. However the margins are not that big as the competition is just progressing in the second week. The composure could change as the competition moves on with more keen readers and supporters of players joining in to support them.
To remind the readers of standards and regulations of the Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year competition, the names of the schools appearing in the coupon are those who are competing in the Division I segment of Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association. According to the performances of the respective schools each year, their Divisions are determined by the Schools Cricket authorities. This competition follows the same guidelines when it comes to segments. Schools mentioned in the coupon are contesting in Division I and one of their schoolboy cricketers will be eligible for the Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year crown. Well known schools such as Wesley, St. Anthony’s Katugastota, Revatha Balapitiya, St. Anne’s Kurunegala (presently in Division II) and schools that were demoted from the Division I last year, are in the Emerging Schools category. Cricketers of schools that are not mentioned in the coupon, contesting in the Division II and III categories qualify for the Emerging Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year.
The only name to appear in the Emerging Schools category is of Madawa Fernando from De La Salle College Mutwal and he seems to be in a position to dominate this segment right till the end. The International Schools category is yet to kick off. Coupons of the 37th 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 May.
All-Island Schools
Name School
Pawan Dias Royal Panadura 634
Lakshina Rodrigo St. Peter’s 488
Ravin Sayer Trinity 379
Malshan Rodrigo St. Joseph’s 296
Lahiru Thambawita Holy Cross 211
Pasindu Sooriyabandara Royal 163
Ravindu Kodituwakku S. Thomas’ 87
Gishath Panditharathne Royal 76
Himasha Hashen Dharmapala 74
Charana Nanayakkara Thurstan 53
Kamindu Mendis Richmond 47
Yohan Mendis S. Thomas’ 44
Geethal Fernando St. Benedict’s 40
Kavindu Bandara Nalanda 39
Charith Asalanka Richmond 38
Nipun Samarasinghe St. Joseph’s 35
Thulina Dilshan St. Benedict’s 28
Sachinda Gamadikari Maris Stella 23
Lasith Embuldeniya Royal 22
Sammu Ashan Ananda 21
Emerging Schools
Name School
Madawa Fernando De La Salle Mutwal 51
Readers prizes go to: 1. A. Witharana, 23/120, Ambalanwatta Road, Thalangama North, Battaramulla, 2. K.A.J.R. Fernando, 40, Farm Road, Mattakuliya, 3. Gayanthika Nanayakkaram 395, Madawala Road, Katugastota, 4. Mathisha Palangasinghe, 46, Pangiriwatte Mawatha, Mirihana, Nugegoda.