It’s hotting up as Yohan moves to second place
View(s):As the 37th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016 competition nears its end a new rivalry enters, making the race for the crown of All-Island segment a three-way battle. The competition began to fire up last weekend but by this week it has reached a new height.
For the 13th week running Pawan Dias of Royal College Panadura manages to maintain his lead after being briefly challenged by Lahiru Thambawita of Holy Cross College Kalutara. But with four more weeks to go Yohan Mendis of S. Thomas’ College makes his intention clear by taking over the second slot.
Last weekend Pawan and Lahiru had a close battle, with a thin gap of 206 but with Yohan’s rise from third to second, the battle becomes more intense. Pawan received 4539 votes by the ended week, further swelling his tally to 11237. But the real winner is Yohan, who obtained 4131 votes to end up with 7549 votes, 121 ahead of Lahiru. Lahiru meanwhile loses a place despite receiving 936 votes and his tally stands at 7428.
The deficit between top-placed Pawan and his new rival Yohan is 3688 and four more weeks could produce some magical changes on and on. From a mere difference of 206, the gap between Pawan and Lahiru is now 3809. The eventual winner of the battle is still undecided and the battle until then can be more of a neck-to-neck affair with the deadline set for the second week of June.
At fourth is Lakshina Rodrigo of St. Peter’s College followed by Ravin Sayer of Trinity College remains at fifth.
Madawa Fernando of De La Salle College Mutwal moves on for the 13th continuous week as the undisputed leader of the Emerging Schools category while Dilshan Madushanka of Siri Piyarathana Central Padukka sits unbothered at second place.
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 12.00 noon on June 16. The final coupon will appear on June 12. However no outdated coupons will be entertained.
All-Island Schools
Name School
Pawan Dias Royal College Panadura 11237
Yohan Mendis S. Thomas’ College 7549
Lahiru Thambawita Holy Cross College 7428
Lakshina Rodrigo St. Peter’s College 1768
Ravin Sayer Trinity College 504
Malshan Rodrigo St. Joseph’s College 304
Kevin Perera Maris Stella Negombo 197
Pasindu Sooriyabandara Royal College Colombo 168
Geethal Fernando St. Benedict’s College 131
Sachinda Gamadikari Maris Stella College 97
Emerging Schools
Name School
Madawa Fernando De La Salle College Mutwal 2430
Dilshan Madushanka Siri Piyarathana Padukka 104
Riyaz Rizvy Azhar College Akurana 2
Readers prizes go to: 1. Kevin Perera, Suraj Fashion, Daluwakotuwa, Kochchikade, 2. Elizabeth Gnanapragasam, 351 2/3, Galle Road, Colombo 6, 3. Ruwan Lankarasa, 978/3C, Malabe ROad, Kottawa, Pannipitiya, 4. R.P.D.B.Dharmapriya, Parliament, Kotte.