Navod, Lithija and Sathya sweep titles
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Sathya Sandeepani
Navod Paranavithana of Mahinda College Galle, Lithija Kalhara of Ananda Maithri National School Balangoda and Sathya Sandeepani of Devapathiraja College Ratgama swept the boards to win the three crowns of the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2019 contest. The three contenders outsmarted the rest in their respective categories, while making maximum use of the duration of the holiday season, before claiming comprehensive wins as the 2019 edition of the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year came to an end.
The All-Island Schools segment winner — Navod Paranavithana of Mahinda Galle, wins the main title with an overwhelming combined total of 72909, a clear lead of 37156 over Pasindu Ushetti of Maris Stella College, Negombo. In the final week Navod added 11459 votes, helping him stamp his authority in this category.
Interestingly Pasindu’s final tally is merely less than the deficit against the winner, but he settles in to claim the runners-up title. Muizz Rafeel of St. Anne’s College Kurunegala finishes at third with 12591 votes. Among others in the race who finished with grace is Nalanda College skipper Lakshitha Rasanjana, who claimed 8739 votes as others barely touched the 4000 mark.
Lithiaja Kalhara
Lithija Kalhara of Ananda Maithri Balangoda completes a deserving win as the Most Popular Emerging Cricketer of the Year, with a handsome collection of 22427 combined votes. He managed to add 2479 to his existing tally while Vishal Nagasena of St. Peter’s College Gampaha, gave a good run in the final few days by adding 4180, thus finishing off with a tally of 17638. However Lithija leads Vishal by 4789 votes at the end of the run.
Thanusha Sandaruwan Costa of St. John’s College, Nugegoda, who made a sudden acceleration during the last few weeks in the Emerging Schools category, did not add anything to his remaining tally as he finishes at third with 12900 votes. Chamod Sandaru of Piliyandala Central, had a good tally of 8707 votes, but fails to make an impression by finishing fourth.
Sathya Sadeepani of Devapathiraja College Rathgama, who enjoyed a fine cruise as the leader of the Girls’ Schools category, eventually braces the winning tape comfortably with a tally of 7608. Sathya was quite active during the final phase and even in the final week, she managed to add 936 to her tally, which helped further expand the gap against team-mate Kaveesha Dilshari by 5502. Kaveesha finished off as the runner-up with a tally of 2106 while Sithmi Nirasha of Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda finishes at third with 1996.
Results: Week 26
All-Island Schools
Navod Paranavithana Mahinda College 72909
Pasindu Ushetti Maris Stella College 35753
Muizz Rafeel St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala 12591
Lakshitha Rasanjana Nalanda College 8739
Mihisal Vidanapathirana St. Thomas’ College, Matara 4060
Sukhitha Manoj St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa 3898
Yasitha Samararathne Dharmaraja College 1866
Nishan Madushka Moratu Vidyalaya 1333
Abhishek Anandakumar Trinity College 1130
Kanishka Ranthilakage Ananda College 1034
Emerging Schools
Lithija Kalhara Ananda Maithree, Balangoda 22427
Vishal Nagasena St. Peter’s College, Gampaha 17638
Thanusha Sandaruwan St. John’s College, Nugegoda 12900
Chamod Sandaru Piliyandala Central 8707
Roshen Samuel Carey College 1890
Sachin Jayasinghe Royal College, Panadura 329
Nisal Malinga Christ King College, Tudella 207
Lahiru Peiris Christ King College, Tudella 103
Avishka Lakshan Kalutara Vidyalaya 64
Girls’ Schools
Sathya Sandeepani Devapathiraja College, Ratgama 7608
Kaveesha Dilhari Devapathiraja College, Ratgama 2106
Sithmi Nirasha Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda 1996
Nimesha Tharuni Marapola MV, Minuwangoda 232
Readers prizes go to: 1. Kasundi Kinothma, 141, Vihara Mawatha, Helvesia Watta, Narammala. 2. D. Hansanie, 55/D/1, Uruwal Mawatha, Kirillawala, Kadawatha, 3. Gayani Sandunika, Pathayala, Keppetiwalana, Alawwa,
4. D. Ranasinghe, 181/2, Ihala Karagahamuna, Kadawatha.