Dialog-ST 2018: Two weeks to go and its all open in the big count

With just two more coupons weekends left before of the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year 2018 competition, the leaders of two segments of the boys' categories are facing real test to see themselves through. 

With ONLINE votes uncounted due to restrictions imposed by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) during the past week on social media, only votes casted through coupons were counted in the concluded week. 

As the results of the 24th week come out, it truly indicates that the remaining two weeks will be crucial for Dellon Peiris of S. Thomas' College and Denuwan Perera of Carey College, as both have been thrown the challenge by their closest rivals. 

Dellon, who continues to lead the All-Island Schools segment stays put but as predicted three weeks ago, it's not Sachin Silva, but Vihan Gunasekara who could be his real threat. 

Dellon added 523 votes through coupons to take his tally to 30591, but Vihan of D.S. Senanayake College toppled Sachin of St. Peter's to take the second slot. 

Vihan added 3002 votes and reached 20782 and stands 9809 votes behind Dellon. Last week Dellon led Sachin by 11271 and by this week it expands further to 11789. 

But Dellon surely could be bothered by the rapid progress Vihan has made during the past three weeks, where he gradually gained possession. 

It would not be a surprise if Vihan further accelerates aiming the top spot with just two more counts remaining. 

The rest of the lineup in the category remain unchanged. 

In the Emerging Schools category Denuwan of Carey moves ahead as the leader for yet another week but Kenula Gunaratne of St. Aloysius College Ratnapura has not left his in peace. 

Denuwan added 1591 votes through coupons to reach 18552 but Kenula has changed his gear to come close. 

The lad from the City of Gems added 3099 votes and took his total to 18232 and stands just 320 votes away from taking Denuwan's place. 

The current position puts Denuwan under tremendous pressure to safeguard his leadership and finish off in style as he expected at the beginning. 

Harshitha Samarawickrema of Anula Vidyalaya, continues to lead the Girls' Schools category by taking her total to an unassailable 20498, which easily thwarts threats from others as well as her immediate rival, Pabasara Ranabahu. 

Harshitha added 2609 votes and stands 12397 votes ahead of Pabasara of Ratnavali Girls' School Gampaha. 

She remains at second position with her total of 8101 as last week. 

Coupons, online votes and deadlines 

Coupons will be published in the two English dailies, the Daily Mirror and DailyFT, and the two Sinhala dailies, Daily Lankadeepa and Ada and Sinhala Weekend, Deshaya with the deadline set in two more weekends. 

Readers will get only two more weekends to votes for their favourite school cricketers through coupons. 

After this weekend, where the Coupon No.25 is already out, the final coupon -- Coupon No. 26 -- will be appear on the March 25 issue of the Sunday Times. 

This will be the final coupon for 2018 and votes will be accepted until Thursday (March 29) 12.00noon. 

Dialog Axiata's online voting system through their official Online Portal to vote for the Most Popular Cricketer (www.dialog.lk/cricket) will be open until April 5. 

The deadline for COUPONS and ONLINE VOTES will be every Thursday Noon. 

Results of the Week 25 counts will be published from next Sunday as usual but the results of the final count (Week 26) will be revealed with the addition of Online Votes from April 1, Sunday. 

Results: Week 23 

All-Island Schools 

Dellon Peiris (S. Thomas' College) 30591 

Vihan Gunasekara (D.S. Senanayake College) 20782 

Sachin Silva (St. Peter's College) 18802 

Asel Sigera (Ananda College) 3145 

Kavin Peiris (Lumbini College) 1277 

Dulaj Bandara (Dharmaraja College) 1274 

Kalana Perera (S. Thomas' College) 830 

Mahesh Theekshana (St. Benedict's College) 676 

Dinidu Wijewardene (Nalanda College) 547 

Ravindu Fernando (Maris Stella College) 515 

Kalana Wijesiri (Ananda College) 137 

Emerging Schools 

Denuwan Perera (Carey College) 18552 

Kenula Gunaratne (St. Aloysius Ratnapura) 18232 

Sonara Karunathunga (Ananda Sasthralaya) 5804 

Thimira Malshan (Ananda Sasthralaya) 2730 

Kavindu Shilpage (Siri Piyarathana Padukka) 2637 

Heshan Madushanka (Piliyandala Central) 2165 

Saliya Jeewantha (Eheliyagoda Central) 454 

Pathum Hasaranga (Vidyaloka Galle) 264 

Pulitha Yasas (Sri Sumangala Panadura) 255 

Girls' School 

Harshitha Samarawickrama (Anula Vidyalaya) 20498 

Pabasara Ranabahu (Rathnavali GS, Gampaha) 8101 

Kaveesha Dilhari (Devapathiraja, Rathgama) 62 

Ruwini Nandasena (St. Joseph's Girls School) 30 

Readers prizes go to: 1. S.L.A. Nawaratna, 'Ruwanara', Iswatiyawatte, Narammala, 2. Vihanga Pathirana, 17, Narammala Road, Alawwa, 3. Subashini Hariscchandra, Meewitiya, Nawalapitiya, 4. Hithesh Chetiya, 188/11, 1st Lane, Batahena Road, Soorigama, Kadawatha.