Dialog-ST 2018: Vihan, Denuwan and Harshitha triumph

As the famous saying goes -- 'it's not over till it's over' -- the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy / Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year 2018 has managed to provide that excitement many of our readers have been expecting. 

The Most Popular competition, where schoolboys and girls of three different segments were involved, comes to an end this week, with the final count of Week 26 and the Online voting. 

As many expected or vise versa, Vihan Gunasekara, Denuwan Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama have managed to earn the bragging rights, emerging victorious in their respective categories. 

Vihan of D.S. Senanayake College, made a stunning sprint in the last two weekends to oust overall leader Dellon Peiris to claim the All-Island Schools category and become the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2018. 

Denuwan, of Carey College, bounced back to thwart Kenula Gunarathne, from claiming a possible victory and annexed the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2018. 

As predicted Harshitha of Anula Vidyalaya, made a fitting finish to a campaign she initiated some months ago and earned the honour of being the inaugural Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year 2018. 

In the All-Island Schools category Vihan added 17463 combined votes to finish off with a tally of 40764, and end up with a lead of 5807 from Dellon. 

Vihan also earned the highest combined votes income with his staggering addition of 17463 during the final couple of weeks. 

Dellon probably took things easy and he may have faced the price for taking matters for granted but his additions of 2768, cannot be rated as too bad, except for the fact that he could have been a bit more watchful and risk-minded, knowing the time has ran out. 

Sachin Silva of St. Peter's College, finished off at overall third with 20228 votes. 

In the Emerging Schools category Denuwan, who was pushed down to second place in the penultimate week, bounced back to finish off in a high. 

Knowing that it is his final and only opportunity strike back, Denuwan added 9573 combined votes in the final week. 

With that he returned to the top spot with a tally of 31067, and end up with a lead of 3866 against his challenger Kenula of St. Aloysius College, Ratnapura. 

Kenula added 5117 combined votes, an addition that bettered his counts of the past few weeks, yet it was not enough to challenge the cautious Denuwan. Kavindu Shilpage of Siri Piyarathana MV Padukka, did not receive any vote during this period, but he still manages to finish at third overall with a tally of 6439. 

The only category, where doubt never reigned through the closing weeks of the competition, was the Girls' Schools category, which Harshitha easily emerged victorious. 

As she continued during her reign, Harshitha finished off the final week with an addition of 1880 combined votes and an impressive tally of 22633. 

She will go down in the history of the Most Popular competitions of becoming the first ever winner of the newly introduced category. 

Pabasara Ranabahu of Rathnawali GS, Gampaha could be proud that she tried her best to earn the honour of taking the top spot, but will complete the race as the runner-up with a tally of 8269, with an addition of 65 combined votes. 

With this, the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy / Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year 2018 competition comes to an exciting end. 

The winners will be given away their respective awards at a glittering function to be held in the near future. 

Results: Final Week 

All-Island Schools 

Vihan Gunasekara (D.S. Senanayake College) 40764 

Dellon Peiris (S. Thomas' College) 34957 

Sachin Silva (St. Peter's College) 20228 

Asel Sigera (Ananda College) 3157 

Dulaj Bandara (Dharmaraja College) 1332 

Kavin Peiris (Lumbini College) 1277 

Kalana Perera (S. Thomas' College) 911 

Dinidu Wijewardene (Nalanda College) 724 

Mahesh Theekshana (St. Benedict's College) 686 

Ravindu Fernando (Maris Stella College) 516 

Emerging Schools 

Denuwan Perera (Carey College) 31067 

Kenula Gunaratne (St. Aloysius Ratnapura) 27201 

Kavindu Shilpage (Siri Piyarathana Padukka) 6439 

Sonara Karunathunga (Ananda Sasthralaya) 6202 

Thimira Malshan (Ananda Sasthralaya) 2741 

Heshan Madushanka (Piliyandala Central) 2168 

Saliya Jeewantha (Eheliyagoda Central) 460 

Pathum Hasaranga (Vidyaloka Galle) 288 

Pulitha Yasas (Sri Sumangala Panadura) 255 

Girls' School 

Harshitha Samarawickrama (Anula Vidyalaya) 22633 

Pabasara Ranabahu (Rathnavali GS, Gampaha) 8269 

Readers prizes go to: 1. Rupa Kalyani, Ariyawansha Mawatha, Haruwalgoda, Habaraduwa, 2. M.B. Ekanayake, 111, Thalawathugoda Road, Pitakotte, Kotte, 3. Himal Indrasoma, 12, Welikadawatte Road, Rajagiriya, 4. Banuri Rizmi, 121 1/1, Saranankara Road, Dehiwela.