Dialog-ST 2019: Changes in middle in all three categories

Notable changes occurred in all three categories of the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2019 contest, as its 15th week came to a close. 

While the three leaders remain unchanged in the All-Island, Emerging and Girls' schools categories, three new entrants each made their way in to the contest. 

The All-Island Schools segment is still comfortably led by Navod Paranavithana of Mahinda College, as he further expanded the lead to 4679 from Sukhitha Manoj of St. Sebastian's College Moratuwa. 

Yasitha Samararathne of Dharmaraja College and Pasindu Ushetti of Maris Stella College made notable progress from the middle of the list while Supun Sumanarathne of Maliyadeva College debuted at 14th position with 72 votes. 

Yasitha moved up a position from seventh while Pasindu reached the eighth position from 13th. Shevon Daniel of St. Joseph's College made a slight progress by earning three places from the bottom. 

Vishal Nagasena of St. Peter's Gampaha, continues his dominance in the Emerging Schools category for yet another week while Lithija Kalhara of Ananda Maithree NS Balangoda and Tanusha Sandaruwan of St. John's College Nugegoda continue to follow steadily.

The list expanded to six with the inclusion of Avishka Lakshan of Kalutara Vidyalaya. 

Sathya Sadeepani of Devapathiraja College Rathgama remains as leader of the Girls' Schools category, which was introduced to the ever popular competition in the country last season. 

But the competition takes a new turn with star player and the leader's team mate Kaveesha Dilhari debuting at No.2 with 74 votes. 

Sithmi Nirasha of Anula Vidyalaya had to move to the bottom after Nimesha Tharuni of Marapola MV, Minuwangoda gained some votes. 

Coupons will be published in the Sunday Times, the two English dailies, the Daily Mirror and DailyFT, and the two Sinhala dailies, Daily Lankadeepa and Ada and Sinhala Weekend, Deshaya. From this year coupons will also come will out in the TamilMirror. 

In addition Dialog Axiata's online voting system through their official Online Portal to vote for the Most Popular Cricketer (www.dialog.lk/cricket), is now alive.  

Players who have represented their respective school in First XI cricket and with a tally of 400 or above runs or 25 wickets or above in the last season are automatically eligible for the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2019 competition. 

Schools have been categorised under three categories -- the All-Island, Emerging and Girls schools, according to the segmentation process of Sri Lanka School Cricket Association. 

Results: Week 15 

All-Island Schools 

Navod Paranavithana (Mahinda College) 7740 

Sukhitha Manoj (St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa) 3061 

Lakshitha Rasanjana (Nalanda College) 1702 

Naushan Rafeel (St. Anne's College, Kurunegala) 1209 

Nishan Madushka (Moratu Vidyalaya) 924 

Yasitha Samararathne (Dharmaraja College) 813 

Abhishek Anandakumar (Trinity College) 637 

Pasindu Ushetti (Maris Stella College) 628 

Kanishka Ranthilakage (Ananda College) 516 

Ravindu Fernando (Maris Stella College) 302 

Shehan Fernando (St. Benedict's College) 286 

Mihisal Vidanapathirana (St. Thomas' College, Matara) 272 

K.A.L.C. Warnakulasuriya (St. Anne's College, Kurunegala) 253 

Supun Sumanarathne (Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala) 72 

Nuwanidu Fernando (St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa) 51 

Randheer Ranasinghe (St. Anne's College, Kurunegala) 38 

Shevon Daniel (St. Joseph's College) 37 

Sandun Mendis (Richmond College) 26 

Dinitha Prabhanaka (Devapathiraja College, Rathgama) 17 

Pubudu Bandara (Trinity College) 6 

Kalana Perera (S. Thomas' College) 5 

Emerging Schools 

Vishal Nagasena (St. Peter's College, Gampaha) 4284 

Lithija Kalhara (Ananda Maithree, Balangoda) 3022 

Thanusha Sandaruwan (St. John's College, Nugegoda) 2920 

Chamod Sandaru (Piliyandala Central) 246 

Sachin Jayasinghe (Royal College, Panadura) 205 

Avishka Lakshan (Kalutara Vidyalaya) 18 

Girls' Schools 

Sathya Sandeepani (Devapathiraja College, Ratgama) 291 

Kaveesha Dilhari (Devapathiraja College, Ratgama) 74 

Nimesha Tharuni (Marapola MV, Minuwangoda) 67 

Sithmi Nirasha (Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda) 38 

Readers prizes go to: 1. W. Prasatha Madurika, Galugoda, Rathgama, 2. Ranjan Sudharshana, Canilmo Inn, Maththegama, Kuda Bopitiya, 3. Upul Perera, 46/5, Wimalasara Road, Kalubowila, Dehiwala, 4. Pabasara Dewmini, 278, Eluwapitiya, Veyangoda.