Dialog-ST 2019: Top contenders step on gas, at last few bends

All-Island Schools segment leader Navod Paranavithana of Mahinda College, Galle, doubled up his pace to gain a mammoth lead of 25768 from the rest, as the results of the end of 25th week come out of the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2019 contest. 

Navod, a star in the making and the former Sri Lanka Youth skipper, obtained 6430 combined votes, which helped him take his tally to 61450 as Pasindu Ushetti of Maris Stella, Negombo failed to impress as usual. Pasindu managed only 101 additions and stands way behind the leader. 

Thanusha Sandaruwan Costa of St. John's College, Nugegoda, made a sudden acceleration last week, to claim the second place of the Emerging Schools category, but this week Vishal Nagasena of St. Peter's Gampaha regains his position. 

This segment is comfortably led by Lithija Kumara of Ananda Maithree, Balangoda, who makes steady progress, but the battle is on for the second position between Vishal and Thanusha. 

With the last coupon appearing and the deadline set in a couple of weeks, the outcome could be a well anticipated surprise. 

Sathya Sadeepani of Devapathiraja College Rathgama continues to cruise along as the leader of the Girls' Schools category, which was introduced to the ever popular competition in the country last season. She leads her team-mate Kaveesha Dilhari by 4588 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, Sinhala Weekend Deshaya and TamilMirror. 

In addition supporters and followers can reach Dialog Axiata's online voting system by login into their official Online Portal to vote for the Most Popular Cricketer (www.dialog.lk/cricket). 

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. 

Final Coupon on 

The Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2019 contest will come to a close after the remaining coupon complete the whole of 26 weeks. 

Contestants, supporters and schools will have just few more weeks to see their star schoolboy cricketer finish in style. 

The final week will be the second week of April, where Coupon No.26 will appear for the last time on April 10. 

However considering the holiday season coming up and non-publishing days into account, the Coupon No.26 will be accepted up to 12.00noon on April 22, a Monday. 

Results: Week 25 

All-Island Schools 

Navod Paranavithana (Mahinda College) 61450 

Pasindu Ushetti (Maris Stella College) 35682 

Muizz Rafeel (St. Anne's College, Kurunegala) 9344 

Lakshitha Rasanjana (Nalanda College) 8252 

Mihisal Vidanapathirana (St. Thomas' College, Matara) 3897 

Sukhitha Manoj (St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa) 3863 

Yasitha Samararathne (Dharmaraja College) 1866 

Nishan Madushka (Moratu Vidyalaya) 1333 

Abhishek Anandakumar (Trinity College) 1122 

Kanishka Ranthilakage (Ananda College) 1032 

Emerging Schools 

Lithija Kalhara (Ananda Maithree, Balangoda) 19948 

Vishal Nagasena (St. Peter's College, Gampaha) 13458 

Thanusha Sandaruwan (St. John's College, Nugegoda) 12900 

Chamod Sandaru (Piliyandala Central) 7837 

Roshen Samuel (Carey College) 1863 

Sachin Jayasinghe (Royal College, Panadura) 320 

Nisal Malinga (Christ King College, Tudella) 205 

Lahiru Peiris (Christ King College, Tudella) 101 

Avishka Lakshan (Kalutara Vidyalaya) 64 

Girls' Schools 

Sathya Sandeepani (Devapathiraja College, Ratgama) 6672 

Kaveesha Dilhari (Devapathiraja College, Ratgama) 2084 

Sithmi Nirasha (Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda) 1906 

Nimesha Tharuni (Marapola MV, Minuwangoda) 229 

Readers prizes go to: 1. Shami Philip, No.9, Hekitta Lane, Wattala, 2. Tashini Pelawatta, Wattegedara, Yatigal Oluwa, Polgahawela, 3. Supun Udayanga, 188/C, Hatharawana Mawatha, Honnnathara, Piliyandala, 4. Dilan Krishantha, 129D, Bandigoda, Ja-Ela