U-19 Cricket: Malinga claims 36th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer crown with record haul

So it’s final and as expected it’s a total surprise and finally, after weeks of domination the ultimate supremacy of the fortress went to Malinga Amarasinghe of Nalanda College, who took everyone, in particular Sachin Dalpethado by surprise as the 36th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2015 competition came to a thrilling finale. With a record number of 61851 votes in the final week, Malinga took away the All-Island Schools crown, which all thought that belonged to Sachin of St. Peter’s College.   Sachin, who took the leadership from the fourth week from Himesha Ranganath of Royal College Panadura, maintained his stronghold unblemished until Malinga supplied with an unexpected, but yet a powerful move.   Sachin had 21084 votes in the penultimate week of the competition and was sitting pretty yet vulnerably with the deficit reading as 2509.   It could have gone in favour of Sachin if the margin was bigger or if he expected a strike-back from Malinga.   In the end Malinga snatched the All-Island Schools crown with a staggering deficit of 34249.   The competition predicted to be impulsive and signs of uncertainty were evident with the unfathomed progress of Malinga, who maintained a healthy margin for number of weeks.   In the end he sprung a real surprise.   Aravinda Akurugoda of St. Joseph’s College ended the competition at third with 5018 votes to his account, but way far behind Malinga and Sachin.   Next to him was Ranganath, who will have the consolation of leading the competition in the first three weeks, at fourth with 2313 votes.   Following them are Pathum Madushanka of St. Joseph’s College at fifth and last year’s winner Randev Pathirana of Royal College Colombo at sixth.   The only one to make some progress within the top ten, at least in the final week, is Thimira Jayasinghe of Thurstan College.   He moved to seventh from tenth position, pushing down Lakshina Rodrigo of St. Peter’s College, Charith Asalanka of Richmond College and Shehan Weerasinghe of Zahira College by a slot each in the top ten.   The Emerging Schools contest was won by Nipun Malinga of Vidyaloka College Galle who enjoyed the top spot from the start.   His progress was not so overwhelming but others too were far behind him, making him a relaxed winner.   Behind Nipun finishes Udith Dilsara of St. Peter’s College Negombo as runner-up with a deficit of 1956 votes.   Dilsara completes the contest with 914 votes, an addition of 62 from last week.   He should be regretting for not pushing a bit hard during the final few weeks, when the competition was still wide open.   Achintha Ushan of Vidyaloka College Galle, who joined the contest during the latter stage finishes at third.   Sahan Thennakoon grabbed the International Schools segment title, which too uncertainty loomed for weeks.   Sahan of Lyceum International Panadura and Shimraz Shahill of Alethea International School were battling closely for weeks.   But with very little challenge from his rival, Sahan won the race by a margin of 1691 votes.   Sahan’s final tally reads as 3959, an addition of 489 votes from the penultimate week of the contest.   In contrast Shimraz, managed to add just 61 votes, taking his tally to 2268 at the end.   Here too, the second-placed failed to capitalise on the opportunities had for weeks, as in the Emerging Schools segment.   The winners are set to receive their respective awards and prizes at the 36th Bata-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2015 show, which is scheduled to be held at the BMICH in Colombo on July 24. All-Island Schools Malinga Amarasinghe (Nalanda College) 80425 Sachin Dalpethado (St. Peter’s College) 46176 Aravinda Akurugoda (St. Joseph’s College) 5018 Himesha Ranganath (Royal College Panadura) 2313 Pathum Madushanka (St. Joseph’s College) 1568 Randev Pathirana (Royal College Colombo) 1562 Thimira Jayasinghe (Thurstan College) 1143 Lakshina Rodrigo (St. Peter’s College) 1119 Charith Asalanka (Richmond College) 916 Shehan Weerasinghe (Zahira College) 848 Harith Samarasinghe (Royal College Colombo) 655 Ravin Sayer (Trinity College) 643 Sachindu Kolambage (Maris Stella College) 640 Wanindu Hasaranga (Richmond College) 420 Dineth Navodya (St. Peter’s College) 311   Emerging Schools Nipun Malinga (Vidyaloka College Galle) 2870 Udith Dilsara (St. Peter’s College Negombo) 914 Achintha Ushan (Vidyaloka College Galle) 11   International Schools Sahan Thennakoon (Lyceum Panadura) 3959 Shimraz Shahill (Alethea International) 2268 Sasika Ratnathilake (Lyceum Nugegoda) 54