U-19 Cricket: Yohan Mendis joins the fray in eighth week of Bata-TST contest

While the top two contenders Pawan Dias and Lahiru Thambawita have a one-on-one duel for the top spot Yohan Mendis of S. Thomas' College surged his way to the top to claim the third spot in the All-Island Schools contest of the 37th Bata- the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016 competition. 

Yohan was at the bottom of the list from the beginning and he was placed 13th last week. 

But as the competition reaches its eighth week he skyrocketed, passing ten other contenders, to reach the third place behind Pawan and Lahiru. 

Yohan claimed the highest number of votes to be received in a week so far in the competition with a addition of 1423, which takes his total count to 1482. 

But he needs to push hard in weeks to come if the intention is to topple the top two. 

The lead, however, is still held by Pawan of Royal College Panadura, who's tally moves to 2950 after adding 647 votes to his last week's count. 

Lahiru of Holy Cross College Kalutara, was active as always, and his total count is now 2608 with the addition of 753 votes during the ended week. 

The deficit between Pawan and Lahiru, which came down to 722 as at last weekend, has now come down to 342. 

This surely will give anxious moments to both of them until the results are out next Sunday. 

After Yohan took charge of the third slot, others in line respectively moved down by a place. 

This change, which is massive in one aspect has moved down Lakshina Rodrigo of St. Peter’s College to fourth place. 

However the gap between Yohan and Lakshina is a mere 165 and this may open another duel between the two for the third slot, unless one of them decides to challenge the top two. 

Ravin Sayer of Trinity College, Malshan Rodrigo of St. Joseph’s College, Pasindu Sooriyabandara of Royal College Colombo are in at fifth, sixth and seventh spots respectively with three-figure counts. 

Madawa Fernando of De La Salle College Mutwal still looks comfortable as the leader of the Emerging Schools category for the eighth continuous week. 

Dilshan Madushanka of Siri Piyarathana Central Padukka, who entered the fray three weeks ago, is yet to make an impression while Riyaz Rizvy of Azhar College Akurana who made his entry last week are yet to impress. 

The International Schools category is yet to kick off. 

Coupons of the 37th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2015 will appear on Wijeya Newspaper’s dailies, the Daily Mirror and Lankadeepa and also its weekend English issue, the Sunday Times and the Sinhala weekly Deshaya. Readers will be able to send in as much as coupons in favour of their favourite schoolboy cricketer until mid May. 

All-Island Schools 

Pawan Dias (Royal College Panadura) 2950 

Lahiru Thambawita (Holy Cross College) 2608 

Yohan Mendis (S. Thomas’ College) 1482 

Lakshina Rodrigo (St. Peter’s College) 1317 

Ravin Sayer (Trinity College) 456 

Malshan Rodrigo (St. Joseph’s College) 303 

Pasindu Sooriyabandara (Royal College Colombo) 168 

Ravindu Kodituwakku (S. Thomas’ College) 87 

Kevin Perera (Maris Stella Negombo) 85 

Geethal Fernando (St. Benedict’s College) 84 

Gishath Panditharathne (Royal College Colombo) 77 

Himasha Hashen (Dharmapala Pannipitiya) 74 

Sammu Ashan (Ananda College) 67 

Sachinda Gamadikari (Maris Stella College) 65 

Charana Nanayakkara (Thurstan College) 59 

Kamindu Mendis (Richmond College) 48 

Kavindu Bandara (Nalanda College) 48 

Charith Asalanka (Richmond College) 39 

Nipun Samarasinghe (St. Joseph’s College) 35 

Thulina Dilshan (St. Benedict’s College) 28 

Lasith Embuldeniya (Royal College Colombo) 22 

Emerging Schools 

Madawa Fernando (De La Salle College Mutwal) 1263 

Dilshan Madushanka (Siri Piyarathana Padukka) 94 

Riyaz Rizvy (Azhar College Akurana) 2