Two to go and it’s all open in the big count

Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year 2018 

With just two more coupon weekends left for the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year 2018 competition, the leaders of two segments of the boys’ categories are facing a real test to see themselves through. 

With online votes uncounted due to restrictions imposed by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka during the past week on social media, only votes casted through coupons were counted in the concluded week.

The results of the 24th week truly indicate that the remaining two weeks will be crucial for Dellon Peiris of S. Thomas’ College and Denuwan Perera of Carey College, as both have been thrown a challenge by their closest rivals.

Dellon, who continues to lead the All-Island Schools segment, has stayed put but as predicted three weeks ago, it’s not Sachin Silva but Vihan Gunasekara who could pose a real threat to him. Dellon added 523 votes through coupons to take his tally to 30,591, but Vihan of D.S. Senanayake College toppled Sachin of St. Peter’s to take the second slot.

Vihan added 3,002 votes and reached 20,782 and stands 9,809 votes behind Dellon. Last week Dellon led Sachin by 11,271 and by this week it expands further to 11,789. But Dellon surely could be bothered by the rapid progress Vihan has made during the past three weeks, where he gradually gained traction. It would not be a surprise if Vihan further accelerates, aiming at the top spot with just two more counts remaining. The rest of the lineup in the category remained unchanged.

In the Emerging Schools category Denuwan of Carey moves ahead as the leader for yet another week but Kenula Gunaratne of St. Aloysius’ College Ratnapura has not left him in peace. Denuwan added 1,591 votes through coupons to reach 18,552 but Kenula has changed gear to edge closer. The lad from the City of Gems added 3,099 votes and took his total to 18,232 and stands just 320 votes away from taking Denuwan’s place. The current position puts Denuwan under tremendous pressure to safeguard his leadership and finish off in style as he expected at the beginning.

Harshitha Samarawickrema of Anula Vidyalaya continues to lead the Girls’ Schools category by taking her total to an unassailable 20,498 votes, which easily thwarts threats from others as well as her immediate rival, Pabasara Ranabahu. Harshitha added 2,609 votes and stands 12,397 votes ahead of Pabasara of Ratnavali Girls’ School, Gampaha. She remains in second position with her total of 8,101 as at last week.

Coupons, online votes and deadlines

Coupons will be published in the two English dailies the Daily Mirror and the Daily FT, and the two Sinhala dailies Daily Lankadeepa and Ada, and Sinhala weekend newspaper Deshaya, with the deadline set to arrive after two more weekends. Readers can vote for their favourite schoolboy or schoolgirl cricketer and take them to the winning post during this period. 

After this weekend, where Coupon No. 25 is already out, the final coupon - Coupon No. 26 - will appear on the 25 March issue of the Sunday Times. This will be the final coupon for 2018 and votes will be accepted until 29 March at 12.00 noon.

Dialog Axiata’s online system to vote for the Most Popular Cricketer (www.dialog.lk/cricket) will allow voting until 5 April 2018. 

The deadline for coupons and online votes will be noon every Thursday. The results of the Week 25 counts will be published from next Sunday as usual but the results of the final count (Week 26) will be revealed with the addition of online votes from 1 April.

Results: Week 23 All-Island Schools

Dellon Peiris S. Thomas’ College 30,591

Vihan Gunasekara D.S. Senanayake College 20,782

Sachin Silva St. Peter’s College 18,802

Asel Sigera Ananda College 3,145

Kavin Peiris Lumbini College 1,277

Dulaj Bandara Dharmaraja College 1,274

Kalana Perera S. Thomas’ College 830

Mahesh Theekshana St. Benedict’s College 676

Dinidu Wijewardene Nalanda College 547

Ravindu Fernando Maris Stella College 515

Kalana Wijesiri Ananda College 137 

Emerging Schools

Denuwan Perera Carey College 18,552

Kenula Gunaratne St. Aloysius Ratnapura 18,232

Sonara Karunathunga Ananda Sasthralaya 5,804

Thimira Malshan Ananda Sasthralaya 2,730

Kavindu Shilpage Siri Piyarathana Padukka 2,637

Heshan Madushanka Piliyandala Central 2,165

Saliya Jeewantha Eheliyagoda Central 454

Pathum Hasaranga Vidyaloka Galle 264

Pulitha Yasas Sri Sumangala Panadura 255

Girls’ School

Harshitha Samarawickrama Anula Vidyalaya 20,498

Pabasara Ranabahu Rathnavali GS, Gampaha 8,101

Kaveesha Dilhari Devapathiraja, Rathgama 62

Ruwini Nandasena St. Joseph’s Girls School 30

Readers prizes go to: 1. S.L.A. Nawaratna, ‘Ruwanara’, Iswatiyawatte, Narammala, 2. Vihanga Pathirana, 17, Narammala Road, Alawwa, 3. Subashini Hariscchandra, Meewitiya, Nawalapitiya, 4. Hithesh Chetiya, 188/11, 1st Lane, Batahena Road, Soorigama, Kadawatha.