Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Monday, 9 April 2018 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
As the famous saying goes - ‘it’s not over till it’s over’ - the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy / Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year 2018 has managed to provide that excitement many of our readers have been expecting.
The Most Popular competition, where schoolboys and girls of three different segments were involved, comes to an end this week, with the final count of Week 26 and the online voting.
As many expected, Vihan Gunasekara, Denuwan Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama have managed to earn the bragging rights, emerging victorious in their respective categories.
Vihan of D. S. Senanayake College made a stunning sprint in the last two weekends to oust overall leader Dellon Peiris, to claim the All-Island Schools category and become the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2018.
Denuwan of Carey College bounced back to thwart Kenula Gunarathne from claiming a possible victory, and annexed the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2018.
As predicted, Harshitha of Anula Vidyalaya made a fitting finish to a campaign she initiated some months ago and earned the honour of being the inaugural Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year 2018.
In the All-Island Schools category, Vihan added 17463 combined votes to finish off with a tally of 40764, and ended up with a lead of 5807 over Dellon. Vihan also earned the highest combined votes income with his staggering addition of 17463 during the final couple of weeks. Dellon probably took things easy, and he may have faced the price for taking matters for granted, but his additions of 2768 cannot be rated as too bad, except for the fact that he could have been a bit more watchful and risk-minded, knowing the time has run out. Sachin Silva of St. Peter’s College finished off at overall third with 20228 votes. In the Emerging Schools category, Denuwan, who was pushed down to second place in the penultimate week, bounced back to finish off in a high. Knowing that it is his final and only opportunity to strike back, Denuwan added 9573 combined votes in the final week. With that, he returned to the top spot with a tally of 31067, and ended up with a lead of 3866 against his challenger Kenula of St. Aloysius College, Ratnapura.
Kenula added 5117 combined votes, an addition that bettered his counts of the past few weeks, yet it was not enough to challenge the cautious Denuwan. Kavindu Shilpage of Siri Piyarathana MV Padukka did not receive any vote during this period, but he still manages to finish at third overall with a tally of 6439. The only category where doubt never reigned through the closing weeks of the competition was the Girls’ Schools category, which Harshitha easily emerged victorious. As she continued during her reign, Harshitha finished off the final week with an addition of 1880 combined votes and an impressive tally of 22633. She will go down in the history of the Most Popular competitions of becoming the first ever winner of the newly introduced category. Pabasara Ranabahu of Rathnawali GS, Gampaha could be proud that she tried her best to earn the honour of taking the top spot, but will complete the race as the runner-up with a tally of 8269, with an addition of 65 combined votes.
With this, the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy / Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year 2018 competition comes to an exciting end. The winners will be presented with their respective awards at a glittering function to be held in the near future.
Results: Final Week
All-Island Schools
Emerging Schools
Girls’ School
Readers prizes go to: 1. Rupa Kalyani, Ariyawansha Mawatha, Haruwalgoda, Habaraduwa; 2. M.B. Ekanayake, 111, Thalawathugoda Road, Pitakotte, Kotte; 3. Himal Indrasoma, 12, Welikadawatte Road, Rajagiriya; 4. Banuri Rizmi, 121 1/1, Saranankara Road, Dehiwela.
