Navod sends warning to others, creates huge lead 

All-Island Schools category leader Navod Paranavithana of Mahinda College Galle sent a stern warning to his rivals, with the allrounder from the South going all out to clinch the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2019 contest. 

Navod made a clear statement by expanding his lead against Pasindu Ushetti of Maris Stella College to 15020, doubling a lead that was last weekend somewhere in the 7000 range.

By the end of the 23rd week, Navod added a record number of combined votes – 14100 – while Pasindu obtained 5908. Muizz Rafeel of St. Anne’s College Kurunegala and Nalanda College skipper Lakshitha Rasanjana are in at third and fourth respectively, but are within the range to swap places in the remaining weeks.  

The Emerging Schools category is still led by Lithija Kalhara of Ananda Maithree NS, Balangoda, who comfortably leads Vishal Nagasena of St. Peter’s College Gampaha by over 6000 combined votes. The unpredictable Thanusha Sandaruwan of St. John’s College Nugegoda sits at third position. 

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 last season.

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 Tamil Mirror.  

In addition, Dialog Axiata’s online voting system through their official Online Portal to vote for the Most Popular Cricketer (www.dialog.lk/cricket) is now live. Schools have been categorised under three categories – All-Island, Emerging and Girls’ schools, according to the segmentation process of Sri Lanka School Cricket Association. 

The Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2019 contest will come to a close after the three remaining coupons complete the whole of 26 weeks. Contestants, supporters and schools will have just three 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 10 April. However considering the holiday season coming up and non-publishing days into account, the Coupon No.26 will be received up to 12 noon on 22 April.