With only one count to go Lalith stands tall 

Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2017

The long wait to officially identify the winners of the Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2017 competition has reached its conclusion as its penultimate round of results were released. 

The main contest, the All-Island Schools segment, is still the domain of Lasith Croosepulle of Maris Stella College, Negombo, who takes his total count to 237,276 with just one count to go. Lasith added 14,293 combined votes during the recently concluded week, as he further strengthened his lead against second seed Navindu Nirmal of St. Aloysius’ College, Galle, to 94,135 from last week’s 80,929, giving the leader a restful yet anxious week ahead. 

Navindu added 1,087 combined votes in the concluded week to take his total count to 143,141 and stands way behind Lasith, who is assured of an obvious win unless a miracle takes place in the coming week, which will be the final week. Mohamed Najath of Zahira College will finish off third, a slot he has been occupying for many weeks. 

With a deficit of 1,738, the Emerging Schools segment still remains open but it is being led by overall leader Pulitha Yasas of Sri Sumangala College, Panadura, who has been leading right throughout. Pulitha added 766 combined votes during the ended week and took his total to 6,351 while his closest challenger Prabash Maduranga of Siri Piyarathana Padukka obtained 142 combined votes to reach 4,613. The final week looks very exciting for both these competitors. 

The International Schools category too is as exciting with the deficit reading 351 between the two competitors. Leader Tariq Haniff of Wycherley International School and Shimraz Shahil of Alethea International School are running close to each other, but the final week will be decisive for both. 

Important 

Coupons ran for 25 weeks in the Sunday Times, the two English dailies, the Daily Mirror and Daily FT, and the two Sinhala dailies, Daily Lankadeepa and Ada. The final coupon, No.26, will appear in the Sunday Times issue of 2 July. Online voting for the Most Popular Cricketer can be done through Dialog Axiata’s digital online voting system portal www.dialog.lk/cricket. Both channels will be open until 12.00 noon on Thursday, 6 July. The count of week 25 of digital voting was monitored and approved by auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers. 

All-Island Schools 

Lasith Croosepulle (Maris Stella College) 237,276 

Navindu Nirmal (St. Aloysius’ Galle) 143,141 

Mohamed Najath (Zahira College) 62,608 

Charana Nanayakkara (Thurstan College) 10,511 

Santhush Goonathilake (St. Peter’s College) 9,397 

Dinitha Basnayake (St. Benedict’s College) 7,351 

Romesh Nallaperuma (S. Thomas’ College) 6,417 

Nikesh Anjana (S. Thomas’ College) 1,941 

Helitha Vithanage (Royal College) 1,848 

Mohamed Rifaz (President’s College) 1,447 

Emerging Schools 

Pulitha Yasas (Sri Sumangala Panadura) 6,351 

Prabash Maduranga (Siri Piyaratana Padukka) 4,613 

Sahan Perera (Christ King Pannipitiya) 1,099 

Imesh Basnayake (St. Peter’s Gampaha) 457 

Gimhana Dhanushka (Piliyandala Central) 130 

Nipuna Ransika (P. de S. Kularatne MV) 98 

Methushan Thilina (Kegalu Vidyalaya) 84 

Suminda Lakshan (De La Salle Mutwal) 55 

Raveen Yasas (Devapathiraja Rathgama) 44 

Hirusha Mendis (Siddartha Central Balapitiya) 32 

International Schools 

Tariq Haniff (Wycherley International) 817 

Shimraz Shahil (Alethea International) 526 

Readers prizes go to: 

1. Yogesh Fonseka, 78/3, Pethiyagoda, Gampaha, 2. H.D.P. Kithsiri, 384/E, Jaya Mawatha, Polpitimukalana, Kandana, 3. Madushani Fernando, 62, Pushparama Road, Pothupitiya, Wadduwa, 4. Sanjaya Prasanna Jayawickrama, ‘Sandaruwan’, Wawulagala, Baddegama.