Lahiru catches on -- Pawan's lead in danger

With few more weeks remaining before the 37th Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016 competition comes to an end the race for the crown of the All-Island segment has fired up.

Last week the gap between the top two -Pawan Dias of Royal College Panadura, the leader, and Lahiru Thambawita of Holy Cross College Kalutara -- was 1587 but by now it's almost a matter of energy. Astonishingly Pawan's lead against Lahiru thins down to 206 and this opens avenues for a battle anticipated.

Pawan looked unstoppable until last week and 916 votes during the ended week may have been a sufficient count to his tally which is 6698 at present. But Lahiru has started to fire -out of nowhere and unexpectedly for the leader. Lahiru tally was swelled by 2308 votes received by the week taking his count to 6492 as he makes early indications by the 12th week of the contest. This only means that the competition can get hotter and hotter until one candidate reaches the ribbon.

At third is Yohan Mendis of S. Thomas' College Mt. Lavinia followed by Lakshina Rodrigo of St. Peter's College at fourth and Ravin Sayer of Trinity College remains at and fifth.

Madawa Fernando of De La Salle College Mutwal remains as the undisputed leader of the Emerging Schools category for the 12th week at a stretch and Dilshan Madushanka of Siri Piyarathana Central Padukka sits unbothered at second place.

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 June. The closing date will be notified shortly.

ALL-ISLAND SCHOOLS

School Pawan Dias Royal College Panadura 6698 Lahiru Thambawita Holy Cross College 6492 Yohan Mendis S. Thomas’ College 3418 Lakshina Rodrigo St. Peter’s College 1753 Ravin Sayer Trinity College 496 Malshan Rodrigo St. Joseph’s College 303 Kevin Perera Maris Stella Negombo 180 P Sooriyabandara Royal College Colombo 168 Geethal Fernando St. Benedict’s College 115 Sachinda Gamadikari Maris Stella College 90

EMERGING SCHOOLS