Observer-Bata Most Popular Cricket Contests :

Malith Gunatilleke and Rajeeva Weerasinghe in hot contest

A neck-to-neck race is in the offing in the OBSERVER-BATA Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year All-Island Contest as two captains - Malith Gunatilleke of Ananda and Rajeeva Weerasinghe of St. Joseph's seem to be having a battle of their own for the top spot.

Right now, Malith Gunatilleke of Ananda leads with 6,977 votes with Rajeeva Weerasinghe of St. Joseph's 502 votes behind with 6,475 votes.

However, in the voting on coupon No. 8, it was Josephian skipper Rajeeva Weerasinghe who received the highest number of votes - 3,733 votes while Malith Gunatilleke - the Anandian skipper, received 2,807 votes.

So, this battle between Malith Gunatilleke and Rajeeva Weerasinghe is likely to be interesting as this contest nears its end.

The last coupon to be published will be coupon No. 12 for this competition and also for the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year - Outstation Contest.

In third place at the moment in the All-Island Contest, another captain - Royalist Haroon Mowjood has 1,070 votes.

Though there seems to be a close 'fight' for the top berth in the All-Island Contest, there is also a close struggle for the top berth in the Outstation Contest Asanka Nanayakkara of St. Anthony's Wattala who took over the lead in Coupon No. 8 with 3,726 votes. In second place in the Outstation Contest is Akila Weerasinghe of St. Thomas' Kotte with 1,782 votes. Weerasinghe held the lead on Coupon No. 7 with 1,062 votes.