Keen tussle for top slots

Voting for the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contests is reaching its peak with a keen tussle for the top slots in the three categories - Platinum, Gold and Silver for Division 1, 11 and 111 schools.

Unlike in previous years, the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer awards will not be awarded under the All-Island and Outstation categories. Instead, the three Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketers will be voted in each of the three divisions.

The most popular contests are being conducted for the 35th Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year mega awards ceremony hosted by the Sunday Observer and sponsored by Sri Lanka's national mobile service provider - SLT Mobitel.

Minhard Jaeel of Thurstan College maintains his lead after the latest round of voting in the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Platinum Division with a staggering 15,397 votes. However, Royal Vice Captain Milan Abeysekera, who was placed second last week, has now gone down to the third place with 14,399 votes. Advancing to second place in the Platinum Division is Sebastianite Anusha Perera with 14,977 votes.

There are no major changes in the Gold and Silver divisions after the latest round of voting. Yamal Siriwardene of St. John's College, Nugegoda increased his tally to 12,004 votes to remain on top of the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Gold Division. In second place is Sakunda de Silva of Sri Devananda, Ambalangoda with 11,316 votes. Trishan Rodrigo of Loyola College, Negombo heads the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Silver Division with 11,205 votes.

See page 32 for more details and page 31 for the voting coupon.