Nalanda eye repeat, Ananda look for first win in more than two decades

Ananda College Team

By Lakshman Ranasinghe

The 93rd Battle of the Maroons cricket encounter for the Dr. N. M. Perera Memorial Trophy between Ananda College and Nalanda College will commence at 10.00 a.m. tomorrow at the SSC Grounds.

Ananda College leads the series tally with 12 wins to Nalanda College’s seven. 

Last year, at the 92nd encounter, Nalanda under the leadership of Dineth Samaraweera broke a 69-year hoodoo in defeating their arch rivals by nine wickets. Before this, Nalanda’s last victory was in 1953 led by W. Wimalaratne Silva. 

Ananda last achieved victory in 2002, led by Eshan Abeysinghe.

A total number of 30 centuries have been scored in this clash with the Nalandians leading that tally with 16 to Ananda’s 14. Anandian Thilina Kandambi holds the record for the highest individual score with 144 scored in 1999.

In bowling, late Anura Ranasinghe with 14 wickets for 67 runs holds the best haul of wickets in a match. He performed this feat in 1975 as the captain. Nalandian Yohan Gunasekera claimed eight wickets for 32 runs in 1976, the best figures in a single innings.

Ananda scored 329 for four in 2006, which still stands as the highest team score while the lowest was the 48 scored by Nalanda in 1939.

Ananda is led by Nethma Samaraweera, a third-year player who will expect his young team to come up with an outstanding performance to make way for the coveted trophy to the silverware cabinet at Maradana.

Left-handed batsman and third year player Viduna Wijebandara, along with Iruth Gilshan, head the Ananda batting with Wijebandara scoring over 500 runs, slightly more than the 450 plus runs by Gilshan.

The right-arm off-spin and left-arm spin combination of Kithma Sithmal with 48 wickets and Ashinsa Deshan with 37 wickets are the two main weapons in the Anandian bowling armoury.

PIX BY NISAL BADUGE

Nalanda is led by fourth-year coloursman Chanul Athukorala who missed the most part of the season due to illness and examinations. In the six matches he played Athukorala scored over 200 runs.

Third-year coloursman Rusiru Vilochana, who became the first schoolboy to reach the 1000-run mark this season heads the Nalanda batting line-up. His 1192 runs includes two centuries and six half tons.

Third year player and off spinner Minod Caldera capturing 46 wickets including five fors along with left arm spinner, a fourth year coloursman Sajitha Vithanage with 39 wickets inclusive of three five wicket hauls is the main weapon behind Nalanda’s successes this season.