Srimal shines for Ananda as match ends in stalemate

By M. Shamil Amit

Kithma Srimal shone with a top knock of 90 with ten boundaries for Ananda College on day two against traditional rivals Nalanda College in the 93rd Battle of the Maroons which ended in a stalemate at the SSC ground on Sunday.

The outcome of the match was visible when the match ended on day one with Nalanda College making 280 for 5 which came on the back of half tons made by Eranga Jayakody and Kushmitha Silva and useful contributions from Chanul Athukorala and Senesh Wijesinghe while Ananda ended the day on 65 for 1.

Ananda resuming from their overnight score saw the overnight pair Kanchana de Livera and Ashinsa Nainayake being able to add only another three runs before being separated.

Ananda underwent a setback when they lost two wickets with the score on 79 and though accumulating runs from there on they lost wickets at regular intervals and was badly placed on 128 for 6.

Srimal along with Ayesh Shashimal came to the rescue of the side with the pair shared a valuable partnership of 64 runs for the seventh wicket before being bowled out for 235 runs.

The match from here on was of academic interest and Nalanda batting the second time made 121 for 5 before declaring and Ananda set an impossible target of 177 runs ended the day on 22 for 2.

Scores: Nalanda 280 for 5 (K. Silva 57, E. Jayakody 83, C. Athukorala 44, S. Wijesinghe 40, K. Mendis 2/61, A. Shashimal 2/55) and 121 for 5 decl. (R. Vilochana 38, K. Mendis 3/34)

Ananda 235 (K. de Livera 43, K. Sithmal 90, C. Athukorala 2/29, J. Indusara 3/44) and 22 for 2 (K. de Livera 13*, M. Caldera 2/11)