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| Sunday, 23 February 2003 |
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Ananda last won in 1982 and Nalanda in 1953 : Captains must make determined effort to get a result by Ranjan Anandappa Both Ananda and Nalanda, with a moderate run in the current school cricket season, will gear up for their 74th 'Battle of the Maroons' annual cricket encounter at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds on March 1st and 2nd. Two decades have passed since the last win and both schools are yet to find the elusive victory formula. Ananda last won in 1982 under Deepal Dharmasekera and Roshan Gunaratne the former right arm 'Test' leg spinner was the captain of Nalanda while Nalanda has not savoured a win for the last 49 years since their win in 1953 under W.W. de. Silva. The Ananda captain then was H. Seneviratne. In the 73 encounters played so far Ananda has won 11 and Nalanda 6 while the rest have ended in draws, with 56 drawn encounters, captains Damindu Kularatne (Ananda) and Sanjaya Gangodawila (Nalanda) must make a determined effort to get a result here. Ananda has been unbeaten in their 14 outings this season, but they have also not won a single match. Nalanda has enjoyed a season with mixed fortunes, winning against Sri Sumangala and losing to St. Sebastian's and St. Peter's during the season. Ananda has five of last year's players - namely skipper Damindu Kularante, Isuru Dias, Mahela Udawatte, Thilina Kumarasinghe and Oshan Diyagama. The team is virtually a combination of the two under 17 teams which participated in last year's tournament. There are two century-makers in the side. Kularatne has topped the 400 run mark with a century and J. Sathyapala the wicketkeeper notched up fine 100 against S. Thomas'. Achela Ranasinghe a left-arm spinner with over 50 wickets has been Ananda's main wicket-taker. For Nalanda, skipper Sanjaya Gangodawila has been their 'live wire' with his bowling and batting. He has scored over 800 runs with a hundred, striking eight half centuries. He has done well in bowling too, taking 50 wickets. Opener Sachitra Serasinghe has two centuries to his credit and has passed the 500 run mark. Spinners Danushka Kuveju (over 40 wickets) and Gihan Rupasinghe has also taken over 40 wickets and the duo has combined well. Shantha Kalavitigoda (Nalanda) holds the batting record for the highest individual score with an unbeaten 149 in 1997 and Ananda's Thilina Kandamby came close to improving on it in 1999 scoring 144. The best individual bowling performance is by former Sri Lanka player from Nalanda Yohan Gunasekera who took 8 for 32 in the 1976 'Big Match'. The previous record was held by P. Walter Perera (Ananda) 8 for 51 in 1940. Ananda (from) -Damindu Kularatne (Captain), Isuru Dias, (V.Captain), Mahela Udawatte, Thilina Kumarasinghe, Oshan Diyagama, Janudika Sathyapala, Pradeep Boteju, Chathura Herath, Sachitra Senanayake, Charith Jayaweera, Rakitha Wimaladharma, Achela Ranasinghe, Sumudu Wijeratne, Harshana Nanayakkara. Nalanda (from) - Sanjaya Gangodawila (Captain), Madura Warnapura (V. Captain), Yasas Hewavitharana, Sakura Wijeratne (Wicket-keeper), Danushka Kuveju, Sachitra Madawela, Sachitra Serasinghe, Tharindu Attanayake, Gihan Rupasinghe, Harsha Dharmaratne, Viranga Pathirana, Sameera Abeysinghe, Yohan de Silva, Tharun Ranasinghe. |
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