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| Sunday, 7 March 2004 |
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Ananda holds advantage over Nalanda in 75th battle by Ranjan Anandappa Ananda will confront Nalanda with a big psychological advantage with almost the entire team of last year's match winning outfit in the 75th 'Battle of the Maroons' when it gets underway today (Sunday) at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds. Ananda, broke a 22-year-old jinx defeating their traditional rivals Nalanda by an innings last year under a new format of playing conditions skippered by Damindu Kularatne. Nalanda has still to savour a 'Big Match' win for over an half a century since their win in 1953 under Ananda de Soysa. This year, the game is played under normal playing conditions and both sides are bound to display their true potential. No restrictions this year The new format was confined only for the first innings last year. The team batting first should declare at tea time on day one. The Team batting second has to declare by lunch time on day two in an uninterupted match. There are no restrictions in the second innings. There are no restrictions this year The umpires have been instructed to be very strict and consistant with regard to the interpretation on the wide ball to prevent negative bowling. A 30-yard circle has been drawn and at the instant of delivery there should not be more than five fieldsmen on the leg side and not more than five fielders out of the 30-yard circle throughout the match. In the last 'Big Match' the new playing conditions were introduced on an experimental basis, probably to make the match more interesting and result oriented. However, this year, they have decided to do away with these playing conditions and the match will be played under normal cricket rules. Ananda beat Nalanda by an innings in last year's 'Battle of the Maroons'. Nalanda defeated Sri Sumangala, Thurstan, Dharmasoka and Mahinda outirhgt and they lost to Royal, S.Thomas' and D. S. Senanayake Colleges. Ananda has maintained an unbeaten record with outright wins against St. Anthony's Katugastota, St. Peter's, Mahinda and Dharmapala. Kularatne will be back in the Ananda side after the Under 19 World Cup tour which was held in Bangladesh and his presence will no doubt add vigour to the batting which seems to be Ananda's forte this season. Kularatne captained Ananda last year. Besides Kularatne who scored 102 against S. Thomas' in the solitary match that he played prior to joining the Under 19 squad for training for the World Cup, Mahela Udawatta 650 runs with a century (184) against Dharmapala, skipper Thilina Kumarasinghe over 650 runs with a century against St. Peters, Janudika Sriyapala over 650 runs with a century (150) against Maliayadeva have batted consistently during the season. Among the Ananda bowlers, Achela Ranasinghe a left- arm spinner and Charith Jayaweera medium pace have taken over 40 wickets apiece while Sachitra Senanayake with over 35 wickets has played a fine supporting role with his off spinners. This season, Ananda has remained unbeaten with four wins after playing 15 matches while Nalanda has played 17 matches and has won four a and lost 3 and drawn the rest. Madura Warnapura, the son of the first Sri Lankan 'Test' captain Bandula Warnapura, will lead Nalanda and his second son Madhava is also in contention for a place in this year's 'Big' game. Yohan de Silva has been the most consistant player with the bat for the Campbell Place school with 790 runs against his name. He has struck three centuries with the highest 193 against Isipatana. Sachitra Serasinghe with a century (166 against Mahinda) and 780 runs under his belt, Sakura Wijetunga with over 750 runs and a century against Royal and skipper Madura Warnapura with 557 runs against him and over 43 wickets with his medium pacers, and Tharindu Attanayake scoring over 576 runs should be the players that Nalanda will bank on. Teams Ananda: (from): Thilina Kumarasinghe (Captain), Damindu Kularatne, Pradeep Boteju, Mahela Udawatte, Janudika Sriyapala, Rakitha Wimaladharma, Sachitra Senanayake, Chatura Herath, Achela Ranasinghe, Charith Jayaweera, Anjana Ranawaka, Amal Athulathmudali, Ramitha Perera, Sahan Rajakaruna, Charith Mudalige. Nalanda: (from): Madura Warnapura (Captain), Yohan de Silva, Sachitra Serasinghe, Sakura Wijetunga, Tharindu Attanayake, Yasas Hewavitharana, Gihan Rupasinghe, Buddika Hettiarachchi, Sameera Abeysinghe, Ashan Priyangana, Lahiru Weragala, Prabath Kariyapperuma, Madhava Warnapura, Tharun Ranasinghe, Milinda Weerasinghe. |
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