Maliyadeva fancied to beat St.Anne's in Battle of Kurunegala

By Frances WARNAKULASURIYA Kurunegala Corr.

Maliyadeva College... Seated (left to right): W.W.A.G. Manishan (Vice Captain), D.D. Madumal (Captain), R.M. Haris Bandara (Coordinator), R.M.M. Rathnayake Principal), U.A.B.W.M.R.S. Bandaranayake (Master-in-Charge), H.A.S.B. Marapana (Coach), A.K.W Perera.Middle row (left to right): K.L.D.A.M. Salinda, A.A.K.K. Amarasinghe, L.K. Francisco S.A.I. Manishka, P.A.N. Witharanage, D.A.S.S. Ranawaka, A.S. Nanayakkara, G.D.N.N. Alwis, W.A.D.U. Wickramasinghe, Back row (Left to right): W.K.D. Danushka, K.I.N. Karunarathne, S.B.W. Kumara, P.M.P.D.R. Mahawaththe, E.M.C.D. Edirisinghe, J.T.U. Bandara, T.M.A.S. Bandara, P.T.G. Abesooriya. (Picture by Francis Warnakulasooriya - Pothuhera Special Corr.)

St. Anne’s College.... Seated (Left to right): Deo Gunasekara, Asela Kanumale (Coach), Shanaka Shaninda (Captain), Rev. Bro Denzil Mendiz (Principal), L Lankeshwara (Vice Captain), D. Chandrasiri (Master Incharge), M. Piyasiri Second row (left to right): C.D. Silva, M. Dilshad, R.J. Wijesinghe, K. Srilal, A.C. Fernando, N. Rathnayeka, L. Aranpola, Y. Francis, D. Ashoke, M. Fernando, M. Ziyes, D. Karunasinghe. (Picture by Francis Warnakulasooriya - Pothuhera Special Corr.)

CRICKET: Maliyadeva College with seven outright wins this season will go as favourites in their annual 30th encounter against St.Anne's at the Welegedera stadium on 13th and 14th March at the Welegedera stadium play starts at 9.30 a.m. on both days.

This year's encounter will be sponsored by Dialog GSM. In the series so far, of the 29 matches that have been played Devans won two while Annites have still to win a match. This year the two OBA's of these two schools along with the heads of the schools have organized this event. Then, the 17th limited over game will be played on 15th Sunday at the same venue starting at 10.30 am.

These two leading schools in the North Western province rendered tremendous service to the national cricket arena and produced several Test players like Ranjith Madurasinghe (Devan) Erick Upashantha (Devan) Rangana Herath (Devan) Lanka de Silva (Annite) Sanjaka Wijemanna (Annite).

One-day series started in 1992. 16 matches have already been played.

Maliyadeva and St Anne's have won 7 matches each.

Star right-arm leg-spinner 5th year player D.D. Madulal will lead the Devans side. He is an experienced leg-spinner. He has been in Sri Lanka Under 19 squad since 2007.

He was a member of the under 19 national squad for the 2008 under 19 World Cup. He has captured 59 wickets and scored 715 runs so far.

3rd year player Gayan Manishan vice captain of the side. Has scored 1157 runs. He add extra strengthen to the Devans side. He is also a member of the Under 19 national team. 6th year colours man right arm fast bowler Wimanga Perera is a up-and-coming player of Maliyadeva College. He scored 985 runs and captured 47 wickets. Maliyadeva played 16 matches in this season recorded 7 outright wins 2 lost and others were drawn.

The Annites have played 13 matches and recorded 1 outright win others ended `no decisions'. Shanaka Shaninda Silva 5th year colours man leads Annites. He is right-hand batsman right-arm paceman. He is the highest run -maker of the side with 6 half centuries this season. He scored 800 runs and captured 30 wickets.

L. Lankeshwara is an experienced player in the side and is the vice captain. He is a 5th year coloursman he is a dependable fielder and hope full player of the side.