Fresher - laden Nalanda has tough job against Ananda

By Ranjan ANANDAPPA

CRICKET: The scales should tilt more towards Ananda by virtue of their season's seven outright wins to Nalanda's two wins when their annual 82nd Battle of the Maroons cricket encounter gets under way on March 5 and 6 at the SSC grounds.

The two leading Buddhist Institutions in the country has produced the bulk of the country's Test players, and Nalanda in particular are long overdue of a win in the 'big' match series. For over half a century (58 years), Nalanda has not won. Nalanda's last win was in 1953 under W.W. Silva. Henry Seneviratne was the Ananda skipper at that time. Ananda last won in 2003 under Damindu Kularatne when Nalanda was captained by S. Gangodawila.

During the past couple of years Nalanda's biggest setback has been their Campbell Place playground which is under renovation.

This has affected them badly as they are called on to play their 'home' matches elsewhere and restricted their practice sessions.

Prashan Wickremasinghe a right-hand opening batsman and a third-year coloursman who is also the wicket-keeper of the side, will lead Nalanda. He has scored the highest number of runs (491 in 17 Innings,including a century and three 50's). His deputy Sineth Gunawardene (over 450 runs with four 50's) is another forceful batsman, is the other coloursman. Besides these two players the Nalandians basically possess a fresher laden side.

Their bowling attack seems to have variety with two useful right-arm medium pacers in Rangana Cooray and Malinda Vimukthi spearheading the opening attack, followed by off-spinner Koshan Danushka, left-arm leg-spinner Dasun Hettiarachchi and right-arm leg-spinner Nikila Weerasinghe.

Ananda on the other hand, will bank on their right-arm leg-spinner Sachitra Perera who is going great guns in the Mobitel Observer Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer Contest.

He has already captured 97 wickets with still one more match to be played and in all probability he should reach the 100-wicket mark for the season.

Out of the 15, matches played so far, Ananda has defeated Richmond, St. Benedict's, St. Sylvester's, Dharmasoka, Dharmapala, Dharmaraja and Joseph Vaz.

Ananda skipper Geeshan Wimaladharma who opens the batting has led the team from the front, scoring over 800 runs with a century and five 50's. One drop bat Rasith Jayaratne also has been among the runs, topping the 400 run mark.

Ananda's middle order looks quite solid with Pasindu Madushan (over 400 runs and 42 wickets), Ruwinda Shamen and Sisura Samarasinghe within the 400-run mark range adding muscle to the batting.

Teams

Ananda College: Geeshan Wimaladharma (Captain), Danusha Madushan, Rasith Jayarathne, Pasindu Madushan, Ruwinda Shaman, Thushara Samarakoon, Sisuru Samarasinghe, Ushan Gunatileka, Sachitra Perera, Thamalaka Athulathmudali, Venuka Ashen, Panduka Paranamanage, Hiran Wijesuriya, Asanka Ranthilakage.

Nalanda College: Prashan Wickremasinghe (Captain), Charith Kumarasinghe, Vishan Wickremarachchi, Sineth Gunawardena, Koshan Danushka, Ishan Rangana, Gayan Madawatta, Rangana Cooray, Malinda Vimukthi, Dasun Hettiarachchi, Nikila Weerasinghe, Kusal Dias, Vibusha Tharusurath, Lahiru Jayakody.