82nd Battle of the Maroons:

Bowlers dominate on day one

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

The 82nd Battle of the Maroons between Ananda and Nalanda is evenly poised with the bowlers of either dominating on the first day at the SSC grounds yesterday.

Ananda bowlers justified their decision of putting Nalanda into bat first after winning the toss and taking wickets at regular intervals.

The medium pacemen Sheman, Samarsinghe and Ashan bowled well on a pitch that had early life and spinner Sachitra Perera who has captured over 100 wickets this season created more problems for the Nalanda batsmen capturing 4 for 9 in 12.4 overs.

Ananda in their first innings were 102 for 5 in 35 overs with R. Sheman top scoring with an unbeaten 34 when rain intervened around 4.40 pm. The match will be continued today.

	NALANDA - 1ST INNINGS
A. Abeyratne lbw b S. Perera			22
C. Kumarasinghe c Jayaratne b Sheman		04
P. Wickremasinghe c Jayaratne b Samarasinghe	09
S. Gunawardene lbw b Ashan			00
I. Rangana b Samarasinghe			13
K. Danyshka c Gunatileka b Samarasigne		12
G. Medawatta lbw b S.Perera			13
M. Vimukthi b P. Madushan			07
R. Cooray lbw b S. Perera			05
N. Weerasinghe not out				00
D. Tharindra b S. Perera			00
Extras						14
Total (43.4 overs)			       104

Fall of wickets: 7, 24, 24, 42, 46, 59, 88, 91, 104, 104
Bowling: R. Sheman 12-0-44-1
	 V. Ashan 9-2-19-1
	 S. Samarasinghe 7-2-21-3
	 S. Perera 12.4-7-9-4
	 P. Madushan 3-2-5-1

	ANANDA - 1ST INNINGS
D. Madushan c Abeyratne b Cooray		06
G. Wimaladharma b D.Tharinda			26
R. Jayaratne b Cooray				08
P. Madushan b Danushka				09
R. Sheman not out				34
T. Samarakoon c Wickremasinghe b Weerasinghe	09
U. Gunatileka not out				08
Extras						11
Total (for 5 wkts in 35 overs) 		       102

Fall of Wickets: 7, 27, 49, 57, 88
Bowling:  S. Gunawardene 9-0-21-0
	  R. Cooray 5-0-10-2
	  M. Vimukthi 1-0-4-0
	  K. Danushka 12-0-34-1
	  D. Tharindra 6-3-19-1
	  N Weerasinghe 2-0-9-1