Nalanda has tough battle to wage against unbeaten Ananda in 86th encounter

Ananda College Seated from left. RohanSoysa (Coach), Jagath Alwis (Prefet Of Games), Nisal Francisco,W.M.C.K. Mahamuthuwa (V.Principal), Sammu Ashan (Captain), KithsiriLiyanagamage (Principal), Lakkana Jayasinghe, F.Welage ( DeputyPrincipal Extra Curricular Activities), Sarath Priyankara (Master InCharge), Thisara DE Silva (Ass. Coach), Standing from left. Dinuka Jayaratne,Dushan Hettige, Rahal Avishka, Dileepa Jayalath, Kasun Perera, AselSigera, Supun Waragoda, Sahan Arachchige, Shenal Koralage, DilankaSandaken, Nipun Haggalle , Nipun DE Silva, Kavishka Anjula, LahiruAttanayake.

Nalanda College. Standing from left. Umeksha Dilshan, Kavindu Bandara, Dilan Suraweera, Ravin Dassanayake, Aroshana Kumara, Dasun Seneviratne, Ayantha DE Silva, Malik Peiris,Thinura Malaka, Asel Kulatunga, Nimnaka Ratnayake, Senura Perera,Lakshita Rsanajana, Kasun Sandaruwan. Seated from left. Imal Boteju (Coach),Chandana Hemasiri (Master In Charge), Malinga Amarasinghe (Captain),Ranjith Jayasundera (Principal), Ariyaratne Bandara (DeputyPrincipal), Isuru Samarasinghe (V.Captain), Ranjith Mallawarachchi(Prefect Of Games), Lakshan Hewage (Ass. coach)

Nalanda College is still to find their elusive victory formula since their last win in 1953 as another 'Battle of the Maroons' between the two leading Budhist Institutions in the country Ananda and Nalanda will gear up to meet in their 86th encounter at the SSC grounds on March 8 and 9.

Victory has denied Nalanda in this encounter for the past 61 years since their win under W.W. Silva in 1953. Ananda then was captained by Henry Seneviratne. Ananda last won in 2003 under Damindu Kularatne and the Nalanda captain on that occasion was Sanjaya Gangodawila.

Eleven years have gone since the Ananda last won in 2003 and it is high time that both teams make determined efforts to break the deadlock and make the series more interesting. After an inauspicious start this season, Nalanda losing three matches at the beginning, they came back fighting not to lose the remaining matches and were successive in beating Maliayadeva in their last game.

Ananda in their 15 matches played so far, have remained unbeaten and won against Dharmapala, Revatha Balapitiya, St.Benedict's and Wesley.

The Anandians will be led by coloursman Sammu Ashan who is shaping up to be a promising allrounder. Sammu Ashan with Sahan Arachchige have missed some matches during the season as they were members of the Sri Lanka under 19 team when they were playing against their Bangladesh counterparts in a youth Test and ODI series.

For Ananda, opener Lakkana Jayasinghe has been striking well to top the 750 run mark making a double century scored against Dharmapala Pannipitiya. Nisal Francisco is another top order batsman who has been among the runs this season. However, the Anandians have not done anything exceptional to be a strong force or to be favourites, but nevertheless with Nalanda possessing a side of equal strength, the 'battle' should produce some excitement for the spectators. Nalanda, although losing to Richmond, St.Peter's and Trinity at the early stage of the tournament, has settled down to form a strong unit with their skipper Malinga Amarasinghe guiding them with the bat and ball. Amarasinghe like his counterpart Sammu Ashan, is a promising allrounder who has held the team together. In batting, Openers Kasun Sandaruwan and Raveen Dassanayake with the deputy Isuru Samarasinghe, Dasun Seneviratne (Over 500 runs with three fifties) have done well in batting.

Left-arm spinner Kavindu Bandara, off-spinner Dilan Suraweera and medium-pacer Ayantha de Silva are capable players of playing a key role for Nalanda in their endeavour of upsetting the Anandians.

The highest individual score in the 'Big Match' series is by Shantha Kalavitigoda of Nalanda (149) in 1997. The earlier top score was by Roshan Mahanama (Nalanda) 146 n.o in 1984.

Thilina Kandamby's 144 in 1999 is the top score for an Anandian. The highest number of wickets in an innings by an individual was by left -arm spinner Yohan Gunasekera (Nalanda) 8 for 32 in 1976. He surpassed the 8 for 36 in 1940 by the late P.W. Perera (Ananda) by virtue of conceding a fewer number of runs.