Malith Gunatilleke helps Ananda break 47-year-old jinx

Royal beaten by an innings

By Ranjan Anandappa

Cricket: Skipper Malith Gunatileka with a match bag of (13 for 91) helped Ananda to break a 47 year old jinx when they beat Royal by an innings and 37 runs in their school cricket encounter which ended at Reid Avenue yesterday.

Ananda last beat Royal in 1960 under the leadership of Yatagama Amaradasa and the Royal skipper was Michael Dias.

Royal succumbed to nerves rather than their ability as the Ananda spinners spearheaded by left armer Gunatileka and off spinner Udara Peiris struck vital blows shared nine wickets between themselves as Royal were dimissed for a panic propelled 64 in 33 overs when they needed 101 runs to make Ananda bat for the second time.

Ananda bowlers stuck to their job admirably ,and the fielders gave them the cutting edge as the Royalists struggled in both innings to get on top of the bowling.

Gunatileka who captured 7 wickets for 67 runs off 31 overs and inflicted a batting collapse in the first innings to restrict Royal for 195 and just managed to enforce the follow on, bowled exceptionally well in the second innings as the Royalists were groping to find their way while following on.

In reply to Ananda's 296, Royal were 52 for 2 overnight in their first innings. Dhiran Warnakulasuriya who was unbeaten on 32 added five runs more to his overnight score and with that Royal's battle for survival probably began. Charith Fernando with a useful 57 compiled in 113 balls with eight fours and skipper Haroon Mowjood (16) added added 57 runs for the seventh wicket to give Royal some consolation , but their efforts were insufficient to make Ananda to bat again.

Royal, following on around 1.45 pm with a defecit of 101 runs crashed to a mere 64 off 33 overs with Malith Gunatileka (6 for 24) and Udara Pieris (3 for 23) spinning their side to victory.

Only Dilan Nanayakkara and Charith Fernando entered double figures.

Ananda 296 (Prabudha Seneviratne 80, Udara Jayasundera 67, Udara Pieris 56, Haroon Mowjood 5 for 25)

Royal 52 for 2 overnight 195 (Dhiran Warnakulasuriya 37, Dilan Nanayakkara 29, Bhanuka Rajapakse 10, Sahan Hettiarachchi 13, Charith Fernando 57, Haroon Mowjood 16, Malith Gunatileka 7 for 57) and 64 in 33 overs (Dilan Nanayakkara 10, Charith Fernando 14, Malith Gunatileka 6 for 24, Udara Pieris 3 for 23)

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