10.3.2008
Chris DHAMBARAGE

Traditional rivals Ananda College and Nalanda College figured in a high scoring draw in their 79th annual Battle of the Maroons inter school cricket encounter concluded at the SSC grounds in Maitland Place, yesterday.

The Nalandians came closer of their opponents first innings total following some splendid batting from their experienced trio of Dilshan Munaweera, Madhawa Warnapura and Nipun Karunanayake and did not mind conceding a first innings lead of 25 runs.

In fact Munaweera the Sri Lanka Under 19 player led the way with a run a ball 58 which contained ten boundaries. He made certain that the Nalandians would get off to a good start after Ananda College had posted a competitive 256 runs on the opening day.

Munaweera and Primosh Perera set the pace for an impressive first innings total by putting on 64 runs in almost even time. Skipper Madhawa Warnapura and Ashan Subasinghe then consolidated their position with a 63 run stand for the third wicket.

Warnapura played a real captains innings while facing 99 deliveries for his patient knock of 52 runs which included seven boundaries. However Sri Lanka Under 19 captain Ashan Subasinghe’s innings was cut short by a smart piece of fielding from the Ananda wicket keeper Dinesh Chandimal.

Nipun Karunanayake then took over from there onwards and completed a superb half century that helped Nalanda College to get pass the 200 run mark. Karunanayake held the middle order together and struck ten boundaries while facing 71 deliveries.

Nalanda College declared their innings shortly before the tea interval with a deficit of 25 runs. However the Anandians grabbed the opportunity to have some good batting practice during the final session of play as they reached 143 for 2 before bad light halted play early.

Opener Dinesh Chandimal came closer to completing twin fifties and was dismissed for a well compiled 45 with four boundaries. He put on 78 runs together with Praboda Seneviratne who was promoted in the batting order. Udara Peiris and skipper Ranganath Wijetunga then put on exactly fifty runs for the unfinished third wicket in even time.

ANANDA - 1ST INNINGS 256
(Dinesh Chandimal 55, Udara Peiris 85,
Ishara Wickremasinghe 40)
NALANDA - 1ST INNINGS
(Overnight 46 for no loss)
Dilshan Munaweera lbw b D. Jayasinghe 58
Primos Perera lbw b D. Jayasinghe 14
Madawa Warnapura c Wijetunga b Peiris 52
Ashan Subasinghe st Chandimal b Peiris 30
Nipun Karunanayake lbw b Wickresinghe 50
Chetan de Silva c Chandimal b Raswan 12
Dinuk Jayasinghe lbw b Wickremasinge 0
Adeeasha Nanayakkara not out 2
Extras (3lb, 10nb) 13
TOTAL (for 7 wickets decl.) 231
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-64, 2-81, 3-144, 4-178,
5-216, 6-218, 7-231
BOWLING: Ishara Wickremasinghe 10.5-2-46-2, Rajeewa Balasuriya 8-0-49-0,
Matheesha Raswan 7-2-15-1, Dinuk Jayasinghe 11-1-40-2,
Ranganath Wijetunga 7-2-19-0, Udara Peiris 12-1-54-2, Udara Jayasundera 1-0-5-0.

ANANDA - 2ND INNINGS
Dinesh Chandimal lbw b Narangoda 45
Praboda Seneviratne c de Silva b Narangoda 36
Udara Peiris not out 40
Ranganath Wijetunga not out 20
Extras (lb2) 2
TOTAL (for 2 wickets) 143
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-78, 2-93
BOWLING: Chaturanga Wickremasinghe 4-0-17-0, Ashan Subasinghe 6.1-0-35-0,
Amal Atapattu 9-1-30-0, Dilshan Munaweera 2-0-16-0, Nipuna Karunanayake 4-0-20-0,
Supun Narangoda 6-0-22-0, Madawa Warapura 1-0-1-0.


Courtesy - Daily News