81st ‘Battle of the Maroons’

Nalanda have the edge over Ananda

Ananda and Nalanda - two of the leading cricket-playing schools, will revive their age-old cricketing tradition when they battle it out in the 81st ‘Battle of the Maroons’ Big Match on the SSC ground on March 6 and 7.
On current form and given their performance in the 2008-2009 inter-school cricket season, Nalanda led by off-spinner Dinuk Jayasinghe will go in as favourites as they have recorded five outright wins and five first innings wins out of 14 matches so far (excluding yesterday’s match). Although they have conceded three first innings losses, the team boasting of two Sri Lanka U-19 caps, is yet to lose a match.
Nalanda’s fine showing this season is due to their all round performance in batting, bowling and fielding even though the team’s strength lies with batting with former captain and Sri Lanka U-19 player Nipun Karunanayake reaching 1000 runs in the season.
However much will depend on skipper Jayasinghe, who has accounted for over 50 wickets this season, Karunanayake and paceman Adeesha Nanayakkara, who have been a pillar of strength for Nalandian’s unbeaten journey this season. Nanayakkara a bowling all rounder also represented Sri Lanka Under 19 cricket team which is sure to have added muscles to a blooming career.
Apart from Karunanayake and Nanayakkara, the others who have made an impact for the champion Nalanda team in the batting department are Prashan Wickramasinghe and Primesh Dasanayake while fresher Rangana Cooray, Sinesh Gunawardena and Suranaga Tennakoon will strengthen the bowling department alongside captain Jayasinghe and Karunanayake, a leading wicket taker in the side.
Nalanda’s five outright wins have been registered against Lumbini, Isipatana, Joseph Vaz, Mahanama and Thurstan.
Ananda doesn’t have a fine record this season, even though they remain unbeaten in 17 matches with three outright wins but are determined to offer stiff challenge to its arch-rivals as they force for a victory at the SSC.
With Matheesha Perera, an all rounder of definite class, the forte of the Anandian is their bowling. Right arm leg spinner Sachithra Perera will be one that Nalandians would be weary of while left arm pacer Ruwinda Shamen, right arm pacer Madumal Jayaratne are sure to test the Nalandians’ strong batting.
On batting aspect much will depend on Geeshan Wimaladarma, Minura Perera, Udesh Narangoda and Sachith Devage, the wicket-keeper bat who will make all attempts to resist the Nalandians bowling attack.
Ananda, who failed to produce a national youth cap this time, recorded their three outright wins against Dharmashoka, Dharmaraja and Zahira College.
Of the 80 previous encounters played, Ananda lead the series with 14 wins to the 5 of Nalanda. 56 encounters have ended without a result and five matches were not played during the war years and in 1948 it was not played due to Independence Day. The last Ananda win was in 2003 under Duminda Kularathne while Nalanda last prevailed 56 years ago under the captaincy of W. W. Silva.