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by Chris Dhambarage

Two equally good teams and traditional rivals Ananda and Nalanda will battle it out for supremacy when they clash in the 73rd annual Battle of the Maroons cricket encounter on Saturday and Sunday at the SSC grounds, Maitland Place.

Both teams are packed with some talented all rounders and a fascinating contest is on the cards with the conditions helping the stroke makers. This was quite clear at the recent Thurstan - Isipatana Big match, where the game was dominated by the batsmen on both days. Ananda and Nalanda are quite aware of the conditions at the SSC grounds and they are determined to make this a memorable outing.

On paper Nalanda possess a much stronger outfit with a formidable batting line up and a well balanced bowling attack. Their preparations for the Big Match has been quite good despite losing on the first innings to Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa in their last outing.

The Nalandians are led this time by third year coloursman Mevan Dunusinghe who toured Pakistan with the Sri Lanka under 19 team recently. He being a left hand middle order batsman has scored over 350 runs in the current season and has a top score of 110 against Sri Sumangala MV. Third year player Malinga Gamaarachchi is the vice captain of the side, who is also their regular opening batsman.

Left handed Gamaarachchi is also a consistent run getter having struck two half centuries against St. Sebastian's (51) and Wesley (51). Altogether he has accumulated over 375 runs at an average of 20.83. Third year coloursman Ishara Dilshan is another experienced player who has picked up over 50 wickets in the current season.

The leg spinner has been their main strike bowler and returned best figures of 6 for 67 against Thurstan College. In addition he has claimed five wickets in an innings twice against Sri Sumangala (5 for 56) and Dharmapala MV Pannipitiya (5 for 22). He also had figures of 4 for 38 against Wesley, 4 for 34 v Royal and 4 for 83 v St. Anthny's. Dilshan is also a solid middle order batsman having compiled two half centuries against St. Sebastian's College Moratuwa (79 n.o) and Royal (53).

However the most successful bowler in the Nalanda camp this year has been their medium paceman Malinga Surappulige. The third year coloursman has spearheaded their attack quite effectively claiming over 61 wickets in the Elephant Lemonade Cup League tournament. His best effort came in the match against Royal where he had a matchbag of twelve wickets for 97 runs.

In addition he returned another six wicket haul against D. S. Senanayake (6 for 40) and took more than four wickets in an innings on seven occasions against Richmond (4 for 36), Thurstan (4 for 69), Dharmasoka (4 for 22), Maliyadeva (4 for 64), Wesley (5 for 43), Dharmaraja (4 for 60) and Dharmapala (5 for 37). Altogether Surappulige has sent down over three hundred overs during the season giving him a superb average of 14.66.

Sharing the new ball with Surappulige will be another good all rounder Sanjaya Gangodawila, a second year player. He has captured over 30 wickets this year at an average of 19.96. His best effort was 4 for 41 against St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa and also took 4 for 52 against S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. But he is also remembered for a splendid knock of 127 against Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala. Gangodawila has turned out to be a fine all rounder and struck two half centuries against Richmond (59) and Dharmapala MV, Pannipitiya.

Gangodawila has also figured in two century partnerships - 114 for the fourth wicket with Lasith Amarasuriya against Maliyadeva and 104 for the fifth wicket with Gamini Chandrakumara against Dharmapala MV Pannipitiya.

The Nalanda batting line up is studded with a number of stroke makers and Gamini Chandrakumara is another good example having made his presence felt in the Sri Lankan under 19 team which toured New Zealand recently. The punishing right hand middle order batsman heads their batting averages with 42.5 from a total of nine innings. He has made use of the limited opportunities stroking four half centuries against Wesley (53), Dharmasoka (63), Dharmaraja (76) and Dharmapala MV (58).

Second year player Lasitha Amarasuriya is another useful all rounder who is their opening batsman and also a right arm off spinner. He is in tremendous form having scored an unbeaten knock of 86 in their last warm up match against Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa. In addition he has two other fifties to his credit against Royal (79) and Maliyadeva College Kurunegala (74).

Among the newcomers Yasas Hewavitharana has been quite impressive with two half centuries to his credit against Thurstan (75) and Dharmaraja (55). Second year player Charith Kumarasiri and Danushka Kuveju are two other promising players who have made useful contributions to the side.

The Anandians are led by Sri Lanka youth cap Eashan Abeysinghe who toured New Zealand with the Sri Lanka under 19 team for the ICC youth World Cup recently. He has had limited opportunities due to the international commitments but is back with the team and is determined to give his one hundred percent in this important encounter. Abeysinghe has already crossed the four hundred run mark in the Elephant Lemonade Cup League tournament with a top score of 146 to his credit.

The Anandians have rallied around through their experienced players during the season and have recorded eight first innings victories in the 'A' Division tournament. They beat Dharmaraja, Wesley, St. Joseph's, St. Sebastian's, Trinity, Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala and Dharamapala MV, Pannipitiya. Their setback was against St. Peter's and St. Anthony's where they lost both on the first innings.

Altogether the Anandians have completed another good season and anxious to make this Big Match a memorable outing. As in the past their batting has been their strong point and have proved this by running down some big scores in a couple of matches. Apart from skipper Eashan Abeysinghe they possess few other talented stroke makers who are capable of rising to the occasion.

Nadeeshan Jayakody is probably their best batsman with over five hundred runs to his credit including one century and five other half centuries. He has played the anchor role on a number of occasions and is a free scoring batsman capable of occupying the crease for a longer period. Vice captain Yohan Wickremage is one of the top all rounders in the side having already completed the grand double of scoring five hundred runs and capturing 50 wickets.

Wickremage has three half centuries to his credit with a top score of 78 but has been more effective as a bowler claiming over 60 wickets in the Elephant lemonade Cup 'A' Division League tournament. He had a memorable game against S. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia where he returned career best figures of 7 for 75.

Two newcomers Mahela Udawatte and Damindu Kularatne have also made the team a formidable outfit with both nearing the five hundred run mark for the season. Opener Udawatte has a top score of 99 to his credit in addition to three other half centuries while Kularatne has been equally brilliant scoring three half centuries. Thilina Kumarasinghe too has picked up his form during the latter stages of the season scoring over three hundred runs including two fifties.

In the bowling department, Isuru Dias has claimed over 30 wickets with a best effort of 4 for 60 against Royal and Lahiru Senaratne has picked up over 25 wickets with a best effort of 5 for 35 against st. Peter's College.

The Anandians recorded their last win in the series in 1982 under the captaincy of Deepal Dharmasekera while Nalanda enjoyed their last success in the series way back in 1953 under the captaincy of W.W. Silva. The Anandians are currently leading the series with a total of 11 victories while Nalanda have won six matches.

The teams:

Ananda (from): Eashan Abeysinghe (captain), Yohan Wickremage (vice captain), Nadeeshan Jayakody, Thilina Kumarasinghe, Damindu Kularatne, Mahela Udawatte, Isuru Dias, Lahiru Senaratne, Oshan Diyagama, Dinesh Danthanarayana, Rakitha Wimaladharma, Mihira Somaratne, Baghya Thalagala, A. Ranasinghe.

Nalanda (from): Mevan Dunusinghe (captain), Malinga Gamaarachchi (vice captain), Ishara Dilshan, Malinga Surappulige, Sanjaya Gangodawila, Gamini Chandrakumara, Lasitha Amarasuriya, Charith Kumarasiri, Madura Warnapura, Sachitha Madawela, Yasas Hewavitharana, Sakura Wijetunga, Tharindu Attanayake, Danushka Kuveju, Lahiru Liyanage, Viranga Pathirana.

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