Majestic century by Amal

Dinesh WEERAWANSA

CRICKET: Opener Amal Athulathmudali cracked a majestic century as Ananda batsmen made merry against a modest Nalanda bowling attack as the 77th Battle of the Maroons cricket encounter ended in a tame draw at SSC grounds, yesterday.

Led by that merciless treatment with the willow by Athulathmudali, Ananda batted the entire final day to score a healthy 329 for 4 at stumps. This was in reply to Nalanda's first innings total of 255 for 7 wickets declared.

Resuming at their overnight total of 25 for no loss, Ananda added 14 more runs before losing the first wicket when opener R. Wijetunga (12) became a victim of a needless run out.

Then came the brightest chapter of the match for Ananda as Athulathmudali hammered Nalanda bowlers to all corners of the grounds. Continuing from his overnight score of 13, the dependable Ananda opener started the day slowly but steadily.

But once he had a good taste of Nalanda bowling he was simply unstoppable as Nalanda captain Gihan Rupasinghe had to use as many as eight bowlers.

Adding salt to Nalanda's wounds was one drop batsman Wishwa Wijesuriya who made a useful 77 with one six and seven boundaries in a 120-ball stay at the wicket. It was nothing but frustration to Nalanda camp as Athulathmudali and Wijesuriya alliance produced 148 runs for the second wicket.

The Ananda total was on 111 for 1 off 44 overs at one stage. At lunch, Ananda were strongly placed at 123 for one with Athulathmudali on 67 n.o and Wijesuriya on 23 n.o. Ananda batsmen continued their upper hand to take tea at 240 for 3.

Athulathmudali who entered nervous nineties with a nice cover drive boundary, struggled for a few overs before reaching his century. His superb innings of 115 included 15 boundaries.

Captain Chathura Herath's departure at 27 marked the second run out of the Ananda innings but No.6 batsman Gayan Rajapakse went on to make a quick fire fifty.

The match had an unexpected premature end as spectators invaded the field immediately after Rajapakse reached his half century (51 n.o.) with seven boundaries) in the second mandatory over.

The umpires had a little say in continuing the match thereafter as the players picked up their souvenir wickets and ran to the pavilion for safety.

NALANDA - 1ST INNINGS

L. Wickramasinghe c A'mudali b Wickremasinghe	 31
A. Perera b. Athulathmudali			 22
G. Rupasinghe lbw b. Wijesuriya			 39
T. Attanayake b. Athulathmudali			102
M. Warnapura b. Wickremasinghe			 30
A. Priyanjana not out				 13
M. Weerasinghe lbw b. Peiris			 05
P. Kariyapperuma c Rupasinghe b. Peiris		 06
Extras						 07
TOTAL (for 7 wkts. In 61.4 overs)		255

FALL OF WICKETS: : 1-50, 2-59, 3-141, 4-226, 5-232, 6-255.
BOWLING: G. Rupasinghe 10-1-40-0, D. Dabare 3-0-7-0, 
I. Wickremasinghe 13-0-54-2, A. Athulathmudali 13-2-48-2, 
U. Peiris 4-0-17-2, M. Gunathilaka 7-0-37-0, 
W. Wijesuriya 4-0-15-1, R. Seneviratne 2-0-16-0, 
U. Jayasundara 4-1-11-0, R. Wijetunga 2-0-8-0.

ANANDA - 1ST INNINGS
R. Wijetunga run out				 12
A. Athulathmudali c & b Atapattu		115
W. Wijesuriya c Priyankara b Kariyapperuma	 77
C. Herath  run out				 27
Udara Peiris not out				 28
Gayan Rajapakse not out				 51
Extras					 	 19
TOTAL (for 4 wkts at stumps)			329

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-39, 2-187, 3-233, 4-251.
BOWLING: Atapattu 30.5-7-63-1; Weerasinghe 18-3-35-0; 
Rupasinghe 14-2-43-0; Aponso 14-3-48-0; 
Warnapura 3-0-15-0; Kariyapperuma 20-3-77-1; 
Priyanjana 6-0-32-0; Attanayake 1-0-3-0.