Mahanama-S.de.S. Jayasinghe Central clash in Battle of the Lions

The first ever cricket encounter between Mahanama College Panadura and S de S Jayasinghe Central College Dehiwala “The Battle of Lions” will be held on March 24 and 25 2010 at De Soysa International Cricket Stadium.

Ms. Nadeeka Peiris, the Principal of Mahanama College together with W.Chandradasa, the principal of S de S Jayasinghe Central College will provide guidance and the two Old Students Associations Provides immense contribution to make this event a success.

This season Mahanama cricket team has registered five outright victories consecutively in two day matches. Nimesh Deshan has scored two centuries while Akila Dananjaya and Sashika Thiwanka recorded one century each.

Akila Dananjaya was able to get 50 wickets in eight matches. Mahanama First XI cricket team was able to have a school record by getting 405 runs for 7 wickets vs St. Anthony’s College Panadura. In that match Nimesh Deshan and Akila Dananjaya were able to build the record partnership of 217 for the fifth cricket. Nimesh Deshan made a record score in Mahanama history by getting 162 runs in 2010.

Akila Dananjaya is a member of under 17 National Bowling Pool and also he is the captain of the U17 Western Province school cricket team. The other cricketers Kasun Madusanka, Supun Maduranga, Suraj Kaushalya, Harsha Prabath are playing for the Kalutara district team.

Leather ball cricket was started at Dehiwala S de S Jayasinghe Central College in 1986. They have been participating in cricket matches for over 24 years since then.

During that period they emerged Champions in the Coca-Cola League tournament in 1992. In that year Ranga Yasalal was the outstation schoolboy cricketer. Later he was selected to the Academy of Bowlers (MRF). The team had got a record total of 671/9 against President College Maharagama.

Another product of the school is Darshana Gamage. He was a Player of Sri Lankan Cricket Team at that time. Chintaka Perera and Uresh Niroshan are the other outstanding players. They were the under 14 division three runners up in 1998.

Batsman Daminda Upul scored 180 runs from only 60 balls against the President’s College with 22 sixes.

In addition Channa Prasad Niroshan, Kapila Janaka Kodithuwakku have scored double centuries and Darshana Gamage has claimed nine wickets in an innings.