St. Mary’s and Ananda Sastralaya clash for 50th time

The annual 50th cricket encounter popularly known as “Korale Hatana’’ between St. Mary’s College, Matugama and Ananda Sastralaya, Matugama will be played on 22nd and 23rd March at Matugama esplanade.

St. Mary’s College Matugama Cricket team Seated from left: Thisaru Priyalalitha,Chandima Vithanage (Coach), Akila Maddumage (Vice Captain), Ajith Jayasinghe (Master-in-Charge), Jayasiti Gajaweera (Principal), Kasun Sameera (Captain), Saman Amugoda (Coach), Malan Disanayaka Standing from left: Rashmika Sampath, Niroshan Madusanka, Dhanuka Heshan, Wasantha Ramesh, Kavishka Wickramasinghe, Nipun Maddumage, Kushan Chathuranga, Rajeendra Priyadarshana, Udara Madusanka, Janith Madusanka Kumara

Ananda Sastralaya Matugama team: Front row from left: Madusanka Ekanayaka (Captain), Ajith Maddumage (Coach), Rasika Piyananda (Master-in-Charge), K.K.D.P. Ranaweera (Principal), Gayan Palitha Disanayaka (Master-in-Charge), Lahiru Sankalpa Athukorala (Vice Captain) Second row from left: Nishan Jayamal, Dhanushka Prashan, Nadeesh Malshan, Kalana Sankalpa, Mohamed Ashfath, Kasun Chamara, Dinushan Dilshan, Damith Jayasinghe, Tharaka Maduwantha, Harshana Thusitha Kumara Third row from left: Umesh Kaushan, Chamil Yasintha, Kavindu Shalika, Shakthi Wickramanayaka, Manjuka Nandun Kumara

This is the oldest big match played in the Kalutara district and the first match was played in 1963.

Out of the forty nine encounters so far played Matugama Marians are leading with 12 wins and Sastralians 2 and all the other matches ended in draw.

Several matches were played during the past several days to coincide with this 50th annual cricket counter.

Out of them , the teachers’ match between the two schools, the match between the combined team of the past players of St. Mary’s and Ananda Sastrealaya and the national level cricketers attracted a big crowd.

Both schools have a proud history not only in education but in the sphere of sports specially in cricket.

St. Mary’s team consists of several impressive players. St. Mary’s team is led by Kasun Sameera de Alwis who has bagged 97 wickets this season and St, Mary’s has high hopes on him.

Another star batsman is Thisaru Priyalalitha who has scored more than 900 runs in this season.

The team is coached by two old boys Saman Amugoda and Chandima Vithanage. The present principal Jajyasiri Gajaweera is taking every effort to uplift the standard of cricket at St. Mary’s with the help of Master-In – Charge Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe and the old boys of the school.

Ananda Shastralaya is also looking for a victory this time and Sastralaya is led by Madusanka Ekanayake,an all rounder of the team and his deputy will be Ajith Maddumage. Sastralaya has played 8 matches and they have won one match and lost two matches while others ended in draw. The acting Principal L. G. N. Ranjith is also devoting his time for the well being of the team. The team is coached by Ajith Maddumage and the two masters-in- charge are Palitha Disanayake andRasika Priyananda.