Nalanda - a well balanced side

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Nalanda College with a well balanced side are determined to put up an impressive performance when they take on the traditional rivals Ananda College in their 79th annual Battle of the Maroons inter school cricket encounter on Saturday and Sunday at the SSC grounds in Maitland Place.

The Naladians have just completed a successful season where they pulled off two outright victories against Henegama Central and Isipatana College. They beat the former by an innings and 85 runs and the latter by ten wickets.

Even then their two victories along will not give a clear picture of their capabilities because this side is packed with some talented batsmen and top all rounders. In fact their captain Madawa Warnapura together with Sri Lanka youth players Ashan Priyanjan and Dilshan Munaweera could be considered as three of the most senior players associated in the current school cricket scene.

Skipper Warnapura is their leading run getter this year with over seven hundred runs to his credit including three superb centuries. The feature in his batting was that he remained unbeaten on all three occasions.

The stylish right hander first made exactly one hundred not out against Trinity College Kandy where the Nalandians hit up a formidable 274 for 4 in their first innings. Warnapura played another fine innings of 112 not out against Thurstan College in their first innings total of 222 for 9.

In fact the Nalandians could have pulled off this game outright after having bowled out the Thurstanites for a mere 50 runs in their first innings. Left arm spinner Amal Atapattu had an outstanding game with a five wicket haul while newcomer Vimukthi Ramesh captured four wickets for 13.

Warnapura also showed that he has the potential to rise to the occasion while completing another unbeaten century in their key match against Royal College. Sri Lanka Under 19 opener Dilshan Munaweera is another centurian in the side having struck a superb 122 against Isipatana College.

The dashing opener had a successful Under 19 World Cup campaign with the Sri Lanka under 19 team during their tour of Malaysia recently. As a result he had very limited opportunities for his school but yet managed to score just under four hundred runs.

Left hander Nipun Karunanayake has also impressed with the bat having collected nearly five hundred runs including a best effort of 103 against Dharmaraja College Kandy. His performances with the bat helped the Nalandians pile up a formidable 296 for 9 in their first innings. In fact Nalanda College have crossed the 250 run mark on several occasions which is a clear indication of their strong batting line up.

Left hander Dinuk Jayasinghe of course was the first player to reach the three figure mark this season when he hammered 110 not out against Henegama Central.

The bowling department will be in the hands of left arm spinner Amal Atapattu, right arm off spinner Dinuk Jayasinghe and leg spinner Nipun Karunanayake.

This trio have shared over 75 wickets between them having caused most of the damage throughout the season.

Atapattu is no doubt their main strike bowler having picked up five wickets in an innings on four occasions. He has been a consistent wicket taker with figures of 5 for 40 against Mahanama College, 5 for 32 against S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia, 5 for 67 against Thurstan College and 5 for 23 against Henegama Central.

Dinuk Jayasinghe has provided the back up support with two four wicket hauls to his credit against Henegama Central (4 for 33) and Mahanama College (4 for 20).

In addition Nipun Karunanayake returned career best figures of 7 for 44 against D. S. Senanayake College.