Ananda College, Colombo the leading Buddhist school in Sri Lanka will meet their traditional rivals Nalanda College in their 94 th Battle of the Maroons big match which will be played on March 2-and 3 at SSC grounds.
Two schools joint organising committee this time has planned to conduct this big match on an international level match with wide publicity with more prominence to maintain their traditions to make it a successful big match.
The distinguished Anandian Upali Dharmadasa the co – Chairman of the joint organising committee who was the former Sri Lanka Cricket President said they are confident this big match will produce a good result. But the two schools developing brotherhood is the main focus of this big match while School Principal Lal Dissanayake is keen to maintain discipline throughout the two days as well as in the One day game between the two schools which will be held on March 17 at same venue. The joint schoolscycle parade was a success while former Nalanda skipper Mahela Jayawardena went to meet Ananda team and gave good motivation lecture whileformer Ananda skipper Avishka Gunawardena went to meet Nalanda team andgave a motivation lecture and this item is new and it was a good move to two teams to build confidence before the big match.
Janudika Sriyapala the former Anandian cricketer is head coach of Ananda team and under his guidance Ananda cricketers once again hope to make this big match a success. The team is confident of taking up the Nalanda challenge at the big match and play good cricket to get a win. This year Ananda skipper Iruth Gimshan have a well balanced side while coach Janudika Sriyapala and Assistant coach Sanjaya Dewapura, Master in charge Saman Hertiaracchchi and Prefect of Games R.A.A Ranasinghe give good support to the team to get success. The college ground staff and scorer Umesh Anjana and past Ananda cricketers very closely work with Ananda team to get success. The head coach Janudika Sriyapala who ia a former first class cricketer always thinks positively and is confident his team will perform well under Iruth Gimshan s leadership.
Ananda team has very strong batting line up while they have five centurion with the team Kanchana de Livera, Kithma Withanaparhirana, Skipper Iruth Gimshan, Kenul de Zoysa and Kaveesha Mendis the five centurions of the team strengthen their batting department. Ruvishan Perera the talented player who represented National under 19 team at the ICC under 19 world cup also very good prospect. Ruvishan got chance to play only five matches due to National duty and very keen to play this big match with his international experience which is a plus point for Ananda side.
Kanchana de Livera the left hander and Kithma Withanaparhirana the right hander are the most successful batsman of the side having scoring 628 and 621 runs and both of them are in good form to play big innings at this big match. Skipper Iruth Gimshan having 570 runs and this three batters are the target of Nalanda bowlers.
Former National skipper and one of the best product of Ananda Dinesh Chandimal ‘s youngest brother Ayesh Shashimal also get chance to play this big match and he is third brother of the Chandimal family to represent big match which is a special occasion.
The wicket keeper Kanchana de Livera who also most successful batter of the side having 25 catches and 5 stumpings has excelled as the stumper. Deputy skipper Ashinsa Nainayake the leg spinner is the most successful Ananda bowler having 51wickets (best bowling figures 6 for 31) while off spinner Kithma Withanaparhirana and right arm medium paceman Kaveesha Mendis both have 21 wickets each and these three bowlers are their main weapons. Chandimal ‘s bother Ayesh Shashimal the leg spinner also took 19 wickets strengthens the spin department. The right arm medium paceman Ravishan Perera who is the National under 19 player having played only 5 matches but he has credit to get 17 wickets and he can cause early damage.
Ananda College this season played 12 matches while they won by innings and 114 runs against Dharmapala Pannipitiya and lost to Lumbini College and St Anthony’ s College Katugastota and rest of the matches ended in a no decisions. However Anandian having more strength and good form before the big match and their morale is high to take on Nalanda Challenge.
Ananda played their game against Royal at SSC grounds to get good match practice at SSC before this big match and team is brimming with confidence while Principal Lal Dissanayake,and College Old Boys Association, Staff and parents always back the team to get success.
Dhammika Ratnaweera