73 rd "battle of the maroons" at ssc
contest between ananda batsmen and nalanda bowlers
by dhammika ratnaweera
the 73 rd "battle of the maroons" between two leading buddhist schools ananda and nalanda takes place today and tomorrow at ssc ground maitland place . anandians have a strong batting line up while nalandians have a penetrative bowling attack this time and this will be a battle of ananda batsman and nalanda bowlers.
however 55 out of 72 games played in the series have ended in a draw. the last time result was witnessed in this series was in 1982. both teams are expected to go all out to force a result and break a hoodoo which has existed for 20 years. if the two schools want to get a result they have to play positive cricket. most of the time players go for their individual records and finally the game ends in a draw.
ananda last won the big match in 1982 under the leadership of deepal daharmasekara while nalandians tasted victory back in 1953 when led by w.w. silva . in the series of big matches the anandians have won 12 matches while nalandians have won 6 with the rest ending in draws.
both schools so far have produced so many talented cricketers at national level. nalanda college got honours for producing the first test captain in bandula warnapura while ananda got a chance to produce a world cup winning captain in arjuna ranatunga. an interesting feature in this year’s match is the involvement of bandula’s son madura warnapura who will turn out for nalanda. going down memory lane to the big match records, the highest individual score of the series is owned by shantha kalawitigoda who scored 149 not out 1997. thilina kandambi of ananda scored 144 in 1999. kandambi also set up the highest number of runs scored by an individual in a match which was 144 and 24 in 1999. avishka gunawardena of ananda scored the highest number of runs (328) scored by in individual in the series from 1992 to 1996 while nalandian c. weerasinghe, who played from 1952 to 1957 scored 444 runs in this series. the best individual bowling performances of the innings was by nalandian yohan gunasekara who claimed 8 for 32 in 1976 while ananda’s p.w.perera took 8 for 51 in 1940. late anura ranasinghe of nalanda got best bowling figures in the match played in 1975 which was 14 for 67.
this year the anandians are led by fourth year coloursman eashan abeysinghe while third year coloursman mevan dunusinghe captains the nalanda side. both team are unbeaten this year with the nalandians having a better record notching up two victories against dharmapala vidyalaya pannipitiya and royal in their 16 fixtures. the anandians have played 15 matches and recorded 11 first innings victories.
skipper eashan abeysinghe , nadeeshan jayakody the two centurians in the side and will be their key batsman. the ananda batting will also comprise of yohan wickramage the deputy skipper , openers damidu kularatne , mahela udawatte , and thilina kumarasinghe. the bowling department is led by yohan wickramage who has taken 70 wickets this season . nadeeshan jayakody and isuru dias the pace duo will provide support for their spinners.
nalandians bowling department is more powerful with the presence of paceman malinga surappulige and leg spinner ishara dilshan. surappulige the third year coloursman has already got 71 wickets and is expected to trouble the ananda batsmen. the nalandians also have dilshan who has picked 55 wickets so far. he has the potential to turn the ball sharply with his orthodox spin. sanjaya gangodawila the paceman will share the new ball with surappulige.
gamini chandrakumara the all rounder is the most aggressive right hander for nalanda. the team can look to skipper dunusinghe , ishara dilshan , malinga gamaarachchi , lasitha amarasuriya , yasas hewawitharana and madura warnapura to post a sound total.
the teams
(umpires: ranga hewa , rohitha kottachchi- stand by- dilshan de silva.
match commissioner- m.d.d.n. gunaratne.
the island march 2nd., 2002.