the 21st annual ananda - nalanda 50 - over match will be played on sunday at the r. premadasa stadium.
the anandians, who are the defending champions of the dr. n. m. perera challenge trophy has been dominating this overs game since its inception in 1975 - 14 wins to nalanda's four. while three matches ended in no-results.
the big match played over last weekend ended in a listless draw. but the overs game tomorrow is bound to produce fireworks on a bone hard outfield.
ananda under bathiya perera has some outstanding strokemakers in left handed avishka gunawardena, who belted a stroke-filled 100 in the second essay in last weekend's big match, followed by the captain, tilan samaraweera, indika konera and others who have the flair to go for their shots. last year ananda won this tie well but lost to nalanda in the school 50-over final. sri lanka skipper arjuna ranatunga, who led the country to its historic world cup win over australia is expected to watch this game after missing last weekend's big match. ananda who are lying second in the schools div. i tournament are geared to win this match with a better game plan.
nalanda are led by tharanga dhammika, with eight wins this season are determined to reverse last year's setback. the nalandians too like their counterparts have some attacking strokeplayers, led by openers shantha kalawitagoda and ranesh handunetti. both batsmen have performed consistently this season. but the pair must bat intelligently if they are to give their side a good start. on a number of occasions they have been needlessly run out. mahela jayawardena that outstanding allrounder in schools, will be the key player for nalanda's success in this match. mahela besides his batting is a cunning bowler. he has the ability to bowl to a decent line to check any batsman with his craft. this was evident when ananda was bowled out for 95 runs on the first innings in last weekend's big match.
priyankara wickramasinghe is another fine allrounder who with shanuka dissanayake, sriyan de silva and sanjaya rodrigo and danushka fernando are the players to watch. nalanda will depend much on a spirited team effort to win this match. ananda will look forward to the individual performance of their frontliners to retain the trophy. this match unlike last weekend's big match is bound to draw much spectator attention. fielding will be a key factor for either side to achieve their objective.
this match is played in memory of the late dr. n. m. perera, one of the greatest products of ananda.
n. m. captained ananda at cricket, played for the ncc and was its president and later was the president of the cricket board. sri lanka won the icc trophy in 1979 during his tenure under anura tennakoon.
in a game restricted to 40 overs due to a torrential downpour, ananda with their allround superiority defeated nalanda by 42 runs to retain the dr. n. m. perera challenge trophy in their 22nd limited over match played at the r. premadasa stadium, sunday.
ananda sent in to bat made 213 for 7 after a poor start in 45 overs. nalanda in reply made 104 for 3 in 31 overs when the rains came down to halt play at 4.25 p.m. as result nalanda were set to make 190 runs in 40 overs but managed to get 148 for 9.
ananda lost their first wicket at 0 in the second over, but an entertaining 100 runs in 144 balls between opener sujith janaka 57 (in 103 balls with 3 fours) and allrounder tilan samaraweera a well struck 62 in 86 balls (with 8 fours) helped ananda to steady the innings.
then came yet another aggressive third-wicket stand of 55 runs between janaka and dusky lefthanded batsman avishka gunawardena 71 not out provided the fireworks for ananda to be in control. gunawardena who scored 100 not out in the second innings in the big match last weekend, bludgeoned the nalanda attack to make 71 not out with 8 fours in 59 balls.
mahela jayawardena was the most successful bowler with 3 for 45.
nalanda in reply started poorly losing their frontline trio, kalawitagoda ranesh handunetti and mahela jayawardena for 23 runs to the bowling of dharmasena and abeywickrema.
resolute batting by lefthander priyankara wickremasinghe 52 (with 5 fours) and sanjay rodrigo 22 put on 84 runs for the fourth wicket when the rains came down.
with 86 runs to be made in 10 overs nalanda were never in the chase and eventually made 148 for 9. bathiya perera who came in to bowl late, wheeled over 6 overs to capture 3 for 22.
ananda 213 for 7 in 45 overs in 200 mts. (sujith janaka 57, tilan samaraweera 62, avishka gunawardena 71 n.o., mahela jayawardena 3 for 45, sriyan de silva 2 for 56).
nalanda 148 for 9 in 40 overs 205 mts. (priyankara wickremasinghe 52,
sanjay rodrigo 22,
anjana prabath 18 n.o., n. kumara 12 n.o., s. dharmasena 2 for 19, c.
abeywickrema 1 for 26,
g. pathirana 2 for 31, bathiya perera 3 for 22).
note: this article was obtained from the celyon daily news.
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