Nalanda break the deadlock to beat Ananda

92nd Battle of the Maroons

Nalanda College captained by Dineth Samaraweera registered their first win against arch rivals Ananda in more than six decades when they registered a historic nine wicket win at the 92nd Battle of the Maroons Big Match at the SSC on Monday.

Nalanda came to the match as favourites and their Sri Lanka Under 19 pair Vinuja Ranpul and Raveen de Silva lived up to their reputation accounting for 13 wickets in the match.

In reply to Nalanda’s 289 for nine wickets, Ananda who commenced the day at 69 for five, were dismissed for 139. Iruth Gimshan was the only Ananda batsman to resist as he made an unbeaten 70.

Forced to follow on opener Lakshitha Kularatne and Hansaja Jayasinghe contributed with back to the wall knocks to delay the outcome. Kularatne made 32 facing 124 balls and Jayasinghe anchored the middle order with a knock of 48 runs which came in 85 balls.

Nalanda needed just 32 balls to knock off the win need of 31 runs. They lost a solitary wicket.

It was the first time that Nalanda won the Big Match since 1953.

Raveen de Silva who was the deputy skipper at the last Youth World Cup bagged seven wickets in the match, while former Prince of Wales player Ranpul collected a match bag of six wickets.

Put to bat on day one, the entire top order clicked for Nalanda with Chanul Athukorala scoring almost run-a-ball 88 inclusive of ten fours and three sixes. While de Silva made 40 runs (4x4s), Samaraweera cracked 33 runs in 27 balls (5x4s). Rusiru Vilochana, Yasiru Samarakoon, Eranga Jayakody and Vinuja Ranpul contributed with valuable 20s.

For Ananda left arm spinner Shakthi Udara took five wickets.

Raveen de Silva won the Man of the Match award for his all round performances while Chanul Athukorala and Vinuja Ranpul were presented the Best Batsman and Best Bowler awards respectively. Ananda’s Nushal Dharmaratne won the Best Fielder award.