Dinada Athalage On his birthday, imprinted his name in ‘Battle of the Maroons’ history as he scored the fourth highest individual score in the big match series since 1924. The adaptable batsman went back to the pavilion with a brilliant score of 131 off 287 deliveries.
Rain played spoilsport on both Days 1 and 2 in the historic 95th ‘Battle of the Maroons,’ with this year seeing it’s first-ever three-day encounter being played at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground.
Punsara Rajakaruna and Osanda Pamuditha caught wickets each in classy spells for Nalanda as the Anandians hit runs all over the park. Kenul De Zoysa played a pivotal role in shaping Ananda’s commanding score by adding 73 runs under his belt, along with birthday boy Athalage steering the vessel for the lads from Maradana before declaring at 324/6.
Even though wicket-less, Nalanda’s Malsha Fernando had the best economy, providing away only 24 runs in 14 overs with four maidens. At close of play on Day 2 yesterday (1), the opening pair, skipper Sadew Samarasinghe and Nadul Jayalath, was at crease for the lads from Campbell Place with a good score.
Ananda are in a 22-year winless lack, having last tasted victory in 2003, whilst Nalanda have held the Dr. N.M. Perera Memorial Challenge Trophy since their last win in 2022. Ananda lead the tally with 12 against Nalanda’s seven wins.
Ananda College 1st innings
Danindu Sellapperuma c †Manasa b Osanda 0
Nethula Edirimanne c Manupa b Hasith 49
Dinada Athalage b Osanda 131
Kithma Withanapathirana c Sadew b Thisara 32
Kenul De Zoysa c Thisara b Punsara 73
Mihin Munasinghe lbw b Punsara 19
Kaveesha Mendis not out 5
Extras (wd 3, nb 4, lb 4, b 4) – 15
Did not bat: Ashinsha Nainayaka (c), Sharada Jayarathne, Lithma Perera, Chamathka Irusha
Fall of wickets: 0-1 (Danindu Sellapperuma, 0.3 ov), 93-2 (Nethula Edirimanne, 27.3 ov), 134-3 (Kithma Withanapathirana, 36.5 ov), 279-4 (Kenul De Zoysa, 86.3 ov), 310-5 (Dinada Athalage, 91.1 ov), 324-6 (Mihin Munasinghe, 92.2 ov)
Total – 324/6d (92.2)
Bowling – Osanda Pamuditha (17-2-80-2), Punsara Rajakaruna (15.2-2-69-2), Thisara Dewdunu (18-4-51-1), Hasith Rathnayaka (18-4-60-1)
Nalanda College 1st innings
Nadul Jayalath not out 28
Sadew Samarasinghe (c) not out 27
Extras (nb 1, b 2) – 3
Yet to bat: Nemindu Akmeemana, Gevindu Imeth Manamperi, Manasa De Silva (wk), Osanda Pamuditha, Thisara Dewdunu, Hasith Rathnayaka, Manupa Manmitha, Malsha Fernando, Punsara Rajakaruna
Total – 58/0 (20)
Nalanda College trail by 266 runs (Day 2 stumps)
Brief scores – Day 2
Ananda College – 324/6d (92.2)
Nalanda College – 58/0 (20)
Nalanda trail by 266 runs
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