Raveen de Silva produced a superb all round performance as Nalanda notched up an easy nine wicket victory over arch rivals Ananda in their 92nd Battle of the Maroons cricket encounter played at the SSC grounds yesterday. With this victory Nalanda ended their 69-year victory drought in the series.
The Nalandians made a formidable total of 289 for 9 wickets in their first innings on the first day while the Anandians were skittled out for 139 in the first innings. In their follow on the Anandians were bowled out 180. Nalanda had to get 30 runs to win the match and they reached that target for the loss of only one wicket to seal a memorable win in this big match series.
In fact two experienced all rounder former skipper Raveen de Silva and Vinuja Ranpul both represented the National team at the under 19 World Cup this year shown their power to make a big challenge against Aananda team.
Ananda first innings Iruth Gimshan fought a solitary battle with an unbeaten knock of 70 in 106 balls with 7 fours and a six but others were failed to impress with the bat while paceman Vinuja Ranpul captured 4 for 33 and leg spinner Raveen de Silva made a good supporting role to finish 3 for 33 to restrict Ananda and to force follow on.
Ananda’s follow on was a not good start as Nalanda bowlers made an early breakthrough to put pressure on the Ananda batting line up. The openers Nushal Dharmarathne (14) and Lakshitha Kularatne (32) added only 14 runs for the first wicket while Kularatne made a very slow innings with 32 runs in 124 balls struck only two fours while number six batter Hansaja Jayasinghe made highest score of the second innings scoring 48 in 85 balls with 7 fours but skipper Nethma Karunaratne the first thousand runs scorer of this school seasons once again failed to make good innings and that prized wicket was taken by experienced Raveen de Silva.
Karunaratne made 15 in 15 balls with two fours while all rounder Shakthi Udara hit 14 in 15 balls but this knocks were not enough to save their defeat at this big match.
The bowling honours once again took by paceman Vinuja Ranpul 2 for 40 and spinner Raveen de Silva 4 for 80. Raveen de Silva was named Player of the Game with his fine knock of 40 in 40 in 49 balls while he took match bag of seven wickets.
Supun Weerasinghe the Group CEO of Dialog Axiata was the chief guest at the awards ceremony at this big match.
Chief scores
Nalanda 289 for 9 decarled and 31 for 1 wicket Raveen de Silva 15*,
Ananda 139 all out Iruth Gimshan 70*, Shakthi Udara 21,Vinuja Ranpul 4/33, Raveen de Silva 3/33 and 180 all out Lakshitha Kularatne 32, Nushal Dharmarathne 14, Nethma Karunaratne 15, Mineth Premaratne 23, Iruth Gimshan 10, Hansaja Jayasinghe 48,Shakthi Udara 14, Tehaan Perera 17, Vinuja Ranpul 2/40, Raveen de Silva 4/80