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Ananda veterans win Anura Ranasinghe Memorial Trophy
‘Captain Cool’ still cool
By Bernie Wijesekera
Time tested veteran Arjuna Ranatunge proved that he still has not lost his magic when he drove Ananda to an easy five wicket win over Nalanda in their Anura Ranasinghe Memorial Trophy day-night limited overs encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Chasing a target of 208 runs to win Ananda led by their World Cup winning skipper Ranatunge made 211 for 5 in just 35.5 overs. Ranatunge made a personal contribution of 54 not out with five fours in just 56 balls of batting. Ranatunge also captured 2 for 32 during the Nalanda innings. For this effort Ranatunge was adjudged the man-of-the-match by former Nalanda College cricketer Chandrasiri Weerasinghe.

Besides Ranatunge young Thilan Samaraweera made 48.
Earlier in the day a timely century by current Test player Mahela Jayawardena (108) saw Nalanda making 208 all out in 39.4 overs . In this game old boys of both schools who have represented the country in cricket were eligible to take part.

Asanka Gurusinghe leading Nalanda won the toss and elected to bat. But, soon they were in trouble against the bowling of Akalanka Ganegama and Chandika Haturusinghe to slide to 16 for 3.

However Mahela Jayawardena and Keerthi Ranasinghe who arrived in the island from England only last morning, steadied the innings. After Ranasinghe was caught by skipper Ranatunge off spinner Oshadi Weerasinghe for 23, Kumar Dharmasena took over the innings to see them through their final total of 208.
Jayawardena in his 86 ball knock hit three sixes and nine fours.

Nalanda 208 in 39.4 overs ( Shantha Kalavitigoda 13, Mahela Jayawardena 108, Keerthi Ranasinghe 23, Kumar Dharmasena 22, Akalanka Ganegama 2 for 29, Chandika Haturusinghe 2 for 20, Arjuna Ranatunge 2 for 20, Thilan Samaraweera 2 for 51) Ananda 211 for 5 in 35.5 overs (Thilan Wijesinghe 23, Thilan Samaraweera 48, Arjuna Ranatunge 54 n.o., Marvan Atapattu 26, Keerthi Ranasinghe 1 for 44)

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