ANC on a straight drive to cricketing dominance
View(s):The American National College first Xl cricket team has been going great guns during their past few excursions, notching up a string of
ANC Student Council
highly-impressive victories. After winning the Business Management School (BMS) cricket tournament in June, they moved on to conquer the Imperial Institute of Higher Education (IIHE) in the finals of IIHE Challenge Trophy, which was held at the Colombo University Grounds on August 8.
In the finals, the IIHE team won the toss and elected to bat. ANC’s probing leg-spinner Randika Hemachandra bowled a terrific maiden first over, which was followed by one from captain Vishnushaagar, which yielded the match’s first wicket off his first ball. Neshan Kaluarachchi took three wickets and was the highest wicket-taker for the ANC team in the finals.
The IIHE team managed to get a competitive score of 160 runs for 6 wickets by the end of 39 overswith a good partnership between Sajith Senevirathne, who won the Man of the Series title, and Mevan Sahabandu.
Seated – Left to Right, Rahman Sattar, Bhanuka Samarakkody, Randika Hemachandra, Anjelo Hettiarachchi, Prabodhya Fernando, Raees Sattar. Standing - Left to right, Vishnushaagar Ganesh (Captain), Travis D’Rose, Kasun Dayarathne, Neshan Kaluarachchi, Arujigan Arunthavaras, Thivanka Anuruddha (Vice Captain), Ashan Wanigaratne, Ashan Schokman
The second innings began with ANC opening batsmen Randika’s early wicket, forcing ANC to consolidate with a steady partnership in order to reach the projected target. Thivanka Anuruddha joined Ashan Schokman and the pair scored 144 runs for the second wicket, with both men scoring half centuries. ANC managed to finish the match with 8 wickets and 1.2 overs remaining.
With three wins from five tournament appearances, 2013 has been a good year for the lads from the American National College. The team also reached the semi-finals in the IIT tournament and emerged runners-up in another tournament organized by the Mercury Institute.
Bearing a large measure of confidence, the ANC side will head into the Mora six-a-side cricket tournament, organized by the University of Moratuwa and scheduled to be held on September 6 and 7, hoping to add to their current success.
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