Maliyadeva – St. Anne’s evenly poised
The 31st Battle of the Rocks encounter between arch rivals Maliyadeva College and St Anne’s College Kurunegala will be played on March 21 and 22 at the Welagedara Stadium in Kurunegala. Play commences at 10.00am on both days. The match is sponsored by Esoft the pioneers of computer education in Sri Lanka for the second successive year.
The limited over match will be played on Sunday, March 23 at the same venue. This match is organised by Johnston Fernando Foundation for the first time.
St. Anne's College
Maliyadeva led by dynamic all rounder Kusal de Silva is a very young outfit this time. De Silva has scored over 400 runs this season and also has captured 24 wickets with his right arm off spinners. Deputy skipper Chandima Bandara has taken 32 wickets from 16 matches this season. Fourth-year player Sarinda Dassanayaka is the key player with an aggregate of 826 runs and also capturing 30 wickets as a medium pacie.
Sri Lanka Under-19 cricketer Minod Bhanuka played only four matches this season due to his national commitments. He toured Australia and India with the Sri Lanka Under-19 team and also played for the World Cup in UAE. He has scored two fine hundreds against Joseph Vaz (133) and Dharmapala Vidyalaya (137).
Two more cricketers Keshan Wijeratne and Lakshan Somaweera also toured England with the Sri Lanka under 17 team in 2013. Allrounder Wijeratne has scored 464 runs this season. Prabash Keppetipola, Sachintha Pieris, Damith Perera and 16-year-old Damitha Silva are players who fared well. Silva toured Malaysia with the Sri Lanka Under-15 team in 2013. Others vying for the batting slots are Pubudu Irundaka, Uvindu Kahagalla, Arju Tennakoon and Namidu Somarathna.
Maliyadeva played 16 matches and gained one outright victory against Revatha M.V. Balapitiya and lost to Ananda and Mahinda Colleges while the rest ended in no-decisions. Former Maliyadeva College all rounder Damith Gunatilaka is the coach of the side.
Maliyadeva College
St. Anne’s led by fourth-year player Janith Perera with hard hitting middle order batsman Malshan Perera as his deputy. Janith Perera a stylish left hand opening batsman has scored over 700 runs with 83 against Kalutara Vidyalaya as his highest. He bowls left arm medium pace and also a safe fielder at any position. Malshan Perera has collected over 500 runs with the highest being 56 against Vidyartha. Left hand batsman and wicket-keeper Shehan Cooray has 350 runs to his credit and has accounted for 42 dismissals including 12 stumps. Left hand batsman Manoranga Wickramage, Umesh Massakkara, Wanitha Wanninayaka and top order batsman Himal Hasaranga are the players filling the other batting slots. Fourth year player Mohomad Afzal shares the new ball with his skipper Janith Perera. Afzal has taken 70 wickets this season with 7 for 41 against St Patrick’s Jaffna as his best. As a middle order batsman he made 68 against St. Anthony’s Wattala. Left arm leg spinner Gayas Kumarasinghe is the key spinner of the side with over 60 scalps to his credit. He will be supported by Left arm spinner Yohan Kalhara with more than 60 wickets to his name.
St. Anne’s scored six outright victories this season over St. John’s College Nugegoda, St. Mary’s College Kegalle, Shastrananda Central Dehiwala, St. Xavier’s College Marawila, St. Patrick’s College Jaffna and St. Anthony’s College Wattala. They are coached by former Annite cricketer Charith Tissera
This series was inagurated in 1959 and revived in 1980 after a lapse of 15 years. Maliyadeva defeated St Anne’s by an innings and 35 runs after 48 years last year under the captaincy of Thineth Manishka. A close finish can be expected in this two day affair this time.