Keen tussle expected at Kurunegala
The 33 rd ‘Battle of the Rocks’ encounter between hometown rivals Maliyadeva College Kurunegala and St. Anne’s College Kurunegala will be played on March 11 and 12 at the picturesque Welagedara stadium in Kurunegala commencing at 9.30am on both days. The 21st annual limited overs one day encounter between the two sides will be played on Sunday the 13th at the same venue. This time the match is organised by the Old Boy’s Association of St. Anne’s College Kurunegala and sponsored by L.B Finance Limited as main sponsors.
Maliyadeva College: Maliyadeva: K.D.L Perera (Capt), D. Kaollure, S.M.N.M. Somaratne, G.I.N. Premaratne, W.M.D.S. Premaratne, H.K.S. Bandara, C.L. Thilakaratne, M.K.S. Wanniarachchi, L.L.P.M. Dharmadasa, K.B.S. Ilankoon, D.V. Ranatunga, K.D.S. Priyadarshana, D. Meegahakumbura, R.D.S.B. Sumanaratna, R.M.V.S. Dissanayake, R.H. Pitadeniya, N.A.S.J. Nissanka, G.L.P.M. Liyanage, D. Adikari.
Maliyadeva is led by wicket keeper batsman Damith Perera with all rounder Dilshan Kollure as his deputy. Although Devans have a formidable side this season with number of all rounders in their ranks they didn’t play up to expectations. They recorded only one outright victory over St. Anthony’s College Wattala beside few first innings victories. They lost only to St. Benedict’s College Kotahena but played well during the Murali Harmony Cup tournament on their debut in Jaffna.
Skipper Perera has scored over 500 runs with 80 vs St. Aloysius as his best. Middle order batsman Namindu Somaratna is the leading batsman of the side this season with over 600 runs which including two centuries against Mahinda College (118) and St. Anthony’s College Wattala (104) and two fifties Dulaj Ranatunga (100 n.o vs St. Anthony’s College Wattala) vice captain Dilshan Kollure (145 n.o vs Rahula College Matara ) and junior national cap Damitha Silva (103 vs De Mazenod College Kandana) are the other centurions of the side. Opener Dinanjaya Premarathna all rounder Kaveen Bandara Supun Sumanarathna and Sanjaya Wanninayaka will bolster the Maliyadeva batting down in the order.
Sri Lanka junior national cap Damitha Silva is the leading all rounder of the team and he toured Bangladesh with Sri Lanka Under-19 team for the World Cup last month and performed well. Much is expected from him during this big encounter. He played only four matches for his school this season due to his national commitments. The bowling department is spearheaded by Under-15 cricketer Kaveen Bandara (40 wickets) with Sanjeevan Priyadarshana, left arm spinner Damitha Silva and Vishwa Dissanayaka to assist him. Maliyadeva is coached by old boy and first class cricketer Chandana Guruge a well known figure in junior Cricket circles with Shirantha Bandaranayake as master – in- charge.
St. Anne's College: Umesh Masakkara (Capt), Pubudu Ganegama, Tharinda Wijesinghe, Randeera Ranasinghe, Vimukthi Bandara, Dinith Chandimal, Nilesh Hasantha, Ravindu Amarasinghe, Kavindu Ranasinghe, Sachitha Jayasekara, Basitha Lakshan, Dananjaya Bandara, Dilshan de Silva, Jude Nishantha, Avishka Ranabahu, Piumal Singhawanse, Nipun Ashok, Duddhika Bandara, Dushan Silva.
St. Anne’s is led by wicket keeper batsman and fifth year player Umesh Massakkara with junior national poolist Vanitha Wanninayaka as his deputy. Massakkara has made over 400 runs this season and also did a fine job behind the wickets. Vice captain Vanitha Wanninayaka is the only centurion of the side (108 vs Rahula College) this season and he topped over 400 run mark. All rounder and opener Pubudu Ganegama has been a good performer during the season and compiled over 350 runs and also captured 35 wickets with his spin with 8 for 32 against Carey College as his best. Left arm spinner Piyumal Sinhawansa is the leading wicket taker of the side with nearly 50 scalps with a career best of 9 for 31 against Rahula College Matara.
Middle order batsman Tharinda Wijesinghe, Dineth Chandimal all rounder Randeera Ranasinghe, Nipun Ashok, Kavindu Ranasinghe and Sachitha Jayatilleke are the players who will vie for other slots in the team. Playing in the all island inter school Under-19 Division II Cricket tournament they topped the group ‘D’ by gaining two outright victories over Rahula College Matara and Taxila M.M.V Horana. Then they entered for the final round and defeated Carey College by 9 wickets in the pre-quarter final before gaining a first innings win over Devapathiraja M.V Rathgama in the quarter-final. Now they qualified to play St. Mary’s College Kegalle in the semi-final.
The team is coached by former St. Anne’s College Cricketer Chanaka Ediriweera with Nihal C Dissanayaka as master in charge. Maliyadeva leads the series with 5 wins and rest of the matches have been ended as draws. The series was started in 1959 and Maliyadeva gained their first win in the inaugural year itself under the leadership of Nissanka Cooray. The series tally of the one day encounter stands at 11 -7 in favour of Maliyadeva with 2 no decisions. An absorbing tussle can be expected on both days as both teams are equally balanced.