St. Anne’s Kurunegala targets Division I slot
View(s):School Cricket Preview 2016-’17
By Vijitha Senaratne - Kurunegala Sports Corr
St Anne’s College, Kurunegala, is one of the foremost Cricket-playing institutions in North-Western Sri Lanka. They have produced some excellent first class Cricketers in the past including wicket keeper batsman Lanka de Silva who has represented his country in Tests and one day internationals. Some of the others who have excelled for the Annites were Sanjaka Wijemanne, Presley Polonnowita, the Jaymon brothers, Jehan and Zaman, to name a few. Playing in the Division II tournament last year, they entered the semi finals of the league tournament before losing to St Mary’s College Kegalle, thus preventing them from promotion to the Division I. They have a formidable side this year with a number of seniors in their ranks.Their main aim is the Division II title this time, to enter the big league next time.
This time the side is led by dynamic middle-order batsman Wanitha Wanninayake, with all-rounder Randeera Ranasinghe as his deputy. Wanninayaka represented Sri Lanka Under(U)-19 team against the touring South Africa U-19 team this year, and also played well for North-Western Province (NWP) U-19 team, which won the inaugural Sri Lanka Cricket Inter-Provincial U-19 tournament. Already, he has a ton and a 50 in 2 outings this season, while leading his side to 2 fine victories against Rahula College, Matara, and De Mazenod College, Kandana. Two other Cricketers, Vice Captain Randeera Ranasinghe and Pubudu Ganegama are also in good touch. Ranasinghe, a hard-hitting batsman scored over 430 runs last season, with two 50s while snaring 50 wickets.
Pubudu Ganegama, a 5th-year coloursman, already has a 10-wicket haul against De Mazenod College, and was also adjudged ‘Man of the Final’ in the Inter-provincial U-19 tournament last season, following his match-winning ton NWP. Opener Vimukthi Bandara and right-handed middle-order batsman Tharinda Wijesinghe are 5th-year players, while Sachitha Jayasekara, Dineth Chandimal and Kavindu Ranasinghe will bolster the middle-order, with 3rd-year player Piyumal Sinhawansa as their main strike bowler. Sinhawansa captured over 80 wickets last season, with 9 for 31 against Rahula College as his best. Off-spinner Pubudu Ganegama, medium-pacer Randeera Ranasinghe and right-arm leg-spinner Kavindu Ranasinghe will spearhead the bowling attack this season. Dineth Chandimal is the safe hands behind the wickets.
They are down to play 16 matches this season and already have 2 outright wins.The team is coached by former Annite skipper Chanaka Ediriweerage with Nihal C. Dissanayake as Master-in-Charge The Squad for 2016-’17 Wanitha Wanninayaka (Captain) Randeera Ranasinghe (Vice Captain) Tharinda Wijesinghe, Vimukthi Bandara, Pubudu Ganegama, Piyumal Sinhawansa, Buddika Sasanka, Sachitha Jayasekara, Dineth Chandimal, Bashitha Jayasundara, Dananjaya Bandara, Kavindu Ranasinghe, Lakshitha de Silva, Dushan Silva, Sulakshana Madusith, Creshantha Piyathilake, Ruwantha Randika, Naveen Munasinghe, Vishwamal Herath, Ahmed Shafni, Hirusha de Silva, Demitha Kumara, Gmhana Liyanage, Kanishka Subasinghe, Kavindu Ekanayaka, Kusal Jayawardana, Dinush Jayaweera, Pubudushan Sedara, Avishka Priyamantha
Results
St. Anne’s College 146 and 100/2, beat Rahula College, Matara- 191 and 53, by 8 wickets
St. Anne’s College 119 and 247, beat De Mazenod College, Kandana 170/8 dec. and 71, by 125 runs
St. Anne’s College 171, drew with St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena,- 217 and 65/1
Fixtures – Home (H) and Away (A)
October 2016
14-15 vs St Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa (H), 21-22 vs Royal College, Panadura (H)
December 2016
29-30 vs S.DeS Jayasinghe MV, Dehiwala (A)
January 2017
6-7 vs St Anthony’s College, Wattala (H), 12-13 vs St Peter’s College, Negombo (H) 18-19 vs St Xavier’s College, Marawila (A), 26-27 vs Tissa MMV, Kalutara (A)
February 2017
2-3 vs Kegalu Vidyalaya (A), 9-10 vs St Thomas College, Matale (A), 15-16 vs Vidyartha College, Kandy (H), 27-28 vs Kingswood College, Kandy (H)
Annual Big Match & 1-Day Limited Overs encounter vs Maliyadeva College (dates to be announced)
Photo – Wanitha Wanninayaka – St Anne’s College Captain