Ananda College will start as slight favourites when they meet traditional rivals Nalanda College in the 96th Battle of the Maroons three-day cricket encounter, which begins today at the SSC Grounds in Colombo, with both teams playing for the Dr N.M. Perera Challenge Trophy.
The annual big match is expected to be a keen contest, with Ananda boasting a strong batting lineup that will test the Nalanda bowling attack. The match is organised by the Ananda–Nalanda Joint Committee.
Ananda will be led by right-handed batter and off-spinner Kithma Vithanapathirana, an experienced all-rounder who has also represented the Sri Lanka Under-19 team. Ananda have played seven matches this season, recording one outright win and two first-innings victories, while suffering two first-innings defeats.
Vithanapathirana, who missed a few matches due to national duty, has been the team’s standout performer. He has scored 335 runs, including a century and a half-century, and is also the leading wicket-taker with 33 wickets, with best figures of 6 for 54.
Lithma Perera has also impressed with the bat, scoring 315 runs including a century, while Himira Kudagama has contributed 284 runs. Kudagama has also excelled with the ball, claiming 23 wickets with his left-arm spin.
Nalanda College will be captained by right-handed batter and left-arm fast bowler Osanda Pamuditha Hettiarachchi. Nalanda have had a challenging season in the two-day tournament, recording one first-innings win, four first-innings defeats and one outright loss.
Despite the team’s struggles, skipper Pamuditha has led from the front, scoring 383 runs to emerge as Nalanda’s top run-scorer. Leg-spinner Malsha Fernando has been the most successful bowler with 20 wickets, while last year’s centurion Nadula Jayalath will once again be key to strengthening the batting lineup.
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