Ananda to return to their heydays of cricket

Ananda to return to their heydays of cricket

Chris Dhambarage

Ananda College with five top senior coloursmen and several other talented players in their ranks are determined to make amends for last season’s setback and to maintain an unbeaten record in the ongoing inter-school under-19 cricket tournament.

The previous season turned out to be a real nightmare for the Anandians who once maintained the reputation as the undisputed champions of school cricket for many years.

But their reputation was tarnished to a great extent last season as they struggled throughout the tournament while facing a couple of humiliating defeats at the hands of un-fancied Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda and Richmond College Galle.     

 

However this time Ananda College are very keen to redeem some of their lost prestige and to build up their cricketing image once again as one of the most talented outfits in the current inter school cricket season.

In fact last week they showed a glimpse of their capabilities when they cruised to a morale boosting innings and 14 runs outright victory over Maliyadeva College Kurunegala on their home ground at Ananda Mawatha.

The manner in which they accomplished their task was simply outstanding as they completely outplayed their opponents with a clinical performance having earlier grabbed first innings honours over Mahinda College, De Mazenod College and Richmond College respectively.

The strength in the Ananda College team is no doubt their bowling department which is studded with a couple of genuine match winners who have the potential of running through the opposition twice well inside three sessions of play.

This was exactly what the Anandians demonstrated during their previous outing where they had the satisfaction of bundling out their opponents Maliyadeva College for a paltry 124 runs and 123 runs respectively to complete a splendid innings victory with more than a session to spare.

Another significant feature in this effort was the huge contribution made by the newcomers with Kasun Perera, Sandaken Pathirana, Tharana Ravindu and Isuru Gunasekera all making their presence felt through some outstanding bowling performances.

The Anandians also had the credit of dismissing Mahinda College Galle for just 122 runs in the first innings of their rain affected encounter at Ananda Mawatha following another fine spell of bowling from Sandaken Pathirana who snapped up a four wicket haul.          

      

The Anandians also boast a strong batting line up and they have proved it this season by going past the two hundred and fifty run mark on more than a couple of occasions.   

Incidentally last week they produced their best effort when they piled up a formidable 261 for 5 wickets in their first innings in the match against Maliyadeva College Kurunegala and played at Ananda Mawatha. 

The key player in their batting line up has been undoubtedly Pasindu Isira who grabbed the opportunity to score a splendid century in the match against Maliyadeva College.

In fact this was his second hundred for the current inter-school cricket season having earlier hammered an unbeaten 101 in the drawn match against Mahinda College Galle played at Ananda Mawatha.

Dashing middle order batsman Pasindu Isira seem to be continuing from where he left last season where he emerged as one of their leading run getters having accumulated over five hundred runs inclusive of five half -centuries against Maliyadeva, D. S. Senanayake, S. de S. Jayasinghe MV, Prince of Wales and Royal Panadura.

Another player capable of turning things around for the Anandians this season is all rounder Sammu Ashan who has proved himself as a talented cricketer having also represented the Sri Lanka Under 15 team with a great amount of success.  

  

In addition skipper Thamalaka Athulathmudali has led from the front with some determined batting performances having made his presence felt as an all rounder in every outing played so far.   

  

The Ananda College First XI Cricket Squad for 2013/14 season:

Thamalaka Athulathmudali (captain), Kushil Perera (vice captain), Pasindu Isira, Isuru Gunasekera, Pathum Wijesinghe, Lakkhana Jayasekera, Sandaken Pathirana, Kasun Perera, Sarana Ravindu, Sammu Ashan, Thanura Malinda, Shenal Korale, Madhuka Gamage, Dinuka Gimhana, Sahan Arachchige, Vipula Sittamige (coach), Shamil Perera (assistant coach), Priyankara Nandasena (Master in Charge)

Upcoming fixtures:

November 5/6: Bandaranayake MV Gampaha at Ananda Mawatha

November 8/9: v Wesley College at Ananda Mawatha

December 20/21: v Dharmapala MV at Pannipitiya

December 27/28: v Dharmasoka College at Ananda Mawatha

January 3/4: v St. Peter’s College at Bambalapitiya

January 10/11: v S. Thomas’ College at Mount Lavinia

January 17/18: v Royal College at Reid Avenue

January 24/25: v St. Benedict’s College at Kotahena

January 31/February 1: v Prince of Wales College at Moratuwa

February 7/8: Dharmaraja College at Lake View

February 16/17: v Trinity College at Ananda Mawatha

February 21/22: v St. Joseph’s College at Darley Road

March 1/2: v Nalanda College (Big Match) at SSC ground

March 9: Nalanda College (one day) at SSC ground