Ananda Sastralaya-St. John's clash in seventh Big Match(2 Apr 1997)

02 April 1997

Ananda Sastralaya-St. John's clash today in seventh Big Match

By Herbert Perera

The seventh Battle of Sri Jayawardenapura between Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte and St. John's College, Nugegoda, will be played at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on April 2 and 3 with play commencing at 10.00 am.

In this encounter the past six matches were all drawn and both schools are hoping to register a win this year and it will be an exciting game. Ananda Sastralaya this year is skippered by fifth year coloursman Mohan Indika Perera. Mohan is also the stumper of the side and has 60 victims to his credit. As a batsman he has scored three half centuries with a tally of 625 runs. The deputy skipper is second year coloursman Manjuka Namal Perera. Manjuka has scored three centuries _ 103 against St. Thomas Matara, 103 against Kegalle MV, and 117 against Rahula, Matara.

The others who could make useful contributions are Dinuka Nirosha who scored 100 n.o., against Sri Devananda, Ambalangoda, Nuwan Kelum 101 against Kegalle MV, Ishanka Roshantha six half centuries with a tally of 977 runs, Pradeep Kumara (three half centuries and 550 runs) and Pradeep Silva (two half centuries with an aggregate of 403 runs).

In bowling for Ananda Sastralaya Deputy Skipper Manjuka has taken 72 wickets, Supun Kumarapperuma (70 wickets) and Nuwan Kelum (35 wickets) this season. Others who could make useful contributions for the side are freshers Charith Boteju, Sampath Buddhika, Jayantha Wewalage, Pradeep Nishantha, Sooriya Gunasekera, and Geeth Kumarappeli.

St. John's College, Nugegoda, this year is led by fourth year coloursman Janitha Eresh. Janitha has scored 137 not out against St. Mathew's Dematagoda, this season. His deputy will be third year coloursman Manoj Ridimaliyadde. He has scored 106 against St. Peter's College, Negombo. Others who could boost the total are Deshan Gamage, a fifth year coloursman, Manjula Gamage, fourth year colourman, Nalin Bulathsinhala and Thushara Manjula, third year colourmen and freshers Duminda Roshan, Anuruddha Peiris, Minthaka Mendis, Srikanthi Prabath, Lanka Rohitha, Nalinda Sampath and Lalinda Sampath.

For the Johnians Deshan Gamage has taken 65 wickets this year, Manjula Gamage 26 wickets and Nalin Bulathsinhala 10 wickets. In batting Deshan Gamage has scored two half centuries, Manjula Gamage has scored a half century (65 runs) and Thushara Manjula scored 118 n.o. against Asoka Vidyalaya.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)