Opener Avishka hits ton, as Nalanda gain control
A masterful century by opener and Nalanda deputy skipper Avishka Perera (120) and a menacing spell of left arm seam bowling by Dineth Samaraweera (3 for 22) placed Nalanda in the box seat at the end of the first day's play in the 90th Battle of the Maroons cricket encounter between Ananda and Nalanda which commenced at the SSC Grounds yesterday.
Nalanda declared their innings at 269 for 7 and in reply Ananda were struggling at 54 for 4 wickets at close.
Taking first lease of a greenish looking wicket the Nalanda openers were never troubled by the Ananda pacemen and they looked in control from the first ball they faced. Avishka Perera, looking a picture of confidence collected his runs mostly off the front foot with well timed drives that kissed the turf on the way to the boundary. Perera received good support from Dilhara Polgampola who gave him the much needed support by rotating the strike.
Perera collecting his runs at will and reached the first fifty facing 64 deliveries with eight hits to the ropes.
Nalanda went on for lunch with 93 for the loss of one wicket.
After a fine opening stand of 83 Polgampola was dismissed for 22. Perera carried on regardless while he lost his partners Ravindu De Silva and in-form Nalanda skipper Lakshitha Rasanjana, a victim of a loose shot. Perera with a fine fine exhibition of batsmanship reached the century off 134 deliveries sending the ball to the lines on seventeen occasions. His innings lasted 216 minutes.
Avishka Perera made his way back to the pavilion after a well compiled 120 runs facing 134 deliveries, and hitting seventeen boundaries. Tea was taken with the Nalanda score standing at 188 for 4 off 52 overs.
Proceedings after tea took a slow turn as Ananda skipper Nirmal employed a pace -spin combination putting the Nalanda batsmen on the back foot. Nalanda scored 81 runs off 52 overs and the declaration came at 269 for seven wickets off 72.1 overs.
Off spinner Saviru Bandara and paceman Chamika Gunasekera bowled 35 over between them to capture two wickets each.
Ananda left with 15 overs to the close started on the wrong foot losing three quick wickets in the 2nd. 4th and 6th overs to left arm paceman Dineth Samaraweera and were struggling at 3 down for 26. Opener Sudeepa Angulugaha was the 4th wicket to fall as he was caught by wicketkeeper Polgampola off Chamindu Wijesinghe. Ananda were 52 for 4 wickets off 15 overs at the close of day one.