Match fizzles out to a tame draw

By: Shamil Amit

Mar. 4 (Daily Mirror) - The 94th Battle of the Maroons big match between arch rivals Ananda and Nalanda concluded at the SSC ground Sunday fizzled out to a tame draw.

In fact, the final outcome of the encounter wasvisible when play ended on day one, with the Nalandians, taking first lease of the wicket, batting almost the whole of day one to make a score of 277 for 8 declared while the Anandians ended on 55 for 2.

There was nothing extraordinary to expect on day two, and the morning session of play saw the overnight pair Dinada Athalage and Ashinsa Nainayake put on a further 66 runs before they were separated with the dismissal of Nainayake, having put on a partnership of 72 runs.

Athalage went on to make 71, which had nine boundaries, and later Kithma Vidanapathirana made a top knock of 76 in 93 balls, which had 11 boundaries and a six, as Ananda made a score of 286 for 9 declared.

Nalanda batting the second time ended the day on 120 for 4.  (Pix by: Kushan Pathiraja)