A knock of 111 inclusive of 12 boundaries by opener Nadul Jayalath for Nalanda against traditional rivals Ananda was the highlight of the final day's play of the 95th Battle of the Maroons which fizzled out to a high-scoring draw which concluded at the SSC ground yesterday.

Of course with the match marred by rain on day one and two, the fate of the match was visible after the completion of the second day’s play with the Anandians making 324/6 declared and Nalanda ending on 58 for no loss.

Nalanda resuming their innings on the final day made a bold reply of 325/6 declared which began with openers Nadul Jayalath and skipper Sadew Samarasinghe adding another 32 runs for a partnership of 90 before they were separated with Sadew’s dismissal for 40.

Nadul shared brief stands of 39 runs for the second wicket with Manupa Manmith and 32 runs for the third wicket with Osanda Pamuditha which followed with a 71 runs stand for the fourth wicket with Nemidu Akmeemana before he was dismissed.

With just over one session of play remaining the Anandians batting the second time ended the day on 27/1.

• Scoreboard

Ananda 1st innings (324/6 declared - Dinada Athalage 131, Kenul de Zoysa 73, Nethula Edirimanne 49, Kithma Widanapathirana 32, Mihin Munasinghe19; Punsara Rajakaruna 2/69, Osanda Pramuditha 2/80)

Nalanda 1st innings (58/0 overnight)
Nadul Jayalath c Athalage b Jayaratne 111
Sadew Samarasinghe b Widanapathirana 40
Manupa Manmitha c Perera b Nainayake 23
Osanda Pamuditha c de Zoysa b Jayaratne 19
Nemidu Akmeemana c Sellaperuma b Jayaratne 43
Gevindu Manamperi c Athalage b Jayaratne 13
Manasa de Silva not out 25
Malsha Fernando not out 34
Extras: (b7, lb2 nb6, w2) 17
Total: (6 wickets declared: 88.4 overs) 325
Fall of wickets: 1-90, 2-129, 3-161, 4-232, 5-258, 6-265
Bowling: Kaveesha Mendis 21.4-1-96-0, Chamathka Irusha 7-1-14-0, Ashinsa Naianayake 14-0-53-1, Dinada Athalage 3-0-13-0, Sharada Jayaratne 17-4-58-4 Kithma Widanapathirana 22-2-71-1, Danindu Sellaperuma 4-0-11-0

Ananda 2nd innings
Danindu Sellaperuma run out 04
Nethula Edirimanne not out 18
Mihin Munasinghe not out 00
Extras: (b4, nb1) 05
Total: (1 wicket: overs 7) 27
Fall of wicket: 1-27
Bowling: Thisara Dewdunu 1-0-2-0, Sadew Samarasinghe 3-1-16-0, Malsha Fernando 1-0-1-0, Hasith Ratnayake 2-1-4-0

Text by: M. Shamil Amit / Pix by: Kushan Pathiraja