96th Battle of the Maroons Ananda seek to break 22-year hoodoo

Kithma Vidanapathirana (Ananda captain)

Osanda Hettiarachchi (Nalanda captain)

By M. Shamil Amit

Big match fever for the year 2026 gets underway on February 27 with the clash between two of the leading schools in the island Ananda College and Nalanda College scheduled to be played at the SSC ground in Maitland Place over three days.

The three day encounter which is the 96th in the series is being fought out for Dr. N.M. Perera Memorial Trophy and Ananda lead the series with 12 wins as against Nalanda’s seven.

Nalanda are the title holders having recorded the last win of the series in 2022 under the leadership of Dineth Samaraweera which they won after a lapse of 69 years while Ananda’s last win was in the year in 2003 when the side led by Damindu Kularatne.

Looking back at the performances of the two teams this season, Ananda led by Sri Lanka youth player Kithma Vidanapathirana has the edge as they have succeeded in recording two outright wins against St Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa and S. Thomas’ College which was for the first time. 

Vidanapathirana will depend much on Nethula Edirimanne, last year's skipper Ashinsa Nainayake and all-rounder Sharada Jayaratne who all have been in the forefront in the matches they played this season.

Nalanda led by Osanda Hettiarachchi will bank on Nadul Jayalath who has cracked a ton. Nemindu Akmeemana, Santhul Wijeratne, Malsha Fernando and Hasith Ratnayake are some of the other key players.

However the big match between two schools is something special for the players and theirperformance in the inter-school encounters cannot be taken into consideration as they will no doubt put their best foot forward on the occasion.

So with Ananda seeking to break the 22 year old hoodoo and Nalanda looking forward to retaining the Dr. N.M. Perera Memorial Trophy, an interesting and close tussle could be witnessed over the three days.

The match will be followed by the 49th limited overs encounter which will for the first time be played under floodlights and played for the P de S. Kularatne Trophy. Ananda lead the series with 27 wins to Nalanda’s 15.

Ananda College squad: Kithma Vidanapathirana (captain),  Nethula Edirimanne, Ashinsa Nainayake, Binara Induwara, Deneth Bimsara, Mishika Abeywardena, Wishwa Weragoda, Sharada Jayaratne, Ovin Perera, Rashan Wijeratne, Himira Kudagama, Daniru Ranasinghe, Chamathka Irusha, Dasith Batugahage, Nileth Suleev, Thinura Makawita, Lithma Perera, Danindu Sellaperuma, Janadeepa Okash. Kelum Fernando (head coach), Dharantha Menerigama (assistant coach), Lakshan Hewage (assistant coach), Hasala Sankalpa (physiotherapist)

Nalanda College squad: Osanda Hettiarachchi (captain), Nadul Jayalath, Nemindu Akmeemana, Santhul Wijeratne, Malsha Fernando, Hasith Ratnayake, Ranmith Senarath, Mihin Soysa, Gevindu Manamperi, Omith Ratnayake, Methuka Perera, Gayuka Herath, Dunal Sendanayake, Dunitha Ranasinghe, Lithum Wijekumara, Sahas Godage, Thiviru Ranasinghe, Sadew Wijesekera. Nuwan Zoysa (head coach), Nimantha Peiris (Assistant coach)