The former champions made a great start in the New Year defeating Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala, by nine wickets last week at Ananda Mawatha. The manner in which they went about their task was outstanding and completed their task with plenty of overs to spare.
This was a real morale-booster for the Anandians ahead of their more important fixtures during the season. They seem to have built up a good combination and their batting and bowling has always stuck to their task. Last week too they came up with a splendid performance and dismissed their opponents twice for under 125 runs.
Muthumudalige Pushpakumara and Sri Lanka youth cap Thilina Kandambi both have been among the wickets and have played a dominant role in their success. The latter in fact has lived upto expectations as their most outstanding player having received the top award at their annual colours nite held recently.
Thilina Kandambi has now turned out to be an effective bowler and has come up with some sensational bowling spells during the season. Last week too he played a dominant role and provided excellent support to his senior partner Muthumudalige Pushpakumara.
The Ananda batting line up performed even better with skipper Jithendra Perera leading the way. He compiled a top score of 85 in almost even time and helped his team take a good first innings lead. In addition L. Fernando too was among the runs and completed a fine half century. Ananda had earlier defeated Richmond, Kingswood and St.Anne's College Kurunegala.
In their previous outing however the Anandians had to be content with a draw against Dharmapala Vidyalaya. Muthumudalige Pushpakumara again stamped his class by claiming a five wicket haul in the second innings. But the Anandians suffered a minor setback in this outing as they conceded a first innings lead to their opponents despite a fighting knock of 48 by Thilina Kandambi.
However Ananda were dismissed for a modest 150 in reply to Dharmapala's total of 184 runs. Thilina Kandambi had a good outing and returned excellent figures of 6 for 51. Dharmapala MV rallied around through the efforts of Mahendra Ratnayake (57) and eventually reached a respectable first innings total.
But the Anandians hit back strongly in their second innings with Muthumudalige Pushpakumara causing the damage with figures of 5 for 31. Dharmapala MV would have been in real trouble if not for a patient knock of 49 by Sandun Tissera.
Cambrian skipper Hasantha Fernando hit a superb century in their drawn fixture against Wesley College at Campbell Park. Fernando scored an unbeaten knock of 117 as the Cambrians reached 189 for 6 in reply to Wesley's total of 152 for 8.
The game in fact turned out to be a first innings battle after more than two sessions of play was lost due to rain and bad light on the opening day. The Wesleyites made the maximum use of the limited opportunities with Hasantha Fernando leading the way.
Royal took major honours in their drawn fixture against St.Benedict's College played at Reid Avenue. The home side had the satisfaction of enforcing the follow on after having bundled out the opposition for just 53 runs. This was mainly due to some superb bowling from Harshana Rajakaruna who claimed 5 for 19 and supported well by Sanjeewa Udumalagala.
Kingswood College too were dismissed for a paltry 60 runs in their drawn fixture against St.Anthony's College worked off at Katugastota. The Kingswoodians however recovered well in their second innings mainly through some sensible batting from their tailenders.
St.Joseph's College put up another pleasing performance while rattling up a formidable 288 for 8 in their match against St.Sebastian's College which also ended in a draw at Moratuwa. The Josephians took the opportunity for some good batting practice with Johannas Jayasuriya and Ian Daniels both completing half centuries. The visitors then reduced the home side to 46 for 3 before rain halted play on the second day.
Isipatana and Lumbini MV figured in a high scoring draw in the drawn game at Havelock Park. Both teams scored over 250 runs in their first innings with Manjula Priyantha and Manoj Fernando compiling centuries. In fact Manjula Priyantha hit a superb half century in the second innings too as Lumbini MV reached 127 for 3.