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Ananda take on St. Peters
All set for the schools’ showdown today
By M. Shamil Amit
After the hectic scheduled matches of the All Island inter-schools limited overs cricket tournament the curtain will come down today with the final showdown between Ananda and St Peter’s to be played at the SSC grounds from 9.30 a.m. onwards.

The tournament which got underway in early March with over 80 teams from around the island divided into 16 groups participating the knockout stage began at the end of last month where 32 teams qualified. There were some surprising omissions and qualifications in the last 32 as prominent schools like Thurstan, St Sebastian’s and S. Thomas’ being unable to qualify and lesser known schools like Zahira, St Anthony’s Wattala, St Aloysius Galle and Revatha MMV Balaptiya finding slots.

Today the two teams will be meeting in a limited overs final for the second time having qualified in the 1986 final which was washed out due to rain and the two teams declared joint champions.

The Anandians have a record that no other school has achieved in the All Island limited overs tournaments for the last 35 years. They have the honour of having entered the final on 18 other occasions and this is their 19th. Of the previous 18 finals they have clinched the title on 13 occasions.

The present tournament which is played for the Elephant Lemonade Trophy which was offered for the first time in 1999 was won by Ananda led by Jitendra Perera they won again in 2000 led by Thilina Kandambi and were losing finalist in the year 2001 and 2003.The Peterites on the other hand have never won the limited overs tournament though qualifying in 1986 and 2002 where they lost to Dharmapala and S. Thomas’.

In today’s final the two teams have a 50-50 chance of pulling off the game due to the fact they possess well balanced sides. The Anandians led by Chatura Herath have a young team while the Peterites led by Hans Fernando possess an experienced one.

The Anandian batting will revolve around Amal Athulathmudali, Gayan Rupasinghe, Vishwa Wijesuriya, Ranganath Wijetunge and skipper Chatura Herath. But they will have to be more careful as in the semi final chasing a small target of 109 they lost five wickets in the process which shows the top order batting should have more patience and put down their heads if they are to make any impression.

Pacies Gayan Rupasinghe and Amal Athulathmudali will have to be more positive, be more penetrative to curtail the Petes and in the spin department left arm leggie Malith Gunathileke, Udara Peiris, Vishwa Wijesuriya with Ishara Wickramasinghe too will have to play a major role in supporting them.
The Peterites on the hand have made some modest scores in the run up to reaching the finals. The loss against Bandaranayake MMV in a first round game did not discourage them as the team put back the early setback and combined well which saw them reach the final.

Today it is going to be a different kind of kettle and with both the teams fighting for the plum opposition they will face is going to be tough. Skipper Hans Fernando will for sure know what’s in store and the boys will have to give of the best. Openers Dasun Randika and Delon Udugamasuriya will have to give them a good start with in form batsman skipper Fernando, Lahiru Peiris, Prabuddha Perera, Krishal Magage and Lakshan Rodrigo and Angelo Perera to support. Useful knocks from Prabuddha and Lahiru is badly needed as the duo have not played to their true form. In the bowling department Umhar Samsudeen and Udugamasuriya will lead the attack with the top bowler of this season Lakshan Rodrigo, Krishal Magae and Shivanga Ranasuriya to support the two pacies.

The teams: Ananda – Chatura Herath (Capt), Amal Athulathmudali, Vishwa Wijesuriya, Ranganath Wijetunge, Gayan Rupasinghe, Malith Gunatileke, Ruchira Herath, Suchira Madapatha, Udara Peiris, Udara Jayasundara, Bishan Dabare, Ishara Wickramasinghe, Mahi Wathurega, Sameera Wijesuriya.
St Peter’s – Hans Fernando (Capt), Lahiru Peiris, Delon Udugamasuriya, Prabuddha Perera, Krishal Magage, Lakshan Rodrigo, Dasun Randika, Umhar Samsudeen, Shivanga Ranasuriya, Angelo Perera, Anuk Silva, Mevan Samarasekera, Ruwan Wickramanayake, Chanaka Fernando.

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