Ananda-Nalanda clash put off due to COVID-19

Action from an Under-19 cricket match

The 92nd Battle of the Maroons Inter-School Big Match between traditional rivals Ananda College and Nalanda College which was scheduled for June 5 and 6 has been postponed due to the prevailing health situation in the country.

The encounter was scheduled to be played in Colombo. Out of the 91 matches played, Ananda have won 14 with Nalanda accounting for five and 67 matches drawn.

In 1942-45 and 1948 the match was not played due to the World War II and Independence. zThe last win for Ananda was in 2003 under Duminda Kularatne while Nalanda last tasted victory way back in 1953 under W. W. Silva.

The two schools have the distinction of having produced several players to the National Team.

Sri Lanka’s first Test Cricket Captain – Bandula Warnapura – donned the cricket cap for Nalanda in 1968 while Arjuna Ranatunga, who led the Sri Lanka World Cup winning team in 1996, hails from Ananda.

Ananda and Nalanda, have produced over 55 national cricketers who have represented Sri Lanka in international cricket.

Roshan Mahanama, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene and Dinesh Chandimal also have the honour and distinction of leading the Sri Lanka Team.