Devans-Annites clash in 27th Big Match

Pothuhera Spl. Corr.

CRICKET: The 27th cricket encounter between the two leading schools of Kurunegala Maliyadeva and St. Anne's will be played on March 17 (Friday) and 18 (Saturday) at Welagedera Stadium commencing at 9.00 a.m. each day.

The 14th limited over match for the Janaka Bogollagama Challenge Trophy will be played on March 19 (Sunday) at the same venue.

A leading private company is N.W.P. Janaka Bogollagama Company Limited is sponsoring the 14th one day series. Twenty six big matches have been played so far. Out of 26 matches Maliyadeva has won two and St. Anne's none. 24 matches have been drawn. The series commenced in 1959, for the last 47 years only 26 matches have been played. Due to unavoidable circumstances matches were not played for 21 years.

One day series started in 1992. 13 matches have been already played. Out of 13 matches Maliyadeva won seven and St. Anne's won six.

Devans have played 13 matches in this season, out of there matches they recorded two outright wins while others ended in no decisions.

Annites have played 12 matches, recorded two outright wins and five first innings wins while others ended in no decisions. Fifth Year Player Derric Victory Martin leads the Annites. He is left hand top order batsman and also a leg spinner. He has scored 200 runs this season so far.Navin Kahapola experienced cricketer in the side scored 450 runs in this season is the vice captain of the side.

Fifth Year Player Sameera de Soysa leads the Devans'. Sameera, a very experienced school cricketer in the N.W.P. represented the under 19 Sri Lanka National Team and vice captain of the Sri Lanka side.

He played a few school matches this season and scored two half centuries. In the Under 19 World Cup series he scored a superb 65 runs against Zimbabwe team. He represented under 15 and under 17 Sri Lanka National teams in 2002 and 2004.

Sixth Year Player Shalika Karunanayake represented the Under 19 Sri Lanka National Team at the recent Under 19 World Cup series and is a big asset to the Maliyadeva side.

He played two school matches in this season and scored two half centuries.

At the Under 19 World Cup tournament he captured 10 wickets and also captured superb four wickets against Bangladesh. Rajitha Rathnayake and Hishan Gunawardena are deputies of the Devans' side.

He also represented Under 15 and Under 17 National Cricket teams in 2002 and 2003. He captained the Devans' side in 2004.

Under the guidance of two principals, the OBAs' of the two schools have organised this grand annual event.