Maliyadeva College seized a firm advantage on the opening day of the 42nd ‘Battle of the Rocks’ big match against St Anne’s College, which concluded at the Welagedara Stadium today (20 March). Powered by the fierce bowling of paceman Nishuda Chandrasiri on a grassy surface, along with a resilient batting performance under pressure, the Devans ended the day at 105 for 2, trailing by just 82 runs with eight wickets in hand.
Winning the toss, Maliyadeva captain Dimath Abeysinghe had little hesitation in inserting the opposition to bat. The decision paid off almost immediately, as the pitch, with a thick cover of grass, offered substantial assistance to the fast bowlers. However, it was left-arm spinner Abeysinghe who led from the front, striking in the second over of the match. He delivered an absolute peach to dismiss opener Sanuka Kemsara for a duck, trapping him leg before wicket. The Maliyadeva captain struck again shortly after, removing Dinuga Abeysekara. Despite Abeysekara’s aggressive intent, he was beaten by a similar delivery that crashed into his stumps.
Paceman Nishuda Chandrasiri, who conceded a few runs in his initial overs, then joined the party. He delivered a magnificent swinging yorker to dismantle Ishan Khan’s stumps, sending the batsman back to the pavilion for a duck without troubling the scorers.
LIVE – Maliyadeva College vs St. Anne’s College – 42nd Battle of the Rocks 2026
However, St Anne’s found their saviours in vice-captain Kushan Subasinghe and skipper Yashmin Jayasundara. Realising the need to counterattack, the duo launched a spirited assault on the Maliyadeva bowlers. They played aggressive strokes to neutralise the seam movement, shifting the momentum decisively. By the lunch break, St Anne’s had recovered remarkably to 104 for 3, taking the upper hand.
The post-lunch session saw both captains continue their resistance, reaching personal milestones with half-centuries at a crucial juncture. Just as the partnership threatened to take the game away, Maliyadeva struck back. Sonal Ashwin rose to the occasion, breaking the excellent stand by dismissing Kushan Subasinghe. He followed it up quickly by removing the new batsman, leaving St Anne’s in a precarious position once more.
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In a dramatic twist, the battle of the captains went Abeysinghe’s way. Yashmin Jayasundara, looking set for a big score, fell to a poor full toss, offering a simple caught-and-bowled chance. It was a wicket that epitomised Maliyadeva’s dominance in key moments. Batting at number seven, Binary Denuwan showed some resistance with 24 runs but received little support from the tail. The Annites’ resistance eventually crumbled, and they were bundled out for 187.
Nishuda Chandrasiri was the destroyer-in-chief, leading the attack with four wickets. Skipper Dimath Abeysinghe and Sonal Ashwin provided excellent support, claiming three wickets apiece to flatten the opposition.
Later, Maliyadeva’s openers, Pehasara Bandara and Thiwanka Pabasara, looked to build a solid foundation. They adopted a cautious approach, navigating the tricky conditions with a steady start. St Anne’s bowler Dinuga Abeysekara provided the breakthrough, removing the first opener with the total at 27. Sanuja Dissanayake then dismissed the other opener at 35, suddenly putting pressure back on the Devans.
The responsibility of stabilising the innings fell on last year’s skipper, Chandupa Abeykoon, and Sri Lanka Under-17 player Rajith Navodya. The duo rose to the challenge, forging a slow but unbroken partnership. As the day progressed, the batsmen grew in confidence, realising the pitch was not as difficult as it had initially appeared. In the final session, they accelerated the scoring rate, ending the day on a high.
At stumps, Maliyadeva were 105 for 2, trailing by just 82 runs. With Abeykoon and Navodya well set at the crease, the Devans have firmly placed themselves in the driving seat of the 42nd Battle of the Rocks.
Brief Scorecard – Day 1 Stumps
St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala – 187 all out (55.2 Overs)
Kushan Subasinghe 58, Yashmin Jayasundara 52, Binaru Denuwan 24, Dinuga abeysekara 17, Sanuja Dissanayake 15, Nishudha Chandrasiri 68/4, Dimath Abeysinghe 45/3, Sonal Ashwin 50/3
Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala – 105/2 (34 Overs)
Rajith Navodya 42, Chandupa Abeysinghe 31, Thiwanka Pabasara 24, Sanuja Dissanayake 20/1, Dinuga Abeysekara 12/1
Maliyadeva College trailing by 82 runs with 8 wickets in hand.
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