Gurukula MV Kelaniya comes out favourites
The Battle of Kelaniya between two of the leading Buddhist schools in the Gampaha district Gurukula MV Kelaniya and Dharmaloka MV Kelaniya is scheduled to be worked off on March 13 and 14 at the R. Premadasa stadium.
This is the 26th in the series and from the 25 matches that have been played so far only one outright win has been recorded which was by Gurukula MV in 2012 when the side was led by Roshan Anuruddha.
Sri Dharmaloka College team : Sri Dharmaloka MV squad (Seated from left): Sugath Nanayakkara, Tharindu Madushan, R.M.S.K. Ratnayake, Nimesh Aravinda, Ven Napagoda Sumanatissa (Vice Principal), Col. A.G. Nimal Jayaweera (Principal), Lakshitha Dhananjaya (Captain), R.P.K. Rankoth (MIC), Ravindu Thiwanka, W.G.H. Dushantha (Coach). (Standing from left): Risith Upamal, Punsara Gimhan, Kusal Ashen, Lahiru Rajapakse, Madhumadawa Anuruddha, Nishan Hasarel, Gihan Pethum, Hasitha Dilakshana, Woshan Dhananjaya, Kavishka Dilhara, Dilshan Waduwaththa, Chamod Mendis, Samith Ranga.
This time Gurukula MV playing in the division one category come out as favourites and they have a good record having played 16 matches and recording three outright wins against Joseph Vaz, Moratu MV and S de S. Jayasinghe MMV Dehiwela but unfortunately had their unbeaten record tarnished by St Benedict’s.
Dharmaloka MV playing in the division two category on the other hand played 15 matches recording four outright against St. Mary’s Kegalle, St. Thomas’ Matale, Asoka MV Colombo and Raddoluwa MV while undergoing three defeats.
Gurukula MV this year will be led by Sri Lanka youth player and fifth year coloursman Hashan Dumindu and he will have the services of another experienced sixth year player Roshan Anuruddha who led the side in 2012 and was also a member of the Sri Lanka U19 team.
They will no doubt depend on these two most experienced players to deliver the goods for them. They are not short of further talented players as they possess players in the calibre of Kasun Madusanka the deputy skipper of the side, Lisula Lakshan, Namal Pethum and Shashin Dilranga who all contributed immensely this season. Then they have Janith Pramod, Lahiru Madushan, Jayamal Wanniarachchi and Lahiru Chamara who are capable of making match winning contributions. Skipper Dumindu along with Roshan, Shashin their top scorer with over 800 runs, Kasun and Namal will be their main batsmen while the bowling will be in the hands of allrounders Roshan, Namal, Jayamal and Janith.
Gurukula MV team : Gurukula MV squad (Seated from left): Rasitha Dinesh (Asst Coach), Lal Senaratne (Coach), Ananda Jayaweera (MIC), K.H. Mahinda (Deputy Principal), Lal Abeygunawardena (Principal), A.P. Gunawardena (Deputy principal), Mrs. K.K. Krishani (Deputy Principal), Hashan Dumindu (Captain). (Standing from left): Shehan Lakshitha, Lisula Lakshan, Tharindu Tharaka, Janith Pramod, Lahiru Chamara, Kasun Madusanka, Sathik Nimasha, Roshan Anuruddha, Asantha Madusanka, Namal Pethum, Lahiru Madushan, Jayamal Wanniarachchi, Chanaka Dilshan, Nipul Maduka, Damitha Hasith, Christy Ashan, Shashin Dilranga.
Dharmaloka MV will be led by fourth year coloursman Lakshitha Dhananjaya with Nimesh Aravinda as his deputy with the duo having scored over 500 runs each. The pair along with Risith Upamal the only centurion of the side, Chamod Mendis, Punsara Gimhan, Thiwanka Kekulawala and Aravinda Warnasuriya will be the backbone of the Dharmaloka MV batting.
Nishan Hasarel will be their main bowler who has a nine wicket haul (9/47) against St Mary’s Kegalle while the support of Tharindu, Thiwanka and Samith Ranga is going to be crucial if they are to look forward to restrict their opponents for a low score.
The two day match will be followed by the limited over encounter due to be played on March 23 at the same venue. This will be the 23rd in the series with Dharmaloka MV leading it with 11 wins to Gurukula MV’s ten with one game being washed out by rain.
- MSA