Can in-form Rajans clinch 113th Big Match?
Kingswood College
Dharmaraja College is expected to dominate Kingswood College in their 113th Big Match encounter to be played this Friday and Saturday at Pallekele. Two factors lead to this view. Dharmaraja has battled well throughout the season, while Kingswood’s batsmen have let the side down, more often than not.
Rajans skipper Sachintha Senanayake has made five forties but has failed to post a fifty. This must be nagging at him, and a half century or more on the big occasion should make him happy.
Dulaj Bandara played well in the early part of the season. His knocks of 62 not out and 73 against the Thomians were very good efforts. But, latterly, he has failed to make big scores.
The batsman to watch is Isuru Dayananda who has a fine hundred to his credit. An unbeaten 86 against St. Servetius together with a first innings 69, saw him at the peak of his powers. He has formed a sound opening partnership with Kasun Gunawardena. An 82 against Mahinda and 74 against St. Sebastian’s were special knocks by Gunawardena.
All rounder Yasitha Somaratne has been quite reliable as a middle order player. The 65 against Ananda was a good effort. Mithila Gayeshan stood out with a fine innings of 73 against the Thomians.
The pacies Virajith Ehelepola and Navod Dilshan have failed to do the job with the new ball. As a result, there has been a heavy load on the shoulders of Upendra Warnakulasuriya. The left-arm spinner is easily their best bowler. He has some good analyses 12-101 (St. Mary’s) 6-88 (Ananda) 5-32 (Maliyadeva) and 4-51 (Nalanda). His performance in this game could well decide the outcome.
Another left-armer Thushan Herath was very impressive against St. Sebastian’s (6-54). Up against a good side a Mahinda, he bagged 4-119. Off-spinner Samararatne excelled against Nalanda when he took 5-69. One fancies that the three spinners will be overworked. If the pacies can make early breakthroughs, Warnakulasuriya and company can cash in.
Kingswood skipper Deegaya Bandara, a tall, lanky medium pacie has not got loads of wickets. Yet he has done his job well as a bag of 5-50 against Richmond will testify. He bowled well to take 3-48 against a strong Trinity side.
Opening bowler Utpala Jayalath missed many games through injury. His 5-32 against Nalanda was a good effort. He makes up for lack of real pace by moving the ball around. Mihindula Ediriweera operates as a backup seamer. He has picked up wickets in twos.
The best all rounder in the team is Harshana Wickremasinghe. He scored an unbeaten 118 (St. Thomas’ Matale) and a 69 against Asoka besides several thirties. He has two four wickets performances as his best with the ball. He is a player the team depends on a lot.
The success story has been that of left-arm spinner Lakmal de Silva who ran through the S. de S. Jayasinghe batting to capture 11 for 46. A consistent wicket-taker, he will be called on to be the king-pin of the attack.
Kingswood’s batting woes have been due to the failures of experienced players such as Hashika Gamage (top score 61) and Achala Bogodawatte (best of 62 against Isipathana). Duminda Damishka has put his hand up with 88 and some thirties. Devinda Dissanayake has been fairly successful with scores of 76, 64, 40 and some thirties.
Opener Vinuja Pussapitiya has made starts but not gone on. Late order player Kevin Anthony has chipped in with some twenties.
Summing up, the Rajans are certainly the better side, but the boys from Randles Hill will not care in that easily.