Dharmaraja has the edge, Kingswood seeking win
Seated (from left): Dulara Bandulasena (Captain), Senaka Dissanayaka (Coach), Kamal Ariyasingha (Principal), Saliya Samarawickrama (POG), Duminda Bandara (MIC), Pulindu Perera First row (from left): Hirun Maduranga, Arosha Mahagedera, Lakvin Abeysinghe, Onajith de Silva, Sanuka Ratnayake, Irusha Jayawardena, Sesath Tilekeratne, Dayan Wijesekera, Matheesha Rupasinghe Second row (from left): Dhaskhika Manukalpa, Isuru Pannala, Sheshan Marasinghe, Kavindu Gunaratne, Nisala Abeyratne, Chamath Ekanayake, Janidu Dissanayake, Lalitha Dissanayake, Amantha Weerasekera
Dulara Bandulasena Dharmaraja Captain
Dharmaraja College
The oldest big match in the hill capital gets into action when traditional rivals Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College clash each other for the T.B. Tennekoon Challenge Trophy scheduled to be played on March 22 and 23 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium slotted to get underway from 9.45a.m. on both days.
This will be the 117th in the series and from the 116 matches that have been played so far Dharmaraja are way ahead with 35 wins as against to the 19 by Kingswood and the rest ending in draws. Dharmaraja are the holders of the trophy having last recorded an outright win in the year 2015 under the captaincy of Tharusha Weragoda.
Kingswood’s last win in the series was way back in the year 1958 under the leadership of Maurice Fernando when it was played at Randles Hill. So it’s going to be a daunting task for them whilst seeking to win the trophy after a lapse of 66 years.
The joint committee spearheaded by Gayan Fernando of Kingswood and Senarath Jayasundara of Dharmaraja along with the two principals Namal Chandana Kumara of Kingswood and Kamal Ariyasinghe of Dharmaraja are leaving no stone unturned to conduct the match and keep up the discipline and the traditions.
The two schools have produced top cricketers who have gone to represent at national level with fast bowler T.B. Kehelgamuwa leading the Dharmaraja list along with Chamara Kapugedera, Sandun Weerakkody, Ananda Jayasundara, Harold Ranasinghe, Senaka Dissanayake, Mahinda Pethiyagoda, Ravi Rajapaksa, Ajith Narampanawa, Priyantha Weragoda, Nandana Kanagarathna, Pubudu Seneviratne and Lahiru Samarakoon while Kingswood had Lalith Wijeratne, Nazar Razack, Owen Mathau, Clifford Rathnavibhushana, Suwanji Madanayake, Nisitha Rupasinghe and Demintha Dahanayake to name a few.
Looking back at the performances of the two teams this season, the scale is in favour of Dharmaraja, led by fifth year coloursman Dulara Bandulasena due to the fact that they have had a successful season. They have recorded seven outright wins and lost two from the 13 matches played. Kingswood, led by Nenula Dissanayake, have recorded three outright wins and suffered three outright defeats from nine matches.
Dharmaraja have in their side a Sri Lanka youth player in Pulindu Perera, who had a successful stint against the West Indies U-19 and Pakistan U-19 where he cracked a ton and two half tons against the two sides. He was unable to represent his school side due to national commitments, but from the few matches he played Perera scored over 500 runs inclusive of a century and three half tons.
The Rajans have three other players who have accumulated over 500 runs and leading the way is fresher Lakvin Abeysinghe, who has scored over 850 runs inclusive of three centuries and two half centuries. The other two are Isuru Pannala and Onajith de Silva and in addition to Arosha Mahagedera, Nisala Abeyratne and Irusha Jayawardena.
The bowling will revolve around skipper Dulara Bandulasena, their top wicket-taker with over 50 scalps. Dhakshika Manukalpa, Nisala Abeyratne and Lakvin Abeysinghe will need to combine to guide the side.
Kingswood, led by Nenuka Dissanayake, will bank on their two centurions Kavija Gamage, who has made over 650 runs with centuries, and Adil Sherif, who has over 400 runs to his name with a best of 101.
Apart from the duo Kingswood will depend on Barana Ratnayake, Nikeshala Nanayakkara, Amiru Amunupura and Yosath Abeykoon while the bowling will be on the shoulders of Kenula Pihilanga, skipper Nenuka Dissanayake, Amesh Rupasinghe, Yosath Abeykoon and Dinuka Sandaruwan.
As mentioned Dharmaraja has the edge and will be looking forward to chalk up their 37th win and it’s left to be seen whether Kingswood would be able to achieve the feat and break the 66-year-old hoodoo that is haunting them.
The two day encounter will be followed by the limited over match, which is the 37th in the series played for the Vincent Hoole’s Trophy and in this version too Dharmaraja lead the tally with 18 wins and are the holders of the trophy having won it last year under the captaincy of Thisaru Wanninayake. Kingswood has 13 wins having last won in 2017 when the side was led by Avishka Chandrasiri.
The Chief Guest for this year’s encounter will be Rohan Perera, who represented Kingswood in 1974. SLITT has come forward to join hands with the 117th Battle of the Maroons as the main sponsor while Maggi Papare Kottu, Elephant House have joined in as co-sponsors.
Nenuka Dissanayake Kingswood Captain
Kingswood College
Front row (from left): Nenuka Dissanayake (Captain), Tissa Wijeratne (Director of Cricket), Lakshman Tilekeratne (POG), Namal Chandrakumara (Principal), Asela Jayaratne (Master in-Charge), Suresh Peiris (Head Coach), Hishara Bandara (Asst. Coach), Kavija Gamage Second row (from left): Pamuditha Bandara, Sadeesha Ratnayake, Chanul Kodituwakku, Amesh Rupasinghe, Amiru Amunupura, Damitha Ratnayake, Upadhi Jayawardena, Nadeesha Bandaranayake, Gauranga Bandara Third row (from left): Yosath Abeykoon, Aadil Sheriff, Hasith Gunasekera, Barana Ratnayake, Kenula Phillyanga, Rizwan Razack, Raneesh Herath, Dilshan Weerawansa, Sandaruwan Navaratne