Dharmaraja seeking repeat, Kingswood looking to break 67-year hoodoo
This will be the 118th in the series and from the 117 matches played so far Dharmaraja are way ahead with 36 wins as against the 19 by Kingswood and the rest ending in draws. Dharmaraja are the holders of the trophy having last recorded an outright win last year under the captaincy of Dulara Bandulasena. 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 Randle Hills. It will be a daunting task for them whilst seeking to win the trophy after a lapse of 67 years.
Dharmaraja College
(Seated from left): Isuru Pannala, Duminda Bandara (MIC), Mahesh Karunaratne (Acting Principal), Kapila Ekanayake (POG), Senaka Dissanayake (Coach), Pulindu Perera (Captain) (First row from left): Sanuka Ratnayake, Irusha Jayawardena, Lakvin Abeysinghe, Dhakshika Manukalpa, Nisala Abeyratne, Kavindu Gunaratne, Onija Sesath, Tharindu Warnakulage (Top row from left): Methsilu Bandara, Sumedha Prasad, Chanuth Jayasinghaarachchi, Keshana Gunawarena, Kashyapa Dissanayake, Gavesh Poorna, Chanuka Lakshan, Matheesha Rupasinghe, Jayodya Kadigawa
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 and Sri Lanka youth player Pulindu Perera, while Kingswood is also led by Sri Lanka youth player Kavija Gamage.
In individual batting and bowling performances, the cynosure will no doubt be the two captains Puklindu and Kavija who both have excelled in the recently concluded Under-19 cricket season.
Rajans skipper Pulindu will be the mainstay of the teams batting as he has been in prolific form having accumulated over 900 runs inclusive of two centuries and eight half tons and Lakvin Abeysinghe has also been in top form having scored over 750 runs inclusive of three tons and three half tons.
Kingswood College
(Seated from left): Kavija Gamage (Captain), S.P.K. Basnayake (Head Coach), M.W.G.L. Thilakaratne (POG), H.M.D.A. Herath (Principal), Indika Tennekoon (MIC), Hishara Bandara (Asst. Coach), Norman Jeyakumar (Asst. Coach) (First row from left): Pamuditha Bandara, Sadeesha Ratnayake, Chanul Kodituwakku, Umantha Kithsiri, Dominsara Peiris, Nadeesha Bandaranayake, Eshan Ayodya, Gayan Tennekoon, Upadi Jayawardena, Gauranga Bandara (Top row from left): Yosath Abeykoon, Aadil Sherif, Rizwan Razack, Kenula Pihilianga, Theshan Daganpola, Heshan Weerasinghe, Dilshan Weerawansa, Manula Wijetunge
The Rajans have three other players who have been in the runs this season leading the way is deputy skipper Isuru Pannala, who has scored over 600, Kashyapa Dissanayake, Nisala Abeyratne, Onija Sesath and Tharindu Warnakulage and much will be expected from them to bolster the scoreboard.
In bowling, the Rajans will be banking on right-arm spinner Dhakshika Manukalpa, who was the hero of their win last year with an eight-wicket haul and this season he has kept up to his reputation to end as the side’s top bowler with over 45 scalps. Support will be expected from Onija Sesath and Nisala Abeyratne who both share 65 wickets between them. Their bowling will be spearheaded by skipper Kavija with support expected from Kenula Pihilianga, Upadi Jayawardena and Yosath Abeykoon, who together have over 100 wickets between them.
Kingswood skipper Kavija, like his counterpart, has been in terrific form and has been a top allrounder. Kingswood’s batting will revolve on him, as he had the honour of accumulating over 1000 runs inclusive of two tons and five half tons with a best knock of 214 against Dharmapala MV, Pannipitiya. Apart from that he has bagged over 90 wickets, and he is going to be the thorn in the flesh for the Rajans. Kingswood have two other centurions in the side in Nikeshala Nanayakkara and Chanul Kodituwakku, who both have accumulated over 600 runs and apart from this foursome Kingswood will be hoping for useful contributions from Aadil Sherif and Yosath Abeykoon.
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 achieve the feat of breaking the 67-year-old hoodoo that is haunting them.
The big match encounter will be followed by the Limited Over match on April 18 at the same venue. This is the 36th in the series, which is played for the Vincent Hoole’s Trophy and in this version too Dharmaraja leads with 18 wins and are the holders, having won it last year under the captaincy of Thisaru Wanninayake. Kingswood has 14 wins, having won the encounter last year under the leadership of Nanuka Dissanayake.