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| Sunday, 21 March 2004 |
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Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Rajans and Kingswoodians out for decision by S. M. JIFFREY ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr. Dharmaraja College, Kandy will take on Kingswood College, Kandy in their 98th 'Battle of the Maroons' which is the oldest big match in the capital to be played at the Asgiriya International Cricket Stadium on March 26th and 27th (Friday and Saturday) with play commencing at 9.45 a.m. on both days. This match also will be played for the T. B. Tennakoon Challenge Trophy in honour of former SLFP Parliamentarian. Of the 97 battles which had been played at venues such as Lake View, Randles Hill, Barracks Square, Bogambara Stadium, the Rajans are in the lead having won 31 matches against 19 by Kingswood with 47 matches left drawn. The last time a decision was produced in this match was way back in 1980 when the Rajans under Janaka Mendis won at Police grounds. Thus a 24-year-old 'jinx' awaits to be broken. The Kingswoodians last won in 1959 under C. Maaurice Fernando who later went on to become the 'Daily News' Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year. That year Kingswoodians scored 401 for 9 decl. with Maurice Fernando scoring 101. The highest individual score of the series is credited to Dharmaraja's Senaka Dissanayake who scored 201 in 1982 and for Kingswood it is held by Clifford Ratnavibushana who scored 167 in 1959. Kingswood College led by fourth year coloursman Samudu Wijesinghe have played 14 matches and they have won one match outright against Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, won 4 on first innings, lost 5 on first innings and 4 matches ended in 'No Decisions'. For runs they will depend from the bats of skipper Samudu Wijesinghe Vice Captain Dhanushka Gihan Ekanayake, Hirantha Pallegedera, Nirshan Perera, Asiri Amerasinghe, Minimuthu Dissanayake, Indika Senaratne Demintha Dahanayake and Nirmal Jayasuriya. Spearheading the attack will be Gihan Ekanayake and left arm Pulasthi Ratnapala and for additional pace there will be Hirantha Pallegedera, Chathuranga Samarakoon and Nirmal Jayasuriya. Left arm spinner Norishan Perera will be the keep spinner and he will be supported by spinners Samudu Wijesinghe, Asiri Amerasinghe and Demintha Dahanayake. Minimuthu Dissanayake will keep wickets. Dharmaraja College who won the Lemonade trophy last year, will be led by fourth year coloursman and Dagoba holder allrounder Mahes Weerasuriya who is a reliable bat and a fast medium bowler. They have played 14 matches, and won one outright and like their rivals against Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya. Lost one match outright to Maliyadewa but they have amply compensated themselves by winning nine matches on the first innings and have 3 matches on first innings. Thus they have a slightly better than their opponents. Their batting will revolve around their prolific run getter Chamara Kapugedera who has scored 907 runs including two centuries against Royal and Sri Sumangala, Panadura, skipper Mahes Weerasuriya, Jayampathi Chandratillake, Gayan Wijetillake, Gayan Nadunge, Upesh Wijesiri, Dhanushka Mitipolarachchi, Chathura Monarawila, Rukshan Suriyarachchi, Chathura Bandara, Amal Ekanayake. Skipper Mahes Weerasuriya will open the attack with either Chamara Kapugedera or Chathura Konerawila with Chathura Bandara coming in as the fourth pacie. Left arm spinner Amal Ekanayake is their main spinner having captured 53 wickets and along with Chamara Kapugedera has been junior national poolist and has represented the Central Province Schools team. The other spinners in the side are off-spinners Rukshan Suriyarachchi, Gayan Wijetillake, Asanga Samarakoon, Dhanushka Mitipolarachchi. Jayampathi Chandratillake will keep wickets. Dharmaraja College (from): Mahes Weerasuriya (Captain), Jayampathi Chandratillake (Vice Captain), Amal Ekanayake, Chamara Kapugedera, Asanka Samrakoon, Gayan Wijetillake, Gayan Nadunge, Channa Nadunge, Upesh Wijesiri, Dhanushka Mitipolarachchi, Chathura Monerawila, Rushan Suriyarachchi, Anusha Ranaraja, Chathura Bandara, Thilanka Kohona, Tharindu Perera (Coach Priyantha Weragoda, Cricket Co-ordinator Major Buwaneka Kohona). Kingswood College (from): Samudu Wijesinghe (Captain), Dhanushka Gihan Ekanayake (Vice Captain), Hirantha Pallegedera, Niroshan Perera, Asiri Amerasinghe, Minimuthu Dissanayake, Indika Senaratne, Demintha Dahanayake, Chathuranga Samarakoon, Sapumal Marasinghe, Mahes Dhammika Kasun Amerasinghe, Pulasthi Ratnapala, Nirmal Jayasuriya, G. K. Dilshard Nalaka Sandaruwan, (Coach: Sankalpa Gunasekera. Master-in-Charge: G. H. Padmasiri). |
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