Dharmaraja and Kingswood in search of a win

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.

KINGSWOOD DHARMARAJA: Dharmaraja College should have the edge over Kingswood College, when they clash in Kandy’s 105th ‘Battle of the Maroons’ which is the oldest battle in the hill capital at the International Cricket Stadium, Pallekelle on March 25 and 26 (Friday / Saturday).

This 104 year old ‘Big match’ will be taken out of the hill capital for the first time in its history and the previous venues have been the Bogambara Stadium, Randles Hill, Lake View, Police grounds and finally the Asgiriya Stadium.

This will also be the first ‘Big Match’ to be played at the newly constructed Pallekelle Cricket Stadium which was opened last year and the facilities brought upto the best possible standards for the World Cup 2011 Cricket matches.

Of the 104 matches played, the Rajans are in the lead, winning 31 matches against 19 by the Kingswoodians. Rest of the matches have been drawn.

The last time a decision was reached in this match was in 1980 when Janaka Mendis led the Rajans to a 9 wicket victory at Police grounds. Since then there has been a stalemate of 28 draws in a row.

The last time the Kingswoodians won was in 1958 under Maurice Fernando when they won by ten wickets at Police grounds.

The highest scorer in the series is Senaka Dissanayake who made 200 in 1983 at the Asgiriya Stadium and in the same match Prassanna also scored 100 not out a Rajans total of 370 for 4 declared.

Dharmaraja College will be led this year 4th year coloursman Hemal Munaweera who is a crisis man and has often come to the rescue of the side with some fine knocks. He is a right-arm medium pacer and a top order bat, scoring 650 runs including a century. He is also a good medium pacer.

Fourth-year coloursman Kavinda Wijekoon is the vice-captain of the side. He will open the side’s batting and is also the stumper of the side.

Rajans have played 14 matches, lost 1 and drawn the rest in which they have had the first innings lead in 11 matches.

Their batting will revolve around skipper Hemal Munaweera, Kavinda Wijekoon, Sadun Weerakoddy (600 runs), Sassanka Nakkawita (400 runs), Sasith Gunasekera (750 runs), Lahiru Herath (400 runs), Nuwan Karunaratne (250 runs), Deneth Lanka (250 runs), Lasitha Weeraratne, Veraj Karaputugoda (350 runs).

Their attack will be opened by Lahiru Herath and skipper Hemal Munaweera and for extra pace Nuwan Karunaratne (20 wkts). Their spin attack will be in the hands of off left-arm spinner Arvinda Withanarachchi (50 wkts) off-spinner Deneth Lanka (46 wkts), and off-spinner Sasanka Nakkawita. The team is coached by former Rajans cricketer Ananda Wijesekera and Sarath Ekanayuake is the Master-in-charge.

Kingswood College will be led by third-year player Yasindu Athukorale, a right hand bat who has scored 560 runs and also captured 35 wickets with his medium pacers.

Third-year player Nisitha Weerakoon is the vice-captain of the side. He is the stumper of the side with 35 victims and has also scored 300 runs.

The Kingswoodians who are in the process of team building have not fared too well this season. They have played 16 matches, won nothing, lost 5, laden the first innings - six times and drew the rest.

Their batting has not ‘clicked’ this season which resulted in them running up low scores and losing matches.

The capable batsmen in the side are Yasindu Athukorale, Nisitha Weerakoon, Devinda Weeratunga (200 runs) Laksitha Madushan (600 runs), Chamila Gunaratne (375 runs), Madhusha Premawardena (390 runs), Shaluka Walisundera (250 runs), Mahes Dunukara (300 runs), Tharindu Gunaratne, Nuwan Unamboowe, and Dulanjith Prathapasinghe.

Sharing the new-ball will be skipper Yasindu Athukorale and Madhusha Premawardena or Mahesh Dunukara (30 wkts), Dinusha Medawatte will be the forth pacie’ in the side. The spinners in the side are leg spinner Lakshitha Madhushan (28 wkts), off-spinner Devinda Weeratunga, leg-spinner Dulanjith Prathapasinghe, off-spinner Lakmal Hettiarachchi (20 wkts). The team is coached by old Kingswoodian Rohan Raj Perera who is the third coach of the year and assumed duties on eve of the big match. Captain Sunil Herath is the Master in Charge.