Sri Lanka Sports News | Sundayobserver.lk

Kingswood vs Dharmaraja: The 106th ‘Big Match’ the oldest in the hill capital between Kingswood College and Dharmaraja College will be played for the T.B. Tennakoon Memorial Shield on March 23 and 24 at the Pallekelle International Stadium. Play starts at 9.30 a.m. on both days.

In the series, Dharmaraja College is in the lead with 32 wins to Kingswood’s 19 with 54 matches ending in ‘no-decisions’.

This season, Dharmaraja played 16 matches and recorded outright wins against Sri Sumangala, Panadura, Mahinda College, Rahula College, Matara and Dharmaraja Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya. One match Dharmaraja lost to was against St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota.

Dharmaraja will be led by third year player Viraj Karaputugala who is the mainstay of the batting, scoring over 600 runs during the season. He has two eighties and a ninety. Then there is Nuwan Karunaratne who is a good all-rounder scoring over 500 runs and has bagged over 50 wickets.

There is also Sasith Gunasekera who too has scored over 500 runs including two half centuries. There is also another all-rounder Deneth Lanka who has scored 350 runs and claimed 35 wickets.

The outstanding bowler in the Rajans camp is Aravinda Withanachchi who has got 80 wickets with his leg-spinners.

Kingswood College is fielding a fresher – laden side and will have third year player Nishitha Weerakoon as captain who has scored over 500 runs inclusive of three half centuries.

The vice-captain of the side is Supun Bandara who is quite a capable batsman and he has scored over 200 runs during the season. There is also Chamara Unamboowe who is quite a capable batsman scoring over 200 runs during the season.

Capable all-rounder in the Kingswood side is Lakmal Hettiarachchi who has scored over 200 runs and taken 25 wickets.

Kingswood College has played 13 matches during the season and recorded outright wins against Wayamba Royal College and P. de S. Kularatne MMV, Ambalangoda. Kingswood were beaten by Trinity College and S. de S. Jayasinghe College, Dehiwela and the other 9 matches ended in draws.

Looking back to the past the highest individual score in the series is by Senaka Dissanayake of Dharmaraja who made 200 in 1983 and in the same match Prasanne Walalawela made 100 not out for the Rajans.

The Rajans made 370 for 4 wickets declared in their first innings. Kingswood made 119 and 124 for 7 wickets.

The best bowling figures was obtained by R. Burke of Kingswood 8 for 7 runs for Kingswood and 8 for 9 by Arthur Jayasundera for Dharmaraja in 1914.

DHARMARAJA COLLEGE: (from): Viraj Karaputugala (Captain) Sasith Gunasekera, Nuwan Karunaratne, Oshan Samarakoon, Aravinda Withanarachchi, Deneth Lanka, Lochana Wijesiri, Sashin Abeykoon, Kavinda Ratnayake, Remeesh Ranasinghe, Chandimal de Silva, Bumindu Wijeratne, Danuja Prabath, Lakshan de Silva, Jayapadma Tennakoon Tharusha Weragoda, Deshan Gunasinghe, Kavishka Dissanayake, Dimuthu Liyanarachchi, Ruchira Pupalewatte.

KINGSWOOD COLLEGE: (From): Nisitha Weerakoon (captain), Chamara Unamboowe, Supun Bandara, Dasitha Kanganarachchi, Randika Wijeratne, Tharaka Marasinghe, Lakmal Hettiarachchi, Dinusha Medawatte, Dananjaya Monerawila, Tharindu Gunaratne, Kasun Bandara, Pradeeth Jayawickrema, Mahes Lankatillake, Tharaka Panabokke, Tharindu Liyanage, Asanka Bandara, Sashika Weerasinghe.

Kingswood College –Back Row –Standing (from left): Asanka Bandara, Supun Bandara, Tharindhu Gunaratne, Shanuka Ratnayake, Anuradha Thilakaratne, Kasun Bandara, Menaka Lankatilleke, Tharaka Marasinghe, Mahesh Senaviratne, Tharindhu Liyanage - Middle Row-Standing (from left): Ruwantha Hathurusinghe, Shanika Weerasinghe, Chamara Unamboowe, Ashen Jayakody, Tharaka Panabokke, Prabath Jayawickrema Rajitha Gamage, Dasitha Kadanarachchi, Randika Wijeratne, Lakmal Hettiarachchi, Dananjaya Monerawila, Dinusha Medawatte, Seated (From left): Sunil Herath (Master-in-Charge) Ananda Weerasuriya (Prefect of Games), Nisitha Weerakoon (Capitan), Ranjith Chandrasekera (Principal), Harshana Gamage (Coach). Pix: Upananda Jayasundera – Kandy Sports Special Corr.

Dharmaraja College – Back Row-Standing (from left): Jayapadma Tennekoon, Tharusha Waragoda, Danuka Prabath, Aravinda Withanarachchi, Deneth Lanka, Oshan Smarakoon, Duminda Wijeratne, Lochana Wijersiri, Middle Row-Standing (From left): Dimuthu Liyanarachchi, Kavinda Ratnayake, Kavishka Dissanayake, Ruchira Pupulewatte, Sasith Gunasekera, Shashim Abeykoon, Lakshan de Silva Chandimal de Silva, Rumesh Ranasinghe, Deshan Gunasinghe, Seated (From left): Nuwan Karunaratne, Sarath Ekanayake - (MIC and Co-ordnator), S.K.P. Mataraarachchi (Deputy Principal) S.M. Keerthiratna (Principal) D.S. Abeygunasekara (Prefect-of games) Ananda Wijesekara (coach) Viraj Karaputugala (Captain)

Dharmaraja takes on fresher-laden Kingswood College