Dharmaraja and Kingswood gear for 110th big match

The 110th Battle of the Maroons between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College, Kandy will be played for the TB Tennakoon Shield on March 18 and 19 at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium, Kandy.

Out of the 109 big matches played so far the Rajans are well ahead in the tally winning 35 matches while Kingswood has registered just 19 big match victories. The Rajans won last year's big match under Tharusha Weragoda and Kingswood have not won since 1958 when CM Fernando captained the team.The highest individual score in the series was recorded by Senaka Dissanayake of Dharmaraja College who made 200 in the 1983 big match played at Asgiriya, Kandy.

Clifford Ratnavibushana scored the highest for Kingswood when he made 167 in the 1959 big match played at Lakeview, Kandy. This writer had the privilege of leading the Dharmaraja team to victory in the 1965 big match by an innings and 43 runs.

Kingswood squad comprising Ruwantha Hathurusinghe (capt), Avishka Chandrasiri (v.capt), Tharindu Liyanage, Meedum Weerasinghe,Upamal Heenkenda, Dilshan Walisundera, Vimukthi Wijesiriwardena, Shanuka Ratnayake, Salinda Dharmasena, Chuthila Herath, Yasodh Kavinda, Janith Tennakoon, Ganidu Kamburugamuwa, Rangana Ratnayake, Hasitha Nawaratne, Harinda Jayampath, Amila Jayaweera. Coach: Indika Fernando

The Dharmaraja squad comprising Venuka Galahitiyawa (capt), Deshan Gunasinghe (v.capt), Ruchira Pupulewatte, Lahiru Samarakoon, Asmitha Rajapakse, Nimantha Herath, Gihan Witharana, Supun Withanarachchi, Shehan Vitharana, Bawantha Udangamuwa, Rukmal Dissanayake, Kasun Gunawardena, Chathuranga Aludeniya, Lithira Ganegoda, Achintha Rupanayake, Gayan Hewawitharana, Navin Hippola. Coach: Senaka Dissanayake