114th Battle of the Maroons: Rajans hold edge in Kandy’s oldest Big Match

By Shamseer Jaleel

Dharmaraja College will hold a clear edge over Kingswood College in their 114th encounter of the ‘Battle of the Maroons’, which will take place at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium.

This encounter will be played for the T.B. Tennekoon Memorial Trophy, which will be played on a date which will be shortly notified due to the present global outbreak of the coronavirus. 

This year the Dharmaraja outfit is led by Dulaj Bandara, who was amongst the runs this season, scoring 697. He was well supported by Janith Gunatunge (498), Chethiya Ekanayake (500) and Isuru Dayanada (500).

Their main strength is in their bowling department. The outfit’s Vice Captain Upendra Warunakulasuriya could possibly spin a web around the Ranjans this year with his left-arm leg spin. He has taken more than 60 wickets, with a best of 7 for 36 against Dharmapala College. He was well supported by Yasith Samaratne (27) and Shahana Siriwardena (26).

Although they did not win any matches, they got the better of Prince of Wales, Ananda College, Dharmapala College, Matara Rahula and D.S. Senanayake in their first innings. They lost out to St. Anthony’s College. The outfit is coached by Thisara de Silva.

Meanwhile, the Kingswoodians are led by Vinuka Pussapitiya (410) and supported by Mahasena Ranasinghe (460) and Dinidiya Polkotuwa (480) while Navodya Weerasekera (63), Kevin Anthony (40) and Chamodika Abeyratne (240) are central figures in the bowling department. They beat St. Mary’s College, Chilaw but have lost five of their games. They are coached by former Antonian and national youth player Prasad Ranawaka who played for the Katugastota outfit from 1997 to 2002.

Dharmaraja has dominated the big matches, winning in 2015 while the Kingswoodians last win dates back to 1958. Out of the 113 encounters the Rajans lead the tally with 35 wins to Kingswood’s 19 while 59 of the matches ended in a draw.

Dharmaraja College

 Dulaj Bandara (Capt.), Upendra Warnakulasuriya (Vice Capt.), Isuru Dayananda, Yasitha Samararatna, Chethiya Eknayake, Virajith Ehelepola, Chethiya Weerakoon, Sahan Siriwardhana, Dinuka Pathiraja, Janith Gunathunga, Muditha Eiriyagama, Dhanuka Marasingha, Anjana Dikkumbura, Dulara Bandulasena, Malinda Perera, Thisaru Dhananjaya, Thusitha Dilshan, Kaveesha Weeravansha, Kesara Nuragoda, Gihan Jayasundara and Sachintha Dissanayake. The team’s Head Coach is Thushira De Silva and its Master-in-Charge is Amarajeewa Dissanayake.  

Kingswood College

 Vinuka Pussapitiya (Capt.), Dumindu Damshika, Dumindu Bandara, Mahasen Ranasinghe, Kevin Anthony, Navodya Weerasekera, Dinidiya Polkotuwa, Anul Seneviratne, Mayuranga Rajapakse, Chamudika Abeykoon, Dilmin Dissanayake, Hasintha Polkotuwa, Srimal Bandara, Amesh Rupasinghe, Asiri Ekanayake, Charith Wijesundera and Madushan Jayasuriya. The team’s Head Coach is Prasad Ranawaka and Master-in-Charge is Nalin Ratnayake.

Dharmaraja College Kandy Under-19 cricket team                  

The 2020 Kingswood College cricket team