Oldest Big Match in Kandy kicks off today

By Shamseer Jaleel

The oldest Big match in the Central Province and the second oldest in the country, between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College will be played off at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (PICS) on March 24 and 25. This will be the 116th encounter and second oldest Big Match in the country.

The first encounter between the two schools started in 1899 with J. C. De Mel leading the Rajans while Kingswood was led by T. B. Marshall. Rajans are leading in the tally with 33 wins while Kingswood have won on 19 occasions while the balance 63 ending in draws. Rajans last won in 2015 under Tharusha Weragoda while the Randles Hill School wait has been too long since 1958 under Maurice Fernando. Both schools will be playing for the T. B. Tennakoon Memorial Trophy which is known as the Battle of the Maroons.

Kingswood is led by Amesh Rupasinghe. The lads from Randles Hills played in 12 encounters winning 2 of them and losing out 4 while 6 of their games ending in no decision.

Their batting was well supported by Kavija Gamage who scored heavily this season scoring over 750 runs this season. Their bowling has been spearheaded by young Kenula Philianga, the 14-year-old leg spinner who has been outstanding this season. He took 36 wickets with 5 or more against P. D. Kularathne MV and Katugastota Ranula. His best came out a couple of weeks ago when he was unplayable in their Lumbini game when he took a match bag of 13 wickets. 

Kenula took 8 for 59 in the first and 5 for 36 in the second innings for the Randles Hills outfit. He shows a lot of promise at a young age of 14 years playing his debut school season at Under 19 level. He also played for the Central province in the Under 15 Prima Super Provincial Tournament.

Their skipper Amesh Rupasinghe too was among wickets this season taking 27 this season. Left arm spinner, Sandaruwan Nawaratne took 30 wickets while Nenuka Dissnayake took well over 20 wickets in the season. Both Abdul Hakam and Nikeshala Nanayakkara are good all-rounders. Hakam took a good number of wickets while scoring 350 plus runs this season inclusive 2 half centuries while Nikeshala Nanayakkara scored over 250 runs with 1 half century.

This will be the game for Kingswood to regain some lost pride as the season is very ordinary for them.

Meanwhile Rajans got a good balanced outfit this season. But their results this season does not show how good they are. They are led by Tisaru Wanninayake. They beat Dharmapala Pannpiya and lost out to Trinity, St. Peter's and St. Alousius  in 11 games ending in draws.

Pulidu Perera being outstanding scoring 1012 runs this season single handedly led the batting for the Dharmaraja outfit with 2 centuries and 7 fifties being a consistent batsman this season from the Central Province. Onajith De Silva (448) and Nisala Abeyratne (216) too were among the runs for them this season. Meanwhile their bowling   was led by Thisaru Wanninayake with 43 wickets supported by Pulidu (32) and Nisala (29).

Dharmaraja

Thisaru Wanninayake (capt), Dulara Badulasena, Pulidu Perera, Isuru Pannala, Maleesha Rajakaruna, Onajith Silva, Nisala Abeyrathna, Arosha Mahagedera, Naveen Jayaweera, Rusiru Bandara, Dakshitha Manukalpa, Kalana Herath, Tiran Wickremarathne, Kavidu Gunaratne, Tharindu Warunakulage, Hirun Hirigeeganage, Chamath Bandara, Shehan Marasinghe, Irusha Jayawardena and Dinuka Moragammana

Head Coach Champika Siriwardena

MIC Amarajeeda Dissanayke

POG Saliya Samarawickrema

Kingswood

Amesh Rupasinghe (Capt). Kavija Gamage, Ravindu Tharinda, Nenuka Dissanayake, Gauranga Bandara, Menuka Heshan, Nadeesha Janith, Amiru Amunupura, Manjula Wijetunge, Nikeshala Nanayakkara, Adhil Sheriff, Dinuk Sandaruwan, Sanuka Kasthuri, Buddika Namakeerthi, Barana Ratnayake, Abdul Hakam, Kenula Philiyangoda, Yojith Hettiarachchi, Yosath Abeykoon and Ronald Steeven

Head Coach Piyal Salgado

MIC Nalin Rathnayake

POG Lanka Francis