All eyes will be on the 112th Hill Capital Battle of the Maroons as Dharmaraja take on Kingswood for the T.B.Tennekoon Memorial Trophy on the 16th & 17th of March at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium.
Blast from the Past
As their rich history of 111 years records, the first big match played between the two schools dates back to the year 1893, making the Battle of the Maroons the oldest cricket big match in the central province. The Rajans were then captained by Sir Don Baron Jayathilake in the inaugural game while the Kings of Randles Hill were led by A.E. Spencer. The game was played at the Bogambara stadium which was earlier used as a cricketing venue.
Since the early 1900’s the match venue was switched to Asgiriya International Cricket Stadium while in 2010 it was moved to Pallekelle.
Dharmaraja has dominated the big matches in the recent past, lifting the trophy after 30 years in 2011. Since then they have won three consecutive big however Kingswood has won on the first innings on the two previous occasions in 2016 and 2017.
Kingswood’s last out-right win dates back to 1957 under the captaincy of Maurice Fernando which they won by a margin of 10 wickets. So far in the 109 matches played, history records 33 Dharmaraja wins and 19 Kingswood wins with 54 of the matches ending up drawn.
Balancing the weights between the two sides is a tough task with regards to the season because the Rajans play the Division I and the Kings play in the Division II.
Dharmaraja College
Dharmaraja has had a reasonably poor season so far having played 7 matches to end up with the results of a single first innings win, 3 first innings losses and 3 losses by an innings as well. Dharmaraja possesses a reasonable batting line up but the top order and the middle order haven’t clicked when the team needed them most. The Rajans are too dependent on Dulaj Bandara and Bawantha Udangamuwa, who will be the key players in the top order of the Rajans line up.
Upendra Warnakulasooriya and Yasith Samarathnaare are expected to step up their game with the ball as they are the top wicket takers for the team.
Dharamaraja College squad – Bawantha Udangamauwa (C), Rukmal Dissanayake (VC), Dulaj Bandara, Navinda Dilshan, Chethiya Ekanayake, Upendra Warnakulasooriya, Lakshitha Pannala, Virajith Ehalepola, Yashitha Samararathne, Dhanuka Rathnayake, Kalana Wickramaratne, Dinuka Pathiraja, Chethiya Weerakoon, U.S.C Perera (coach), Saliya Samarawickrama (MIC)
Kingswood College
Kingswood has had a good season so far comparing to their past performance, having won 2 games outright, registered 2 first innings wins and 1 outright loss and a single first innings loss.
Ganidu Kamburugamuwa will Captain the lads from Randles Hill this season. He was an excellent off spinner two seasons back but he hardly bowls now as he has turned his career around as a batsman.
There are two vice captains in the side both deemed Kingwood’s match-winners; Dulin Wijenarayana, is a prolific left-hander with shots all around the field and he is also given the important duty with the gloves behind the wicket. Sauyama Piyasena is the other vice-captain in the team, also a left hander, who bowls right arm off spin.
Piyasena and Wijenarayana have both made 600 runs each for Kingswood in the last season and will be looking to improve on their run scoring ability this year. Deegayu Bandara is their most successful bowler, already having picked up 10 wickets with a single five wicket haul in the tournament. Bandara opens the bowling for Kingswood and is a fine paceman who can swing it both ways and is capable of surprising the batsman with the odd bouncer.
Kingswood College squad – Ganidu Kamburugamuwa (C), Saumya Piyasena, Dulin Wijenarayana, Dhananjaya Maduranga, Deegayu Bandara, Kushan Gashitha, Uthpala Jayalth, Harshana Wickramasinghe, Rushith Dilshan, Hashika Gamage, Dumidu Damishka, Madhawa Dhananjaya, Kasun Madawa, Chanaka Bandara, Devinda Dissanayake , Dulitha Wichkaramasinghe, Indika Bandara (Coach)
Dharmaraja will be looking to repeat what their seniors achieved in the past years while Kingswood on the other hand would be desperate to end the hoodoo after 58 years of torment of failing to take back the trophy to Randles Hill.
Final Say
The game might have a little rain involved as Kandy is seeing plenty of bad weather these days. All in all, expect it to be a mouthwatering tussle at Pallekalle as stakes of the bragging rights have been high in the past years.
Live score updates, match reports and photos will be available on each day of play on ThePapare.com.
