107th Hill Country Battle of Maroons between Kingswood College and Dharmaraja College Kandy commenced at the Asgiriya Cricket Stadium today.
Kingswood College won the toss and invited Dharmaraja College to bat first. Champika Aluvihare managed to end the opening partnership reducing it to only 1 run as Kavindu Thimudu was out for a duck. Rajans were in a great trouble as Rumesh Ranasinghe was dismissed again by Aluvihare for just 8 runs. However, Chandimal De Silva and Kavindu Rathnayake stuck on bravely in a 50 run partnership for the 3rd wicket. Chandimal scored 27 runs while partner Kavinda scored 24. Man of the day right arm off spinner Tharindu Liyanage dismissed not only Chandiaml, Kavindu, but the batmen Deshan Gunasinghe and Tharusha Waragoda consecutively. Dinesh Lanka was the highest scorer for the Rajans, scoring 31 runs before being dismissed by Chameera Bandara. Chameera who again took four wickets did not allow the tail to open scoring. Dharmaraja were bowled out for 133.
After tea, Kingswood openers Randika Wijerathna and Dulanjana Themiya started the innings, but Rajans captain did not allow any of them to open their scores. Saluka was dismissed only for 1 run by Rajitha Lahiru. At that time Kingswoodians were in a great trouble as the score board read 1/3. Rajans pacemen Nuwan Karunarathna and Rajitha Lahiru did not allow Kingswoodians to get out of jail going at the opposition relentlessly. Finally a partnership was strung up for Kingswood Tharindu Liyanage together with Supun Bandara scored 52 runs together where Supun contributed 18 runs. Tharindu who took 4 wickets in the Rajans innings and the captain Kasun Bandara ended day one as the score board showed 64/4. Tharindu remains unbeaten at 30 while Kasun having scored just 1 run.
It remains to be seen If Kasun and Tharindu can put together a good partnership and give the Dharmaraja lads a run for their money. Nuwan Karunarathne and Rajitha Lahiru have been on top of their game this season and will look to remove the batsman first thing in the morning..
Dharmaraja College 1st innings 133
(Dinesh Lamka 31, Deshan Gurusinghe 27, Chandimal De Silva 27, Tharindu Liyanage 31/4, Chameera Bandara 29/4 , Champika Aluwihare 21/2)
FOW- 1, 16, 66, 69, 73, 117, 123, 125, 133
Kingswood College first innings 64/4
(Tharindu Liyanage 30*, Supun Bandara 18)
FOW- 0, 0, 1, 53
