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Battle of Kelaniya:
Dharmaloka-Gurukula meet for 22nd time
Anushka WITHANAGE and Edward WEERASINGHE Kelaniya
Group Correspondent
It could be anybody�s game when Gurukula College, Kelaniya take on
Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya in their 22nd big match on March 23 and 24
at the P. Saravanamuththu Stadium. The 19th one-day encounter will be
played on March 28 at the same venue.
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Gurukula College team
Seated (from left): Rasitha Dinesh (Asst.Coach), Shehan Niwanka
(Captain), C.R Premadasa (Deputy Principal), Anil Geethalal
Abeygunawardene (Principal), W.A.D.N Anuruddha
(Master-in-charge), Rukshan Bandara (Vice Captain), Lal
Senarathne (Coach). Standing (from left): Shehan Lakshitha,
Gayan Sankalpa, Nalin Perera, Chamod Sulakshana, Dulaj
Madushanka, Rasika Kothagoda, Thushara Lakshitha Dilshan,
Roshaan Anurudha, Namal Pethum, Dushan Danushka, Kasun Udara,
Sameera Jayasekara, Madushan Chathuranga, Nalindra Prabath,
Gayan Buddhika |
Dharmaloka College team
Seated (from left): E.D.A.K Wickramasinghe ( Senior
Master-in-charge), Nishantha De Alwis (Junior Master-in-charge),
Iranga Kishan (Captain), Rev. Napagoda Anathematizes Thero
(Deputy Principal), A.G Nial Jayaweera ( Principal), P.V.S.K
Ajith (Deputy Principal), Nilanka Suboda, Udaya Perera (Coach),
Chathura Lakmina. Standing (from left): Janith Madushan, Gayan
Geethanjana, S.I.Manuka Salinda, Janaka Pethum, Chathra
Madushanka, Asitha Suminda Roshan, Sapumal Bandara, Sanka
Madushan, Sulaj Gayashan, Thilina Pushpitha. |
So far the big matches have all ended in draws. In the one-day
series, the two schools have played eighteen matches of which Dharmaloka
College has won ten matches and Gurukula College seven while one ended
in a tie.
This Big Match is known as the Battle of Kelaniya and this is the
only big match in the Gampaha District (Siyane � Korale). However,
unfortunately there are no sponsors for this big event. The organizers
are still looking for a sponsor.
Over the past few years the cricket at Gurukula College improved a
great deal.
The Gurukula College Principal, Anil Geethalal Abegunawardene and
Dharmaloka College principal A.G. Nimal Jayaweera, the two school
teachers, old boys, parents as well as the students have contributed
much towards keeping this traditional annual cricketing event alive.
Gurukula College under 19 team have played nine matches and winning
two outrights over Vidyartha College, Kandy, Rahula College, Kandy and
five first inning wins in the current season.
Gurukula is led by that brilliant all rounder Shehan Niwanka a good
off spinner and Beautiful technically perfect right hand middle order
batsman. Rukshan Bandara is the vice captain of the side.
On paper, Gurukula depends heavily on skipper Shehan Niwanka who has
scored 536 runs including four half centuries. He has been an asset to
Gurukua with his bowling also counting strongly having captured 46
wickets this season. Shehan played for Gladiators in the inter
provincial and Inter district Twenty20 cricket tournament last year.
Meanwhile, middle order batsman Rasika Kothagoda has scored over 400
runs and captured 20 wickets, Thushara Lakshitha Dilshan has scored 450
runs and wicket keeper of the side. He played for under 19 cricket team.
Right arm leg spinner Kasun Udara captured 20 wickets and he scored 300
runs. Deputy skipper and left arm spinner Rukshan Bandara took over 30
wickets for the season. Left hand middle order batsman Gayan Buddhika
has scored over 300 runs and captured 20 wickets in this season. Second
year player Roshaan Anurudha scored over 300 runs and captured 20
wickets. He is the opening bowler of the side. Another second year
player, Madushan Chathuranga has taken over 20 wickets. Looking at Sri
Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya, the side has registered outright wins over
Xavier�s College , Marawila. They have enjoyed first innings wins over
Ibbagamuwa Central College, St. Anthony�s College, Wattala, and St.
Patrick�s College, Jaffna. Sri Dharmaloka College is led by Iranga
Kishan, an all rounder who will be playing in his sixth Big Match. The
school Principal is A.G. Nimal Jayaweera, E.D.A.K Wickramasinghe the
master-in-charge of the team and Udaya Perera the coach who has done a
fine job in fine tuning the side.
Dharmaloka skipper Iranga Kishan has scored 644 runs including one
century and five half centuries. He is the wicket keeper of the side.
Nilanka Suboda has scord 349 runs including one century and one half
century and done equally well with the ball claiming 17 wickets in the
current season.. He is the captain of the under 17 team.
Fourth year player Chathuranga Lakmina has also taken 17 wickets and
scored 147 runs. Right hand batsman Sulaj Gayashan has scored 230 runs
including two half centuries.
The teams: Gurukula College: Shehan Niwanka (Captain), Rukshan
Bandara (Vice Captain), Shehan Lakshitha, Gayan Sankalpa, Nalin Perera,
Chamod Sulakshana, Dulaj Madushanka, Rasika Kothagoda, Thushara
Lakshitha Dilshan, Roshaan Anurudha, Namal Pethum, Dushan Danushka,
Kasun Udara, Sameera Jayasekara, Madushan Chathuranga, Nalindra Prabath,
Gayan Buddhika.
Dharmaloka College team : Iranga Kishan (Captain), Chathura Lakmina,
Janith Madushan, Gayan Geethanjana, S.I.Manuka Salinda, Janaka Pethum,
Chathra Madushanka, Asitha Suminda Roshan, Sapumal Bandara, Sanka
Madushan, Sulaj Gayashan, Thilina Pushpitha. |
