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by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Kingswood College, Kandy, will have a 45 year old drought to break when they take on Dharmaraja College, Kandy in their 97th 'Battle of the Maroons' to be played at the Asgiriya Stadium today and tomorrow with play commencing at 9.45 on both days.

Kingswood College won the inaugural match in 1905 by an innings and 47 runs. Kingswood College scored 202 with C. Mathiaz contributing 80 and C. Barbey 40. C. De Silva took 7 for 51.

Rajans were shot out for 80 - J. H. De Saram 39 and S. Alahakoon 19 C. Mathiaz took 4 for 21. Rajans were once again dismissed for 75 with only C. Wickremasinghe scoring 43 and medium pacer H. Carolis had the excellent figures of 9 for 56.

The tally in the series stands at 31 wins by Dharmaraja College and 19 by Kingswood College while 46 matches were drawn. In 1970 the match was not played as Kingswood College skipped that season. In 1964 this big match was played twice. Heavy rain washed out play on the second day during the first match. Both schools decided to replay the match.

The last Rajan victory came in 1980 under Janaka Mendis and the Kignswoodians last tasted victory was in 1958 under C. Maurice Fernando and the Rajans captain that year was D. D. T. Alwis.

Though this series began in 1905, it took thirty eight years for the first century to be scored when P. L. Arthus Alwis who scored 121 in 1943 and the same year T. B. Talwatte also scored 104 not out having retired hurt earlier. The highest individual score in the series is by Rajan Senaka Dissanayake who scored 200 not out in 1983. Kingswoodian Clifford Ratnavibhushana scored 167 in 1959. P. B. Wickremasuriya scored centuries for Kingswood in 1976 and 1977 (121 and 104 and Ajith Narampanawa did the same for the Rajans in 1976 (110) and 1977 (120).

Rajans will be led this year by opening batsman Muditha Wijekoon who has scored over 800 runs including a century, He has also captained the Central Province under 19 team. Under his leadership Rajans played 15 matches, won outright against Maliyadewa but lost outright to Royal College. They won seven matches on first innings and lost five on first innings.

His deputy is Kelum Ariyadasa who is also the stumper of the side. Ariyadasa has scored 400 runs and also has 30 victims behind the stumps.

Others who could bolster the score are Chamara Kapugedera (500 runs), Mahesh Weerasuriya, Jayampathi Chandratillake (500 runs), Madhuka Rajapakse, Asanka Samarakoon, Upul Karunaratne, Upeksh Wijesiri and Gayan Wijetillake.

The pace attack will be spearheaded by Chamara Kapugedera and Eranda Abeysinghe with Upul Karunaratne Upeksh Wijesiri and Gayan Wijetillake providing addition pace. But the Rajans will depend heavily on their slow bowlers to dismiss their opponents. Left arm spinner in a late burst has captured 40 wickets and is an under 17 national poolist and has also represented the Central Province under 19 team against foreign sides. The other spinners are off spinner Mahesh Weerasuirya, off Spinner Madhuka Rajapakse, leg spinner Asanka Samarakoon who could tie up their opponents.

Kingswood will be led by opening bat Milinda Wattegedera who has scored nearly 850 runs this season including a century against St. Anthony's College. A very consistent bat who has often given the side a good start. He is also a good left arm spinner having captured 50 wickets.

Allrounder Rachitha Liyanage is the vice captain of the side and he has scored 600 runs and also captured 60 wickets with his medium pacers. This duo have often helped Kingswood College to come up with some top performances.

Kingswoodians have played 15 matches won one outright (D. S. Senanayake) and won 6 on first innings and lost 2 on first innings the rest have ended in 'No Decisions'.

Other capable batsmen in the side are Rajitha Ariyadasa (600 runs), Iruka Weeraratne (450 runs), Indika Senaratne (500 runs), Samudu Wijesinghe, and Gehan Ekanayake.

Kingswood's pace attack has played a key role in their success this season with their opening bowlers Rachitha Liyanage (59 wickets) and Gehan Ekanayake (40 wickets) being among the wickets. To supplement speed attack there are Iruka Weeraratne (30 wkts.), Hemal Kumarage, Rajitha Ariyadasa and Hirantha Pallegedera.

Their main spinner is left arm spinner Niroshan Perera who has captured over 50 wickets and is in the Sri Lanka junior pool. Other spinners in the side are skipper Milinda Wattegedera (left arm spin), Waruna Dharmaratne (off spin), Asiri Amerasinghe (leg spin), Samudu Wijesinghe (off spin) and Indika Senaratne (off spin), Minimuthi Dissanayake will keep wickets and has 20 victims to his credit.

Dharmaraja (from) Muditha Wijekoon (Captain), Kelum Ariyadasa (Vice Captain), Mahesh Weerasuriya, Jayampathi Chandratillake, Amal Ekanayake, Chamara Kapugedera, Madhuka Rajapakse, Eranda Abeysinghe, Asanka Samarakoon, Upul Karunaratne, Upeksh Wijesiri, Gayan Wijetillake, Gayan Nadunge, Channa Nadunge, Rukshan Sooriyarachchi, Dhanushka Marapona, Anusha Ranaraja, D. P. Mitipolarachchi, I. Samaratunga, C. S. Monarawila (Coach Ananda Wijesekera, MIC Major Bhuwanika Kohonna Bandara, POG Sarath Mathararachchi).

KINGSWOOD (from) Milinda Wattegedera (Captain), Rachitha Liyanage (Vice Captain), Rajith Ariyadasa, Waruna Dharmaratne, Iruka Weeraratne, Hemal Kumarage, Asiri Amerasinghe, Samudu Wijesinghe, Hirantha Pallegedera, Niroshan Perera, Minimuthu Dissanayake, Gehan Ekanayake, Indika Senaratne, Deminda Dahanayake, Chathuranga Samarakoon, Milinda Ratnayake, Kasun Amerasinghe, Mahesh Dhammika, Sapumal Marasinghe, Pradeep Wickremasinghe, Sasanka Molligoda. Coach H. N. T. Gamage. MIC M. Pathmasiri. POG S. Weerasuriya.

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