Tough battle expected at Dharmaraja-Kingswood 101st match

Upananda JAYASUNDERA, Kandy Sports special corr.

CRICKET: The oldest ‘Big Match’ in the hill capital will be played for the 101st year on March 30 and 31 at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy for the ‘T. B. Tennakoon Challenge Shield.’

In the 100 encounters that have been played so far, Dharmaraja College is in the lead with 31 wins to Kingswoods 19 with 50 matches ending in draws.

Dharmaraja won the last Big Match in the year 1980 under the captaincy of Janaka Mendis and Kingswood won the last Big Match way back in 1958 under the captaincy of C. M. Fernando.

This year the two unbeaten sides competing in this important match in which Dharmaraja is captained by Rukshan Suriarachchi, one of the Best all-rounders in the Schools and Asiri Amarasinghe, a dashing middle order batsman will be leading the Kingswood side.

Dharmaraja Cricket Team - 2007

Rukshan Suriarachchi - Captain 5th year coloursman, Right hand top order batsman with 534 runs including 1 century with Vidyartha and 3 fifties.

Right arm off spinner with 40 wickets this season, the best being 5 for 57 against Royal. Scored a century in last year’s centenary Big Match.

B. M. B. Ekanayake - Vice Captain 3rd year colourman - Left hand opening Batsman with 430 runs with 4 fifties. The wicket keeper of the side.

U. A. Wijesiri - 5th year colourman, a Dagaba holder. Last year’s captain, has scored 340 runs with 109 against Royal.

T. M. Perera - 3rd year Left arm spinner. Has taken 30 wickets this season.

R. M. J. C. Ratnayake - 3rd year player - Has scored 571 runs including 5 fifties and the opening bowler, has taken 16 wickets so far.

S. T. Rajapaksa - 3rd year Right arm leg spinner.

R. C. K. Ambagaspitiya - 3rd year Left hand opening Batsman. Has scored 344 runs with 3 fifties.

T. S. B. Ranatunge - 3rd year Right hand middle order batsman. Has scored 248 runs in the season.

T. P. N. Batangala - 3rd year player with 240 runs.

T. D. Balasuriya - 2nd year Left arm medium pace bowler who opens the attack with R. M. J. C. Ratnayake.

P. R. Amarakoon - M. H. B. Bambaradeniya - R. B. Weerasuriya - R. Y. Bandara - E. M. Harsha Udara are 2nd year players in the team.

Y. R. Seneviratne - P. A. de Silva - M. D. S. de Silva and A. C. Munaweera are freshers.

Coach - Senaka Dissanayake

Master-in-Charge - S. Seneviratne

Prefect of Games - Sarath Mataraarachchi

Dharmaraja has won the matches against Dharmapala - Pannipitiya, St. Anthony’s Kandy, Zahira, Colombo and drew with Trinity, Kandy, Maliyadewa Kurunegala, Royal Colombo, S. Thomas’ Mt. Lavinia, Ananda, Nalanda Colombo, Vidyartha, St. Sylvesters Kandy, Mahinda Galle and Sri Sumangala Panadura.

Kingswood Cricket Team 2007

Asiri Amarasinghe - Captain 6th year coloursman. A dashing Batsman who has scored 601 runs including a century this season. Useful right arm leg spinner.

Anuradha Hettige - Vice Captain 4th year coloursman. Right hand batsman and left arm spinner who couldn’t play many matches this season due to injury.

Nirmal Jayasuriya - 4th year coloursman. Has scored 246 runs this season. Right arm opening bowler with a tally of 21 wickets.

Prasad Senaratne - 2nd year Right had opening batsman. Has scored 495 runs with a century against Wesley. He has also taken 43 wickets.

Krishan Silva - 2nd year joined Kingswood from Rahula College, Katugastota. Stylish left hand batsman. Has scored 480 runs. Fine close in fielder.

Chalitha Dharmaprema - 2nd year Right arm off spinner and left hand top order batsman who has taken 50 wickets.

Ashan Seneviratne - Stylish left hand opening batsman who has the correct technique. Right arm medium pace bowler.

Migara Bandaranayake - Fresher - Wicket keeper of the side who has 21 victims behind the stumps, has scored 254 runs to his credit.

Chandima Abeykoon, Sajith Athulugama, Sameera Wijesinghe, Amila Kangaraarachchi, Tharaka Galaarachchi, Chatura Kumarasiri, Madhawa Maduranga, Thilina Herath, Udara Hettige, Lahiru Gannoruwa, Duminda Siriwardena, Laxman Thanthirige and Thiwanka Anuradha are also the freshers of the side.

Coach - Priyantha Wickremasuriya

Master-in-Charge - Sunil Herath

Prefect of Games - Ananda Weerasuriya

Kingswood has played matches with Dharmapala, Pannipitiya - Vidyartha, Kandy - DS Senanayake Colombo - Richmond Galle, Mari Stella, Negombo - Maliyadewa, Kurunegala - Trinity, Kandy, St. Anthony’s Kandy - Sylvesters, Kandy - Wesley, Colombo, Thurstan, Colombo which ended in draws.

They won against St. Thomas’ Matale.