Rajans have the edge over Kingswood

S M Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports correspondent

Dharmaraja College, Kandy should have the edge when they take on Kingswood College in their Kandy's 105th "Battle of the Maroons" which will be played for the first time out of Kandy at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium on Friday and Saturday (March 25 and 26).

There was a time that this big match which is the oldest in the hill capital dating back to 1895 was played at venues which will surprise the present day spectators.

It was played at the Bogambara grounds where cricket is no longer played and later at the pint sized Randles Hill and also Lake View grounds, Police grounds and the battle went to the Asgiriya Stadium after it was developed into an international grounds in 1983 and Rajan Senaka Dissanayake christened the match with a sterling knock of 200 which to-date stands as the highest individual score in the series.

In the same match Prasanna Walalawela scored 100 not out helping the Rajans to score 370 for 4 declared. Kingswood College who made 119 were asked to follow on and just managed to escape defeat making 124 for 7 when play ended. K Eriyagama had a match haul of 9 for 44 for the Rajans.

Rajans in lead

The Rajans are in the lead in the 104 matches played to-date having 31 wins to their credit against 19 by the Kingswoodians. Rajans won last in 1980 under Janaka Mendis at Police grounds. Kingswood's last win came way back in 1958 under C Maurice Fernando who later became the Daily News Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year. Thus this match has not produced a decision for the last 28 years.

Rajans will be led by fourth year coloursman Hemal Munaweera who will open the attack and also is a stubborn middle order bat with 650 runs to his credit including a century. It has been observed that it is at a crisis that Hemal Munaweera comes good.

Another fourth year coloursman Ravinda Wijekoon is the vice captain of the side and will open the side's batting. He is also the stumper of the side and has 30 victims to his credit.

Dharmaraja College has played this season 14 matches 1 winning, lost 1 and drawn the rest. But they have led their opponents on the first innings in 11 matches.

Could depend on

For runs they could depend on skipper Hemal Munaweera, Kavinda Wijekoon, Viraj Karaputugala (350 runs), Sadun Werakoddy (600 runs), Sasanka Nakkawita (400 runs), Sasith Gunasekera (750 runs), Lahiru Herath (400 runs), Nuwan Karunaratne (250 runs), Deneth Lanka (250 runs) and Lasitha Weeraratne (250 runs).

Opening the Rajans attack will be skipper Hemal Munaweera and Nuwan Karunaratne (20 wickets) Lahiru Herath (25 wickets).

Supported by spin

They will be supported by the spin of left arm spinner Aravinda Withanarachchi (50 wkts) and off spinner Deneth Lanka (46 wkts) and off spinner Sasanka Nakkawita (20 wkts).

The team is coached by former Dharmaraja College cricketer Ananda Wijesekera with Sarath Ekanayake as the Master In Charge.

Kingswood College who are in the process of team building will be led by allrounder and third year player Sasindu Athukorale who has scored over 600 runs and also captured 40 wickets with his medium paces.

Nisitha Weerakoon another third year player is the deputy skipper of the side. He has scored 350 runs and also has 33 victims from behind the stumps.

Kingswood have played 17 matches, won 0, lost 6 and have 6 first innings wins.

Their downfall this season has been their batting and they could not have hoped for the better when their coach suddenly left them at the beginning of the season and his successor is replaced just before the big match.

Batting will hinge on

Their batting will hinge on Yasindu Athukorale, Nisitha Weerakoon, Laksitha Madushan (650 runs), Chaluka Walisundera (325 runs), Chamila Gunasekera (440 runs), Devinda Weeratunga (225 runs), Madhushan Premawardena (400 runs), Mahes Dunukara (300 runs), Dulanjith Prathapasinghe (200 runs), Tharindu Gunaratne, Heshan Unamboowe (200 runs) and Lakmal Hettiarachchi.

Their pace attack will be led by skipper Yasindu Athukorale and Mahes Dunukara (30 wkts) with Madhusha Premawardena coming at first change followed by Dinusha Medawatte. There is very little bite in their spin attack with off spinner Lakshitha Madhushan (31 wkts) being their main spinner. The other spinners in their side are off spinner Lakmal Hettiarachchi (25 wkts), leg spinner Dulanjith Prathapasinghe and two off spinners Devinda Weeratunga and Nuwan Unamboowe.

Kingswood College (from) Yasindu Athukorale (captain), Nisitha Weerakoon (Vice Captain), Lakshitha Madhushan, Madusha Premawardena, Mahes Dunukara, Devinda Weerakoon, Shaluka Walisundera, Chamila Gunaratne, Dulanjith Prathapasinghe, Nuwan Unamboowe, Lakmal Hettiarachchi, Thivanka Dolawatte, Tharindu Gunaratne, Dinusha Medawatte, Nuwan Jayaweera, Asanka Bandara.

Dharmaraja College (from) Hemal Munaweera (captain), Kavinda Wijekoon (Vice captain), Sadun Weerakoddy, Viraj Karaputugala, Sasanka Nakkawita, Sasith Gunasekera, Nuwan Karunaratne, Lahiru Herath, Deneth Lanka, Aravinda Withanarachchi, Lasitha Weeraratne, Mayura Ratnayake, Nilupal Rajapakse, Gehan Samarakoon, Kaveendra Jayasinghe, Shasheen Abeykoon.