When match was awarded

Hafiz Marikar

The Kandy’s oldest big match is on here at the Pallekelle International stadium. Whenever Kingswood and Dharmaraja met in their traditional game, it has produced glorious cricket.

The unforgettable year of the series was in 1960s, when the game ended in a draw, where both teams were found to have made exactly the same total at close of play.

And it’s said that after the match, the principal of Kingswood Kenneth de Lanerolle has checked the score book and awarded the game to Dahramaraja for their better performance. I told this to an old Rajan Sarath Kongahage, he asked me would a principal do the same today.

There is another record, early in a series, in the year 1918, Dahrmaraja had been dismissed in one inning for a total of 9 runs, striking a parallel with an earlier Royal-Thomian game. In which Royal had been bundled out for 9 runs.

With the 105th big match known as the ‘Battle of the Maroons’, this writer goes back to a memorable game. Out of the 104 games played Dharmaraja has won 31, with Kingswood able to win 19 with rest being draws.

The last win for the Rajans was in 1980 when Janaka Mendis led the side to a nine wicket win at the Police Grounds and for the Kingswoodians it was in 1958 under Maurice Fernando. Dharmaraja’s Senaka Dissanayake is the highest scorer of the series with a 200.

In the year 1965 both teams were led by Jayasundaras, Kingswood by S. Jayasundara and Dharmaraja by Upanda Jayasundara. In the 1965 season Dahrmaraja Captain K B Angammana reached the age limit half way and was unable to play and Upananda Jayasundara took over the leadership and led his side to win the big match. That was the 59th battle, and the Rajans were home for tea with a 43 run win.

On that day, Kingswood batted first and were in trouble. They were dismissed for 128 runs and Dharmaraja at the end of the first day were 109 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. The match was played on March 27 and 28 at Police Grounds matting wicket.

Dharmaraja skipper won the toss and invited the Kingswoodians to take the first lease. The Kingswoodians had a shocking start losing their first 3 wickets for 12 runs.

It was their fourth wicket pair T Jayakody 37 and L Ethaphana 31 came to their rescue with a fighting partnership of 59 runs, but soon after this pair left saw some superb bowling from spinner Ajith Gannoruwa 2 for 21 and N A Ratnayake, the opening bowler 2 for 21 and Upananda Jayasundara 2 for 18. Of the latter batsmen only J Bulner exerted confidence against the Lake View school’s bowling. The others collapsed against the steady attack of their opponents.

Dharmaraja taking first turn also started badly losing the first wicket for 19 and their second at 23. But thereafter an unbeaten third wicket partnership of 86 runs between N A Ratnayake 44 and D Weersinghe 44 helped them in a big way.

The others who did well with the bat were Upananda Jayasundra 39, Ananada Jayasundara his twin brother 27 not out, and S.W Wijewardena 22 not out with S. Jayasundara taking 4 for 46 and Rajans declared their innings at 250 for 8.

Kingswood in their second turn were bundled out for 79 runs (D Ethapana 28, N K Ratnayake 3 for 24 and Ananda Jayasundara 3 for 20). So, the Rajans were home for tea with a fine 43 run win.

The winning Dahrmaraja team comprised players such as Upananda Jayasundara, D M Chandraratne, A Ganoruwa, D Weersinghe, H Ranasinghe, P Mangalaratne, N A Ratnayake, A Jayasundara, G A Dissanayake, S W Wijewardena and D N K Ratnayke.

Kingswood comprised S Jayasundara (Capt), C Vetcan, S Samarasinghe, T Jayatilake, T Jayakodi, D Ethapana, L Darmasiriwardene, J Bulner, P Vetacan, M Jabbar, and S Perera.