Rajans-Kingswood clash for Tennakoon Shield

The oldest cricket match in the Hill Capital - the Battle of the Maroons will be played for the 107th year between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College, Kandy at Asgiriya Trinity International grounds on March 22 and 23 for T B Tennakoon Shield.

Out of the 106 big matches played so far, Dharmaraja has won 33 matches while Kingswood has won 19 matches. The other 54 matches ended in draws. This year Dharmaraja is led by Nuwan Karunaratne who is one of the best all-rounders of the school and this is his 5th year. He was also in the under 19 Sri Lanka school squad. Aravinda Vithanachchi who took 100 wickets last year and 50 wickets this year so far is the Vice Captain.

Kingswood is led by a fine allrounder, Kasun Bandara, Saluka Walisundera is his deputy.

Going back to the history of the big match, Dharmaraja won last year's match under the captaincy of Sandun Viraj Karaputugala Kingswood defeated Dharmaraja last was in 1958 under the captaincy of Maurice Fernando and he was selected schoolboy cricketer of the year in 1958. Kingswood had not won a big match since then. The highest score of the series belongs to Senaka Dissanayake of Dharmaraja who scored 200 runs in 1983. (which was the first double century scored at Asgiriya). The highest runs scored by a Kingswoodian is 167 runs by Clifford Ratnavibushana.

Kingswood College 2012/13 team - Kasun Bandara (Captain - right hand attacking batsman and right arm medium pace bowler who has scored over 250 runs - second year), Saluka Walisundera (Vice Captain - fourth year has scored 480 runs), Supun Bandara (second year - has scored 430 runs this year), Randika Wijeratne (second year - right hand opening batsman with correct technique), Prabath Jayawickrema (third year - scored 200 runs this year), Menaka Lankatilleke (third year - has claimed 25 wickets as a left arm leg spinner), Tharaka Munasinghe (second year - right hand opening batsman), Tharindu Liyanage (second year - left arm leg spinner - has claimed 70 wickets), Tharaka Panabokke (second year - is a left hand hard hitting batsman), Chameera Bandara (third year - an allrounder), Saluka Weerasinghe (second year - who is a right arm off spinner), Ashen Jayakody (second year - allrounder). Freshers - Edirisinghe, Ravindu Maduranga, Dulanjana, Themiya, Upamal Heenkenda, Vimukthi Wijewardena, Summiya Piyasena, Gihan Herath, Ruwantha Haturusinghe and Shanaka Ratnayake. Coach - D Gamage. Master In Charge - I Herath

Dharmaraja College 2012/13 team - Nuwan Karunaratne (Captain and a fifth year - scored over 350 runs and opening bowler), Aravinda Vithanachchi (Vice Captain and fourth year player who took 50 wickets this season), Deneth Lanka (third year - useful allrounder), Chandimal de Silva (third year - allrounder), Ramesh Ranasinghe (third year - wicketkeeper and has scored over 350 runs), Lakshan Silva (second year - opening batsman and left arm spinner taking over 50 wickets), Kavinda Ratnayake (second year - reserve wicket keeper), Danuka Prabath (second year - right arm off spinner), Jayapadma Bandara Tennakoon (second year - right hand opening batsman), Lochana Wijesiri (third year - front line batsman), Tharusha Weragoda (second year - right arm off spinner and useful middle order batsman), Kavishka Dissanyake (second year - baby of the team, up and coming right hand batsman), Deshan Gunasinghe (second year - allrounder), Ruchira Pupulewatte (second year - allrounder). Freshers - I Sapumal, I Udowita, D Dilshan, C Wijeratne, U Jayasundera and D Liyanarachchi. Coaches - Senaka Dissanayake and Ananda Wijesekara. Master-in-charge - Sarath Ekanayake.

Dharmaraja College first XI squad: Seated (from left): Nuwan Karunaratne (Captain), Ananda Wijesekara (Coach), Sarath Abeygunasekara (Prefect of Games), S.M. Keerthiratne (Principal), Sarath Ekanayake (Master-in-Charge), Senaka Dissanayake (Coach), Aravinda Vithanarachchi (Vice Captain). First row standing (from left): Lochana Wijesiri, Venuka Galahitiyawa, U.A. Deneth Lanka, Ramesh Ranasinghe, Lakshan Silva, Shasin Abeykoon, Chandimal de Silva, Jaya Padma Tennakoon, Deshan Gunasinghe, Kavinda Rathnayake. Second row standing (from left): Dimuthu Liyanarachchi, Danuka Prabath, Kavindu Thimod, Tharusha Weragoda, Dulaj Dilshan, Rajitha Lahiru, Kavishka Dissanayake, Sapumal Tennakoon.

Kingswood College first XI squad: Seated (from left): Sunil Herath (Master In Charge), Kasun Bandara (Captain), Ananda Weerasooriya (Vice Principal), Kapila Priyantha (Prefect of Games.), Saluka Walisundara(Vice Captain), Harshana Gamage (Coach). second row (from left): Chameera Bandara, Tharindu Liyanage, Kasun Bandara, Tharaka Panabokka, Prabath Jayawikrama, Dilshan Edirisinghe, Ashen Jayakody, Randika Wijerathna, Menaka Lankatilleke, Tharaka Marasingha. third row (from left): Upamal Heenkenda, Ruwantha Hathurasinghe, Dulanjana Themiya, Vimukthi Wijesiriwardana, Champika Aluvihare, Gihan Herath, Daminda Weerakoon, Ravindu Maduranga, Summiya Piyasena, Dulin Wijayanarayana. Pictures by Upananda Jayasundera , Kandy Sports Special Corr