The 116th Hill Country Battle of the Maroons is all set to take place tomorrow (24) between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College. The two teams will vie for the T.B. Tennakoon Memorial Trophy tomorrow and Saturday (25) at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy.
The rivalry will unfold for the 116th time. The first big match dates back to 1893 when the game was played at the Bogambara stadium. The trophy is currently at Dharmaraja College, having won it thrice since 2011. Kingswood College last won way back in 1957 under the captaincy of Maurice Fernando. In the 115 matches played, the Rajans have won 33 times while the boys from the Randle Hills have won only 19 times. There have been 63 drawn encounters.
The Rajans are led by Thisaru Wanninayake. They have only secured one outright win against Dharmapala but lost against Trinity College, St. Peter’s College, and St. Aloysius College this season.
Rajan key man Pulindu Perera is their highest run-scorer with more than 1,000 runs this season. He has two hundreds and sevens fifties under his name. Apart from his batting. Perera has also contributed with the ball taking 32 wickets this season. Their bowling attack is led by Skipper Wanninayake, who has 43 wickets under his name while Nisala Abeyrathne has been amongst the wickets as well. The Rajans are coached by Champika Siriwardane while Amarajeewa Dissanayake is their Master in Charge (MIC) and Saliya Samarawickrama is the Prefect of Games (POG).
Kingswood College is led by Amesh Rupasinghe. This season, playing in Division II, Kingswood College have two outright wins, four losses, and six draws. Fifteen-year-old Kavija Gamage is the highest run scorer with 750 runs. With the ball for Kingswood, Kenula Pihilianga has taken 36 wickets. Kingswood’s head coach is Piyal Salgadu. Nalin Rathnayake is the MIC while Lanka Francis is their POG.
Dharmaraja College squad
Thisaru Wanninayake (C), Isuru Pannala (WK), Dulara Bandulasena, Pulindu Perera, Maleesha Rajakaruna, Onajith De Silva, Nisala Abeyrathne, Arosha Mahagedara, Naveen Jayaweera, Rusiru Bandara, Dakshitha Manukalpa, Kalana Herath, Tiran Wickramarathne, Kavindu Gunarathne, Tharindu Warnakulage, Hirun Hirigeeganage, Chamath Bandara, Shehan Marasinghe, Irusha Jayawardane, and Dinuka Moragammana
Kingswood College squad
Amesh Rupasinghe (C), Gauranga Bandara (WK), Kavija Gamage, Ravindu Tharinda, Nenuka Dissanayake, Menuka Heshan, Nadeesha Janith, Amiru Amunupura, Manjula Wijethunga, Nikeshala Nanayakkara, Adhil Sheriff, Dinuk Sandaruwan, Sanuka Kasthuri, Buddika Namakeerthi, Barana Rathnayake, Abdul Hakeem, Kenula Pihilianga, Yojith Hettiarachchi, Yosath Abeykoon, and Ronald Steven