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Kingswood-Dharmaraja : out to end that long drought
By Aubrey Kuruppu
Kandy's oldest Big Match, the Kingswood-Dharmaraja, which enters its 99th year, will be decided in the main on how two players fare. Chamara Kapugedera (Dharmaraja's skipper) and Indika Senaratne hold the key.

Kapugedera, though not as prolific as he was last year, has had further laurels heaped on his head. His selection to the Sri Lanka Under-19 team is timely. Twice a centurian this season, Kapugedera with nearly 650 runs and 22 wickets can be an influential figure.

All rounder Chatura Bandara is a bit of a dasher. He has passed the 100 run mark twice and picked up useful wickets with his medium pace. Runs can also be expected from left hander Wijesiri, batsman cum off spinner, Suriyarachchi, vice captain Nadunge, opener Ranaraja and all rounder Mitipolarachchi.

Monarawila, a left arm medium pacer opens the attack. But he has not been a consistent wicket-taker. Tharindu Perera, a left arm spinner has the knack of getting wickets when they are surely needed. Tiny Bhuvaneka Ekanayake is the stumper.

The Ranjans blotted their copy book by losing to Trinity. However they made amends by defeating Royal for the first time. Kingswood took a long time to get off the blocks. Once they did so, they played some fighting cricket, medium pacer Gihan Ekanayake leads the team. Ekanayake has been successful as a bowler and has also contributed his fair share with the bat being skipper and strike bowler, the onus is on him to lead from the front.

Damintha Dahanaike, who has a century to his credit, is a batting all rounder. Niroshan Perera, essentially a left arm spinner, contributes usefully with the bat. He has a hundred.

Kingswood's trump-card is the hard-hitting Indika Senaratne who has a century and several fifties to his credit. Senaratne is quite capable of taking the game away from his opponents and he will obviously be the prime Rajan target. Runs could also be expected from stumper Mimimuthu Dissanaike who has made a hundred, Jayasuriya and Jayawansa. Gihan Dilshan is one of the openers. Mystery man Asiri Amerasinghe's career hasn't really taken off because of injury and lack of opportunity. A stylish batsman and a more than useful leggie, unfortunately he hardly even bowls now.

Apart from two first innings set backs against St. Sylvester's and D.S. Senanayake, Kingswood have led their opponents in the other games. It is a matter of regret that Trinity and Kingswood couldn't agree on a date for their match. For the statistically-minded, the Rajans have won 31 matches as against 19 by their opponents. Janaka Mendis led the lads from Lake view to victory in 1981. Maurice Fernando's team of 1958 that emerged victorious is still spoken of whenever the "drought" is mentioned by Kingswoodians.

Dharmaraja (From)
Chamara Kapugedera (Capt), Channa Nadunge, Upesh Wijesiri, Chathura Bandara, Rukshan Suriarachchi, Arosha Ranaraja, D.P. Mitipolaarachchi, Bhuvaneka Ekanayake, Chathura Monarawila, Tharindu Perera, R.M.J Ratnayake, Harsha Udara, Samitha Rajapaksa, D.P. Herath, R.B. Navaratne, (Coach: Priyantha Weragoda).

Kingswood (From)
Gihan Ekanayake (Capt), Damintha Dahanaike, Niroshan Perera, Asiri Amerasinghe, Indika Senaratne, Minimuthu Dissanaike, Nirmal Jayasuriya, Gihan Dilsan, Ranpath Jayawansa, Chaturanga Samarakoon, C.T. Rajapakse, Dhanushka Geeganage, Pradeep Wickremasinghe, Roshan Lokuge, Kasun Amerasinghe (Coach: Surehs Pieris).

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