Can improved Kingswood overcome Dharmaraja ?
By common consent, Kingswood is an improved team. Yet, can they overcome a Dharmaraja side that has been a bit off-colour. The answer, in a word, is unlikely. If Kingswood succeed in performing a miracle, it will be their first win since 1958. On the other hand, the Rajans have won four of the five games immediately preceding this 110th Big Match.
Dharmaraja’s problem begins at the top. Skipper Venuka Galahitiyawa, a prolific left arm spinner and useful batsman, missed half the season through injury. He had two five wicket bags. He is due back for the Big One.
In the absence of Galahitiyawa, the spin bowling burden was carried manfully by Ruchira Pupulewatte, who played Valentine innings without a Ramadhin. His magnum opus was against Trinity, where he bagged 6 for 49 and 6 for 67 and, for good measure, came up with a fifty. In short, he has rendered tremendous service to his school in this his final year.
Deshan Gunasinghe contributed a hard-fought fifty against Trinity. More recently, he made a hundred in a limited over match. However, all things considered, it would be time to say that the left hander has under-achieved.
Nivantha Herath and Lahiru Samarakoon are 100 makers, Herath got tons against Bandaranayake MV and St. Anthony’s while Samarakoon achieved the feat against Mahinda. Not a bad effort by the Sri Lanka Under-19 first bowler. The Rajans would have welcomed more wickets from the lanky paceman. Skipper Ruwantha Hathurusinghe is the solitary century-maker for Kingswood. An attacking left hander, his hundred against St. Anne’s was well-compiled. Hathurusinghe also made 53 against Sri Sumangala. Behind the stumps, his work is efficient rather than brilliant.
Asmitha Rajapakse in an all round capacity and the Vitharanas – not siblings – Gihan and Shehan have contributed with the bat. Gihan has a hundred. Big made opener Bavantha Udangamuwe has not provided the expected runs. Wicketkeeper Supun Vithanaarachchi has a top score of 70 not out against DS Senanayake. Summing up, the Rajan batting appears long and strong and Kingswood will surely be tested to snatch twenty wickets. Avishka Chandrasiri, the vice captain has been a bit of an enigma. An opening bowler who had quite a few five-wickets last year, his output this season has been meager.
The Malaise seems to have spread to his batting, too, as he has solitary fifty to his credit. The success story for Kingwood centres as the efforts of left arm spinner Vimukthi Wijesiriwardena. A match bag of 11 for 87 against St. Mary’s has been his best. Further he claimed 6 for 37 (St. Anne’s), 5 for 90 (St. John’s Jaffna) and 5 for 35 (Carey). An innings of 88 against Debarawewa shows he’s no slouch with the bat. The regular opening pair of Meedum Weerasinghe (the side’s leading run-scorer) and Upamal Heenkenda, have done a commendable job this year, too. Heenkenda has scored two half centuries while Weerasinghe has one.
Experienced Dilshan Walisundera seems to have fallen by the wayside. An attacking player success generally, seems to have passed him by. Middle order bat Salinda Dharmasena (best score 52 not out) has come up with sizeable contributions.
Former skipper Tharindu Liyanage has been among the wickets, but his efforts with the bat have been disappointing for one with so much experience. Opening bowler Thutila Herath (15 wickets) and Janith Tennekoon another pacie, complete the bowling line-up. Kingswood beat Carey outright and had six first innings wins.
However what highlighted their chances of playing in the knock-outs was their six no decisions. Dharmaraja beat the Bens outright but lost to St. Aloysius Galle badly and to Trinity, in a thriller. The massive 453 scored against them by Bandaranaike MV, Gampaha must have shocked them into reality and stock taking. Both teams are coached by cricketers of repute Senaka Dissanaike is a former under-19 player, Indika Fernando an Anthonian, has many strings to his bow.
Dharmaraja: Venuka Galahitiyawa (Capt), Ruchira Pupulewatte, Deshan Gunasinghe, Nivantha Herath, Gihan Vitharana, Lahiru Samarakoon, Kasun Gunawardena, Bavantha Udangamuwa, Asmitha Rajapakse, Chaturanga Aludeniya, Shehan Vitharana, Kavindu Tillekeratne, Naveen Hippola, Supun Vithanarachchi, Rukmal Dissanayake, Achintha Rupanayake. Senaka Dissanaike (Coach), Manjula Udagedera (MIC).
Kingswood: Ruwantha Hathurusinghe (Capt), Avishka Chandrasiri, Meedun Weerasinghe, Tharindu Liyanage, Upamal Heenkende, Vimukthi Wijesiriwardena, Dilshan Walisundera, Yasod Kavinda, Salinda Dharmasena, Thutila Herath, Janith Tennakoon, Rangana Ratnayake, Ganidu Kamburugamuwa, Amila Jayaweera, Shanuka Ratnayake.
Indika Fernando (Coach), Sarath Ekanayake (MIC)