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93rd 'Battle of the Maroons

Dharmaraja College, Kandy, with a better performance record should have a slight edge over their traditional rivals Kingswood College, when meet in their 93rd ``Battle of the Maroons to be played at the Asgiriya Stadium this Friday and Saturday (March 26 and 27) with play commencing at 9.45 a.m.

But since of late, the Kingswoodians have shown vast improvement and therefore the Rajans should not underestimate them as they have the potential to create an upset. Kingswood after a disastrous start when they lost six matches outright, turned around in their last three outings to hold their opponents and also snatched a six wicket win over St. Aloysius College, Galle, which is playing in the 'A' Division, thus earning around 26 points in that match.

Of the 92 battles which have been fought out, the Rajans are in the lead with 31 wins while Kingswood has 19 wins with 48 matches ending in draws. In fact the last time a decision was arrived in this match was in 1980 when the Rajans won under Janaka Mendis, since there has been a stalemate of 18 consecutive draws. The last kingswood victory was 41 years ago when they won under former Daily News Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1958 Maurice Fernando. The highest score in the series stands to the credit of Rajan skipper Senaka Dissanayake who scored 201 in 1983. The first centurian in the series is P. L. Arthur Alwis who made 144 not out in 1944.

Rajans will be led this time by all-rounder Pubudu Seneviratne who toured with the Sri Lanka under 19 team to India earlier this month. He is a very aggressive bat having scored 700 runs and captured 40 wickets with his off spinners. His deputy will be another aggressive batsman Asanka Marapona who toured England with the Sri Lanka under 15 team for the Youth World Cup two ago. He is also a top left arm spinner. Rajans have played 13 matches, won 1, lost 1 and drew 11.

Rajans will look to Pubudu Seneviratne, Asanka Marapona, Nuwan Ekanayake, Haresh Ratnayake, Anuradha Jayasundera, Yasas Jayasundera, Nuwan Ekanayake, Chamila Kaduruwewa, Chathura Wickremanayake, Sumil Ratnayake and Damith Ariyadasa.

The pace attack will be spearheaded by left Armer Anuradha Jayasundera and Nirmal Wickremaratne with Chathura Wickremanayake and Pradeep Nagahapitiya providing extra pace. Left arm spinner Asanka Marapona and off spinner Pubudu Senaviratne will be their main spinners with Nuwan Ekanayake, Chamila Kaduruwewa (both off spinners) and Lanky Yasaas Jayasundera (leg spin) could be also depended upon to handle the slow stuff. The wicket keeping berth will be decided between in from Sunil Ranasinghe and experienced Damith Ariyadasa.

All rounder and third year player Thushara Madanayake leads the Kingswoodians who have a highly inexperienced side when the season began. But with more exposure, the team has performed better. Thushara Madanayake is a fine off spinner who has captured over 65 wickets and also has scored 500 runs. His deputy is Chamara Senaviratne who is a hard hitting bat with 650 runs to his credit and also opens the attack. Kingswoodians have played 15 matches, won 1, lost 6, and drew 8.

They will depend for runs from players like skipper Thushara Madanayake, Chamara Seneviratne, Lasitha Ekanayake, Malith Mallawarachchi, Laksitha Herath, Vajira Seneviratne, Namal Pushpakumara, Rizan Mowsoon, Millinda Wattegedera, Buddhika Ekanayake, Ajith Arjuna and Ruchira Marasinghe.

Speedsters Chamara Senaviratne and Namal Pushpakumara will share the new ball and providing more pace will be Lakshitha Herath, with Rizan Mowsoon and Hemantha completing the pace quintet. The spinners are Thushara Madanayake (off spin), Malith Mallawarachchi (leg spin), Vajira Senaviratne (leg spin). Buddhika Ekanayake will keep wickets.

Dharmaraja College (from):

Pubudu Senaviratne, (Captain), Asanka Marapona (Vice Captain), Nuwan Ekanayake, Haresh Ratnayake, Anuradha Jayasundera, Chamila Kaduruwewa, Chathura Wickremanayake, Sunil Ranasinghe, Yasas Jayasundera, Nirmal Wickremaratne, Damith Ariyadasa, Nadeep Nagahapitiya, Bimal Sooriyampola, Chaminda Gamaththiya (Coach Ananda Wijesekera. MIC Haroon Dole. POG Sarath Mataraarachchi)

Kingswood College (from):

Thushara Madanayake (Captain), Chamara Senaviratne (Vice Captain), Malith Mallawarachchi, Namal Pushpakumara, Lasitha Ekanayake, Vajira Senaviratne, Milinda Wattegedera, Rizan Mowzoon, Buddhika Ekanayake, Lasitha Herath, Ruchira Marasinghe, Ajith Arjuna, Hemantha Hettiarachchi, Kusum Dissanayake, Udayantha Silva, R. Liyanage, Akeel Abdeen, B. Katudeniya, M. Rishard, A. Bandara, V. Dharmaratne (Coach Gamini Debahapuwa. MIC Kamal Weerasinghe)