Dharmaraja–Kingswood Cricket Encounter Explained

Wide:yes
Dharmaraja–Kingswood Cricket Encounter
Team1logo:File:DharmarajaCollege_crest.jpg
Team2logo:File:Kingswood_College_Kandy_crest.png
Native Name:Battle of the Maroons
Other Names:
  • Hill Capital Battle of the Maroons
  • Battle of T. B. Tennekoon Memorial Trophy
Type:
  • Test Match
  • One-Day
Firstmeeting:1893
Mostrecent:2024
Nextmeeting:2025
Broadcasters:TV Kingswood
Gaja TV (PEO TV Channel-116)
Stadiums:
Trophy:T. B. Tennekoon Memorial TrophyWinston Hooles Trophy
Total:117
Most Wins:Dharmaraja College (37 wins)
Section Header:Results
Section Info:

Dharmaraja–Kingswood Cricket Encounter is the annual cricket match between two of the largest government-run national boys' schools in Kandy, Sri Lanka: Dharmaraja College, Kandy and Kingswood College, Kandy. It is the oldest cricket match series in the central province and second oldest in Sri Lanka, having been played for years.[1] It is also known as the Battle of the Maroons, referring to the school colours of the two schools.

History

The first match was played in 1893, with the Dharmaraja team captained by Don Baron Jayatilaka, then-incumbent principal of Dharmaraja College, and the Kingswood team captained by A. E. Spencer.[2] It was played at the Bogambara Stadium, which is no longer a cricket venue. This match, along with a few subsequent matches, were not exclusively schoolboy matches, with staff members from each school included in the teams. The first all-schoolboy Big Match was played in 1899, with J. C. de Mel captaining Dharmaraja and T. B. Marshall captaining Kingswood. All big matches were played at the Asgiriya Stadium until 2010, and since 2011, all big matches have been played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

The One Day Encounter between Dharmaraja College, Kandy and Kingswood College, Kandy began in the year 1989 with Prasanna Dahanayake as the captain of Dharmaraja College.[3]

Series summary

Currently, Dharmaraja leads with 37 wins against 19 by Kingswood, with 61 matches ending in a draw.[4] [5] [6] All matches from 1981 to 2010 ended in a draw. The last time a decision was possible during the series was in 1980 when Dharmaraja defeated Kingswood by nine wickets under the captaincy of Janaka Mendis.[7] Kingswood's last win was in 1958 under C. M. Fernando. On 26 March 2011, Dharmaraja College registered a seven-wicket win under the captaincy of Hemal Munaweera at the Pallekale International Cricket Stadium, ending nearly 30 years of indecisive matches. Latest test match was played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Dharmaraja College college won the match and the latest limited-over match was played at the same venue and Kingswood College won the match.

Highlights

  1. The 117th Battle of the Maroons encounter was held on 22 and 23 March 2024 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Dharmaraja College won the match under the captain of Dulara Bandulasena. Opening Batsmen of Dharmaraja College Pulindu Perera scores 92 and Pulindu Perera (92) with Onajith De Silva (60) build a partnership for 152 points in the fist inning of the match. 2nd day Kingswood lost the first wicket with only scoring 10 points. But with the help of Kavija Gamage and Yosath Abekon Kingswood scored 178/10 in the 1st inning. But with Dakshika Manukalpa"s in the 2nd inning of the match Kingswood only scored 78/10. Dakshika Manukalpa took 8 wickets for 30 runs as the Dharmaraja won the match by an inning and 69 runs.[23] [24]
  2. The 35th limited-over match was held on the 31st of March 2024 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Kingswood College won the match. Vice captain of Kingswood College Kavija Gamage top scored with a 102 with 13 fours and 1 six. Rajans bowlers, Pakshika Manukapa got 3 wickets for 38 and Arosha  Mahagedera 2 wickets for 8. Thanks to Kingswood bowlers and keepers Kingswood mange to win the one day encounter by 9 runs.[25] [26] [27]

Overall result

TeamsBattle of the MaroonsCurrent Trophy Holder
Total WinTotal LostTotal DrawT. B. Tennekoon Memorial TrophyWinston Hooles Trophy
371961Dharmaraja College (2024)Kingswood College (2024)
1937

Results of the 2024 encounter

TeamsEncounterTest Match encounterResultsEncounterOne-Day encounterResults
Day 1Day 250 Overs
117 (2024)325/2 (1-INN)Not PlayedWon35 (2024)224/10 (48.2)Lost
Not Played178/10 (1-INN)78/10 (2-INN)Lost 233/9Won

The 117th Battle of the Marrons encounter at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium was won by Dharmaraja College.[28] [29] The 35th limited over match was won by Kingswood College by 9 runs.[30] [31] [32]

Squads for the 2024 encounter

Year!Team! rowspan="2"
CaptainVice CaptainWicket KeeperPlayersHead Coach
DRCK & KCK
2024 (117th)Dulara BandulasenaPulindu PereraIsuru PannalaDulara Bandulasena (Capt.), Pulindu Perera (V.Capt.), Lakvin Abeysinghe, Isuru Pannala, Onajith de Silva, Arosha Mahagedara, Nisala Abeyrathne, Dakshika Manukalpa, Lakvin Abeysinghe, Irusha Jayawardane, Sheshan Marasinghe, Chamath Ekanayake, Dayan Wijesekara, Janidu Dissanayaka, Amantha Weerasekara, Matheesha Rupasinghe, Lalitha Dissanayake, Onija Sesath, Kavindu Gunaratne, Hirun Maduranga, Sanuka RathnayakeSenaka Dissanayake
Nenuka DissanayakeKavija Gamage-Nenuka Dissanayake (Capt.), Kavija Gamage (V.Capt.), Kenula Pihilianga, Amesh Rupasinghe, Nikeshala Nanayakkara, Dinuka Sandaruwan, Barana Rathnayake, Amiru Amunupura, Yosath Abeykoon, Dilshan Weerawansha, Gauranga Bandara, Damitha Rathnayake, Chanul Kodithuwakku, Pamuditha Bandara, Rizwan Razak, Upadhi Jayawardana, Nadeesha Bandaranyake, Hasith Gunasekara, Heshan Weerasinghe, Ranesh HerathSuresh Peiris
Above squads are according to the 117th Battle of Marrons encounter and 35th limited over encounter.[33] [34]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kingswood-Rajans battle continues. https://web.archive.org/web/20120216144703/http://www.lankapuvath.lk/index.php?view=article&id=555%3Akingswood-rajans-battle-continues-&option=com_content&Itemid=85. 16 February 2012. 14 March 2009 . Lankapuwath.
  2. Web site: malinga . 2024-03-07 . Kingswood-Dharmaraja Big Match on March 22-23 . 2024-03-19 . DailyNews . en-US.
  3. Web site: Marikar . Hafiz . Dharmatilake oldest Rajan sportsman . 2024-03-30 . Daily News . en.
  4. http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/3/25407.html Kingswood-Rajans Big Match - LankaNewspapers
  5. Web site: Big Match: Dharmaraja stun Kingswood with 7-wicket win . Sunday Times . March 24, 2012 . March 30, 2012 .
  6. Web site: 2023-03-22 . The oldest cricketing rivalry in Kandy begins tomorrow . 2024-03-19 . Latest in the News Sphere The Morning.
  7. Web site: Cricket Encounter - SLCricket . 2 April 2009 . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172024/http://www.slcricket.com/index.php?topic=17778.0;wap2Kingswood-Rajans . dead .
  8. Web site: Highlights of Kingswood-Dharmaraja series - Dailynews . 2009-04-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604203716/http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/03/17/spo06.htm . 2011-06-04 . dead .
  9. Web site: 2012-10-18 . Online edition of Daily News - Sports . 2024-05-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121018164145/http://www.dailynews.lk/2003/03/03/spo05.html . 18 October 2012 .
  10. Web site: 2009-09-07 . Online edition of Daily News - Sports . 2024-05-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090907145400/http://www.dailynews.lk/2003/04/26/spo08.html . 7 September 2009 .
  11. Web site: 2013-02-16 . Rajans field a strong team this year . 2024-05-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130216032618/http://www.dailynews.lk/2013/02/11/spo10.asp . 16 February 2013 .
  12. News: Upananda Jayasundera . Hafiz Marikar . 2017-03-17 . 111th Battle of the Maroons between Kingswood & Dharmaraja : Kandy's oldest cricketing schools clash today . live . Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  13. News: Marikar . Hafiz . 2017-03-17 . 111th Battle of the Maroons between Kingswood & Dharmaraja : Kandy's oldest cricketing schools clash today . Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  14. Web site: Dharmaraja College - The 111th battle of Maroons cricket encounter . 2024-03-19 . www.dharmaraja.lk.
  15. Web site: 112th Battle of the Maroons: Even teams set for battle - Big match Daily Mirror . 2024-03-19 . www.dailymirror.lk . English.
  16. Web site: Battle of the Maroons: An evenly-poised encounter Daily FT . 2024-03-19 . www.ft.lk . English.
  17. Web site: Admin . 2019-04-02 . Highlights – Kingswood College vs Dharmaraja College 113th Kandy Battle of the Maroons . 2024-03-19 . ThePapare.com . en-US.
  18. Web site: Perera . Ranjika . 2019-03-16 . Hashika Gamage saves Kingswood from defeat . 2024-03-19 . ThePapare . en-US.
  19. Web site: 114th Battle of the Maroons ends in a draw . 2024-03-19 . batsman.
  20. Web site: SurfEdge . Kingswood College vs Dharmaraja College - 115th Encounter, Battle of The Maroons - ThePapare Stats . 2024-03-19 . stats.thepapare.com . en.
  21. Web site: SurfEdge . Kingswood College vs Dharmaraja College - 34th Limited Overs Encounter - ThePapare Stats . 2023-04-09 . stats.thepapare.com . en.
  22. Web site: Kingswood - Dharmaraja L/O match at Pallekele .
  23. Web site: Today . Ceylon . 2024-03-24 . Dharmaraja beat Kingswood by innings . 2024-03-26 . Ceylon Today . en-US.
  24. Web site: Admin . March 26, 2024 . Top order heroics, Manukalpa's eight wicket haul seal innings win for Dharmaraja . The Island (Sri Lanka).
  25. Web site: Abeykoon . Gayan . 2024-01-29 . Kandy Schools's big matches in March . 2024-03-19 . DailyNews . en-US.
  26. Web site: Kingswood shock Rajans in limited overs contest Daily FT . 2024-05-11 . www.ft.lk . English.
  27. Dharmaraja College vs Kingswood College 35th One Day Encounter Battle of the Maroons . en . 2024-05-11 . www.youtube.com.
  28. Web site: Sanjeewa . Kanishka . 2024-03-24 . Dharmaraja demolish Kingswood to clinch 117th Battle of the Maroons . 2024-03-26 . ThePapare . en-US.
  29. Web site: damith . 2024-03-24 . Rajans beat Kingswood by innings and 69 runs at Big Match . 2024-03-26 . DailyNews . en-US.
  30. Web site: Abeykoon . Gayan . 2024-03-31 . Kingswood beat Rajans to take Winston Hoole trophy . 2024-04-01 . DailyNews . en-US.
  31. Web site: Sanjeewa . Kanishka . 2024-04-01 . Kingswood beat Dharmaraja in a thriller to clinch 35th One Day Encounter . 2024-05-11 . ThePapare . en-US.
  32. Web site: 2024-04-01 . Kingswood victorious, beat Rajans in shocker . 2024-05-11 . Latest in the News Sphere The Morning.
  33. Web site: malinga . 2024-03-30 . Dharmaraja aims for Double over Kingswood . https://web.archive.org/web/20240331194031/https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2024/03/31/sport/20285/dharmaraja-aims-for-double-over-kingswood/ . dead . 31 March 2024 . 2024-04-01 . Sunday Observer . en-US.
  34. Web site: Abeykoon . Gayan . 2024-03-17 . Rajans have the edge over Kingswood in Kandy's Battle of the Maroons . 2024-03-19 . DailyNews . en-US.