Rajans-Kingswood Centenary big match on March 24 and 25

Dinesh Weerawansa

BIG MATCH: The oldest inter-school big match in the hill capital - the Dharmaraja-Kingswood encounter will mark its centenary this year. The 100th Dharmaraja-Kingswood encounter will be played at Asgiriya International Stadium, Kandy on March 24 and 25.

The first ever Dharmaraja-Kingswood encounter was played way back in 1893 at Bogambara Grounds. Then Principal of Dharmaraja, Sir D.B. Jayatillake and Prefect of Games at Kingswood D.H. Spencer led the respective teams in the inaugural encounter.

Though the series is 112 years old, this encounter was not played on 12 occasions, including the periods during the World Wars. From 1893 to 1898, the two schools had also accommodated staff members in their respective teams.

The first encounter between the two teams with only schoolboys, was played in 1899. The only double century in the series was recorded in 1983 when Senaka Dissanayake made exactly 200 for Dharmaraja.

The two top most bowling analysis in the series are held by Arthur Jayasundara of Dharmaraja (8 for 9 in 1914) and R. Burke of Kingswood (8 for 7 in 1916).

Of the 99 matches played so far in the series, Dharmaraja takes the lead with 31 wins to Kingswood's 19 while the rest were drawn.

Leading Dharmaraja at the historic centenary encounter will be fourth year coloursman Upesh Wijesiri, who has scored nearly 600 runs this season with a century against Nalanda.

Fifth year coloursman Demintha Dahanayake captains Kingswood team. He is a right-hand top order batsman and a useful all rounder. His leg breaks have often troubled batsmen this season.

A special commemorative postal stand will be issued on the first day morning of the centenary encounter. The annual limited over encounter between Dharmaraja and Kingswood will be played at Asgiriya International Stadium on April 9, commencing from 9.30 a.m.

The organisers of both schools said all arrangements have been finalised to hold the centenary encounter in grand style. There will be several other events organised to mark the centenary year of the big match.

Those include staff cricket match, staff netball match, a joint walk and an old boys cricket match, to be played at Police grounds on March 18.