Battle of the Maroons (Kandy)

This article is about the school cricket encounter in Kandy. For other uses, see Battle of the Maroons.

Battle of the Maroons

During the 106th Battle of Maroons encounter
Dharmaraja College Kingswood College
Other names	Hill Capital Battle of the Maroons Kingswood–Dharmaraja Cricket Encounter Battle of T. B. Tennekoon Memorial Trophy
Sport	Cricket
Type	Test Match One-Day
Location	Kandy
First meeting	1893
Latest meeting	2025
Next meeting	2026
Broadcasters	ThePapare, Dialog TV
Stadiums	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Asgiriya Stadium
Trophy	T. B. Tennekoon Memorial Trophy Winston Hooles Trophy
Statistics
Meetings total	118
Most wins	Dharmaraja College (37 wins)
Top scorer	Tharindu Warnakulage (203 runs) - Dharmaraja College Lakvin Abeysinghe (203 runs) - Dharmaraja College
Results
118th Battle of the Maroons - Match Drawn 36th limited overs encounter - Dharmaraja College

Battle of the Maroons 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 132 years. ^[1]

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. ^[2] 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]

The 118th encounter took place as a three-day match from 4 to 6 April 2025 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. This marked the first time in its history that the encounter was held over three days. ^[4]

4km
2.5miles

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Location Map

1

Kingswood College, Kandy

2

Dharmaraja College

3

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium

4

Asgiriya Stadium

Series summary

Currently, Dharmaraja leads with 37 wins against 19 by Kingswood, with 62 matches ending in a draw. ^{[5] [6] [7]} 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. ^[8] 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 (2025) was played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and the match was a draw and the latest limited-over match (2025) was played at the same venue and Dharmaraja College won the match.

Highlights

• 1893 - The first encounter which included staff members and school boy's played at Bogambara grounds. Dharmaraja was led by a member of the staff, Don Baron Jayathilake, later Don Baron Jayathilake. Kingswood was led by Spencer. ^[9]
• 1899 – The inaugural Kingswood vs Dharmaraja match for schoolboys only was played on 1st of July. Kingswood was captained by T. B. Marshall. ^[9]
• 1914 – A. Jayasundera took 8 wickets for 90 runs as Dharmaraja beat Kingswood by innings and 17 runs.
• 1916 – R. Burke took 8 wickets for 7 runs as Kingswood beat Dharmaraja by innings and 24 runs.
• 1918 – Dharmaraja were out for 190 runs by Kingswood.
• 1943 – First century in the series, scored by R. L. Arthur Alwis of Dharmaraja College. The Rajan's skipper, T. B. Talwatte, was deprived of this honour as he was injured by the Kingswood pace bowler, M. T. Jaimon and Talwatte had to leave the field temporarily during which time Arthur completed his century. Later, Talwatte too completed his century. M. T. Jaimon took 5 wickets for 90 runs for Kingswood. The match was won by the Rajans by innings and 152 runs. J. P. Jayasena captained Kingswood.
• 1951 – Kingswood led by the left-hander Shelton R. S. Perera, scored an exciting win over Dharmaraja, having had to score ten runs in six balls and one run in two balls, which they did with a ball to spare. The winning stroke was hit by the captain himself.
• 1952 – Chandra de Silva scored 158 for Dharmaraja in this match, played at Randles Hill. Asoka Perera scored 148 for Kingswood. The match ended in a draw. De Silva's 158 was the highest individual score in the series.
• 1956 – The highlight of the drawn encounter was the bowling feat of M. Nizar of Kingswood who took 6 wickets for 48 runs.
• 1957 – Kingswood amassed 401 for 9 wickets with Maurice Fernando scoring 101 runs. Dharmaraja replied with 269 runs in the first innings.
• 1958 – Kingswood defeated Dharmaraja by 10 wickets, the last time Kingswood defeated Dharmaraja. In this match, Kingwood was captained by C. M. Fernando who was selected "The School Boy Cricketer of the Year". Dharmaraja was captained by D. D. T. Alwis. The Kingswood opening pair, considered the best among schools, was Maurice Fernando and Herly Jayasuriya. They put on an unbroken stand of 102 runs in the second innings enabling Kingswood to win. Herly scored a brisk 50 while Maurice scored 43 runs. ^{[10] [11]}
• 1959 – C. Ratnavibushana scored 167 for Kingswood, surpassing the earlier record of 158 as the highest individual score.
• 1960 – The match ended in a tie but Kingswood's principal, K. M. de Lanerolle, awarded the game to Dharmaraja having gone through the scorebook for better performance.
• 1964 – The match was postponed due to rain. In the rescheduled game the Rajans were two runs short of victory when the stumps were drawn.
• 1965 – The Jayasundera twins, Ananda and Upananda, played for Dharmaraja. Earlier Kingswood had twins.
• 1967 – The Kingswood skipper Tissa Jayathilake batting well with Mohan Kodituwakku, declared the innings still short of 9 runs of a century, which would have earned him the distinction of scoring consecutive centuries having scored an unbeaten 100 in the 1966 match. Another feature of this match was the bowling of the left-arm spinner Sena Abeygunaratne, who took 8 wickets for 39 runs in the Dharmaraja 1st innings of 143 runs.

  

  104th Battle of Marrons encounter encounter at Asgiriya Stadium

• 1976 & 1977 – P. B. Wickremasuriya of Kingswood and Ajith Naranpanawe of Dharmaraja entered the record books by scoring centuries in both years thus becoming the only two players to score centuries in consecutive matches.
• 1981 – Cricket Captain of Dharmaraja College Janaka Mendis registered an outright win over Kingswood College. Since then for 30 years there was no decision.
• 1983 – Senaka Dissanayake scored a double century for Dharmaraja, the only double century in the series, which stands as the highest individual score for the series.
• 2001 – First one-day match played in colour outfits which Dharmaraja won under Anuradha Jayasundara.
• 2011 – First match played in Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and the first school cricket match to be played at that stadium. Dharmaraja College won by 7 wickets under the captaincy of Hemal Munaweera putting an end to the 30 years of draws.
• 2012 – Dharmaraja College won the 106th Battle of the Maroons by 7 wickets under the captaincy of Viraj Karaputugala.
• 2013 – The 107th Battle of the Maroons encounter was held on 22 and 23 March 2013 at the Asgiriya International Stadium. The limited-over match played on 30 March 2013 at the same venue. ^[12]
• 2017 - The 111th Battle of the Maroons encounter was held on 17 and 18 March 2017 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Kingswood was led by Avishla Chandrasiri and Dharmaraja was led by Deshan Gunasinghe. ^{[13] [14] [15]}
• 2018 - The 112th Battle of the Maroons encounter was held on 16 and 17 March 2018 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. ^{[16] [17]}
• 2019 - The 113th Battle of the Maroons encounter was held on 15 and 16 March 2019 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and the match was draw. ^{[18] [19]}
• 2022 - The 114th Battle of the Maroons encounter was held on 11-12 March 2022 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and the match was draw. The limited-over match played on 23 March 2022 at the same venue and Dharmaraja College won the match. ^{[20] [21]}
• 2022 - The 115th Battle of the Maroons encounter was held on 22 and 23 September 2022 at the Asgiriya International Stadium and the match was draw. The limited-over match played on 2 October 2022 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and the match was a draw. ^{[22] [23]}
• 2023 - The 116th Battle of the Maroons encounter was held on 24 and 25 March 2023 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and the match draw. The limited-over match played on the 9th of April 2023 at the same venue and Dharmaraja College won the match by 50 runs. ^{[24] [25]}
• 2024 -

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 first 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. ^{[26] [27] [28]}
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 manage to win the one day encounter by 9 runs. ^{[29] [30] [31]}

• 2025 -

1. The 118th Battle of the Maroons encounter was held on 4th, 5th and 6th of April 2025 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and the match was draw. ^{[32] [33]}
2. The 36th limited-over match was held on the 19th of April 2025 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Dharmaraja College won the match. ^{[34] [35] [36]}

Overall result

As of 18 April 2025

Teams		Battle of the Maroons			Current Trophy Holder
		Total Win	Total Lost	Total Draw	T. B. Tennekoon Memorial Trophy	Winston Hooles Trophy
	Dharmaraja College	37	19	62	Match Drawn (2025)	Dharmaraja College (2025)
	Kingswood College	19	37

Results of the 2025 encounters

118th three-day encounter

4–6 April 2025 [Report 1]

Dharmaraja	v	Kingswood
454/2d (104.3 overs) T. Warnakulage 203* (285) L. Abeysinghe 203* (293) H. Weerasinghe 1/35 (6 overs)		197 (107.3 overs) N. Nanayakkara 63 (138) N. Abeyrathne 5/33 (29.4 overs)
		96/2 (31 overs) (f/o) C. Kodithuwakku 52 (88) D. Manukalpa 2/21 (11 overs)

Match drawn Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele

• Kingswood won the toss and elected to field.

---

36th limited-overs encounter

18 April 2025 [Report 2]

Dharmaraja 251/7 (50 overs)	v	Kingswood 166 (41.1 overs)
L. Abeysinghe 67 (77) K. Pihilianga 2/34 (10 overs)		K. Gamage 42 (72) S. P. Kumara 3/17 (7 overs)

Dharmaraja won by 85 runs Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele

• Dharmaraja won the toss and elected to bat.

Squads for the 2025 encounter

Squads of DRCK and KCK 2025

Year	Team	Captain	Vice Captain	Wicket Keeper	Players	Head Coach
	DRCK & KCK
2025 (118th & 36th)	Dharmaraja College	Pulindu Perera	Isuru Pannala	-	Pulindu Perera (Captain), Isuru Pannala (V.Captain), Sanuka Rathnayake, Irusha Jayawardane, Lakvin Abeysinghe, Dakshika Manukalpa, Nisala Abeyrathne, Kavindu Gunarathne, Onija Sesath, Tharindu warnakulage, Methsilu Bandara, Sumedha Prasad, Chanuth Jayasinghaarachchi, Keshana Gunawardane, Kashyapa Dissanayake, Gavesh Purna, Chanuka Lakshan, Matheesha Rupasinghe, Jayodya Kadigawa.	Senaka Dissanayake
	Kingswood College	Kavija Gamage	Nikeshala Nanayakkara	-	Kavija Gamage (Captain), Nikeshala Nanayakkara (V.Captain), Pamuditha Bandara, Sadeesha Ratnayake, Chanul Kodituwakku, Umantha Kithsiri, Dominsara Peiris, Nadeesha Bandaranayake, Eshan Ayodya, Gayan Tennekoon, Upadi Jayawardena, Gauranga Bandara, Yosath Abeykoon, Aadil Sherif, Rizwan Razack, Kenula Pihilianga, Theshan Daganpola, Heshan Weerasinghe, Dilshan Weerawansa, Manula Wijetunge	S.P.K. Basnayake

Above squads are according to the 118th Battle of Marrons encounter and 36th limited over encounter. ^{[37] [38]}

Panoramic view of the Pallekale International Cricket Stadium during the 106th Battle of Marrons encounter

See also

• Dharmaraja College
• Kingswood College, Kandy
• List of Big Matches in Sri Lanka

Notes

Match reports

1. "Kingswood College vs Dharmaraja College - 118th Battle of the Maroons 2025". stats.thepapare.com. 6 April 2025. Archived from the original on 2 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
2. Sanjeewa, Kanishka (18 April 2025). "Dharmaraja seal a dominant win over Kingswood to claim 36th Limited Overs Encounter". www.thepapare.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.

References

1. "Kingswood-Rajans battle continues". Lankapuwath. 14 March 2009. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012.
2. malinga (7 March 2024). "Kingswood-Dharmaraja Big Match on March 22-23". DailyNews. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
3. Marikar, Hafiz. "Dharmatilake oldest Rajan sportsman". Daily News. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
4. "LIVE – Kingswood College vs Dharmaraja College - 118th Battle of the Maroons 2025". ThePapare. 5 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
5. http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/3/25407.html Kingswood-Rajans Big Match - LankaNewspapers
6. "Big Match: Dharmaraja stun Kingswood with 7-wicket win". Sunday Times. 24 March 2012. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
7. "The oldest cricketing rivalry in Kandy begins tomorrow". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
8. "Cricket Encounter - SLCricket". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
9. "Highlights of Kingswood-Dharmaraja series - Dailynews". Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
10. "Online edition of Daily News - Sports". 18 October 2012. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
11. "Online edition of Daily News - Sports". 7 September 2009. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
12. "Rajans field a strong team this year". 16 February 2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
13. Upananda Jayasundera, Hafiz Marikar (17 March 2017). "111th Battle of the Maroons between Kingswood & Dharmaraja : Kandy's oldest cricketing schools clash today". Daily News (Sri Lanka) .
14. Marikar, Hafiz (17 March 2017). "111th Battle of the Maroons between Kingswood & Dharmaraja : Kandy's oldest cricketing schools clash today". Daily News (Sri Lanka) .
15. "Dharmaraja College - The 111th battle of Maroons cricket encounter". www.dharmaraja.lk. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
16. "112th Battle of the Maroons: Even teams set for battle - Big match | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
17. "Battle of the Maroons: An evenly-poised encounter | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
18. Admin (2 April 2019). "Highlights – Kingswood College vs Dharmaraja College | 113th Kandy Battle of the Maroons". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
19. Perera, Ranjika (16 March 2019). "Hashika Gamage saves Kingswood from defeat". ThePapare. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
20. "114th Battle of the Maroons ends in a draw". batsman. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
21. Kingswood-Dharmaraja 32nd One Day Encounter, 23 March 2022, retrieved 19 March 2024
22. SurfEdge. "Kingswood College vs Dharmaraja College - 115th Encounter, Battle of The Maroons - ThePapare Stats". stats.thepapare.com. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
23. 33rd One Day Encounter - Kingswood vs Dharmaraja, 2 October 2022, retrieved 19 March 2024
24. SurfEdge. "Kingswood College vs Dharmaraja College - 34th Limited Overs Encounter - ThePapare Stats". stats.thepapare.com. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
25. "Kingswood - Dharmaraja L/O match at Pallekele".
26. Today, Ceylon (24 March 2024). "Dharmaraja beat Kingswood by innings". Ceylon Today. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
27. Admin (26 March 2024). "Top order heroics, Manukalpa's eight wicket haul seal innings win for Dharmaraja". The Island (Sri Lanka) .
28. 117th Battle of the Maroons - Kingswood vs Dharmaraja | Day 2, 23 March 2024, retrieved 23 March 2024
29. Abeykoon, Gayan (29 January 2024). "Kandy Schools's big matches in March". DailyNews. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
30. "Kingswood shock Rajans in limited overs contest | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
31. Dharmaraja College vs Kingswood College | 35th One Day Encounter | Battle of the Maroons . Retrieved 11 May 2024– via www.youtube.com.
32. "Dialog Big Match Season 2025 Kicks Off". Dialog Axiata PLC. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
33. "Dialog Big Match Season 2025 kicks off". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
34. Weerasooriya, Sahan (27 February 2025). "Dialog powers the champions of tomorrow" . Retrieved 4 March 2025.
35. "Dialog Big Match Season 2025 kicks off – powering champions of tomorrow | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
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External links

• Dharmaraja College
• Kingswood College
• Kingswood College Old Web Archived 5 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine