The first inter school cricket match in the central hills for the 2017/18 season between Dharmaraja College and Vidyartha College, which ended in a disappointing manner at Lake View ground, the game was called off due to rain on the second day. On the first day it was a late start and played only for few hours.
Dharmaraja is one of the oldest cricket playing schools in the country and this season are blessed with a formidable side. Once again they are under the guidance of Senaka Dissanayake. Senaka is a man who has a long cricketing history and has produced some top class players, he is the first
double centurion of the Rajans, and he has got a top class MIC, who is a keen follower of the game and understands the players and the game.
Dharmaraja College have produced several national cricketers, former Sri Lanka opening bowlers in the caliber of T. B. Kehelgamuwa and SonnyYatawara who bowled out Garfield Sobers in a whistle stop match against the Windies in 1961 and Chamara Kapugedera the latest addition to the national team.This season Dharmaraja has a tremendous task ahead of them and are making a determined effort to maintain their reputation. Under Senaka Dissanayake’s coaching in the last couple of years they have been doing
well, and are sure to do better this season .
This season they are led by third year Bawantha Udangamuwa a fine right hand batsmen, who is a good stroke maker. His deputy is Rukmal Dissanyake another third year left arm leg spinner with 46 wickets last season and a fine batsmen with an array of strokes. The squad also comprises Kasun Gunwardene also in his 3rd year and second year players Sachintha Senanayake , Dulaj Bandara , Navinda Dislhan who opens the bowling and also a hard hitting right hand batsman, C. Ekanyake another second year player Upendra Warnakulasuriya , Shameel Muhandiram the
stumper, Isuru Dayananda , Anushan Banadara left, Yasitha Samararthne , Virajith Ehalepola, Danuka Marasinghe (fresher) and Laskshitha Pannalla all second year players.
This season they are playing in Group ‘C’ of Division I.. The other tournament matches are against Dharmapala , St. Joseph Vaz, Gurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya , Wesley , Richmond, Nalanda , St. Peter’s and St. Servatius , Matara. Their traditional games with schools like Vidyartha ,Maliyadeva , St. Sylvester’s , Royal , St. Anthony’s, Mahinda , Ananda and D.S.Senanayake .
Coach, Senaka had made the team as fighting unit . With this they are expected to come out well with their performances.