Kingswood College are riding high on confidence after ending a decades-long wait for victory against arch rivals Dharmaraja in their annual Big Match, but the Kandy school has little time to celebrate as they now shift focus towards securing promotion to Division I in the Under-19 Schools Cricket tournament.

‎Following their historic triumph on Sunday, Kingswood will next compete in the knockout stage of the Division II Tier ‘A’ competition. Victories in both the quarter-final and semi-final will secure the much-anticipated promotion to the Division I of the premier Under-19 cricket tournament.

‎Kingswood had spent several seasons in Division II before coming under the guidance of coach Susantha Basnayaka. Their steady progress over the last few years saw them reach the final of the Division II Tier B tournament last season, which earned them promotion to the Tier ‘A’ segment. That gradual development has now placed them on the brink of Division I status.

‎The school has also gained recognition for producing players capable of performing at the national junior level. One such product is Kavija Gamage, who represented Sri Lanka at the last ICC Under-19 Youth World Cup.

‎Gamage delivered a remarkable all-round performance to lead Kingswood’s historic win — their first Big Match victory over Dharmaraja in more than 60 years — and was undoubtedly the standout performer of the contest.

‎No player in the big match season had dominated a game as comprehensively as Gamage, whose contributions with both bat and ball helped Kingswood punch above their weight against a side competing in a higher division.

‎Despite Kingswood’s growing strength, Dharmaraja entered the encounter as favourites, having held the Big Match trophy for an unprecedented 68 years.

‎Gamage’s influence was felt from the very first innings. Batting on a difficult surface, he produced a superb knock of 112 — the only score above 20 in the Kingswood innings. His 149-ball effort included 13 fours and two sixes as Kingswood struggled against the bowling of Sasith Bandara (5/80), Sumeda Prasad (2/37) and Keshan Gunawardhana (3/53).

‎Coach Basnayaka later described the innings as the turning point of the match.

‎”The century in the first innings was the turning point. We were six wickets down for 99 runs at one stage. Kavija’s century helped us recover and post a formidable total on a difficult wicket,” Basnayaka told The Island.

‎In the second innings, Kingswood adopted a more aggressive approach as they aimed to accelerate the scoring before declaring. Gamage once again rose to the occasion.

‎”Our plan was to score as much as possible in the first 15 overs in the morning and declare. Kavija was in his 90s at the end of those overs and we decided to declare after he reached the century,” Basnayaka explained.

‎Opening batsman Aadhel Sheriff provided excellent support during that phase. Sheriff — the team’s leading run scorer of the season with more than 700 runs — shared a valuable 70-run stand with Gamage for the third wicket.

‎Gamage went on to complete his second century of the match with an unbeaten 100 off just 80 deliveries, striking six fours and five sixes as Kingswood declared soon afterwards.

‎Dharmaraja, chasing the target, were eventually bowled out for 166. Spinner Kenula Pihilianga delivered a match-winning spell to claim a remarkable match haul of 11 wickets, while Gamage capped off his outstanding performance by finishing with eight wickets in the match.

‎While Kingswood now look ahead to the possibility of earning promotion to Division I, Dharmaraja face a contrasting challenge. They currently sit at the bottom of their Division I Tier ‘B’ group and are battling to avoid relegation.

Kingswood team celebrate after recording a historic victory. Coach Susantha Basnayaka is seen in the centre with the trophy.

by Reemus Fernando

15TH STAFFORD MOTORS – MCA G DIVISION T20 LEAGUE CRICKET TOURNAMENT

JF&I Packaging, Stafford Motors, Home Lands, Acuity Analytics, Maliban Biscuits, CDB and LOLC Insurance registered wins in the league stage matches of the Stafford Motors – MCA G division cricket tournament continued on Saturday [20].

At the D S Senanayake grounds on Saturday morning JF&I Packaging anchored by two half tons from Chamath Yatawara and Dinesh Viswajith, overcame CIC Holdings by seven wickets. In the afternoon game, Stafford Motors [the sponsors of the tournament]defeated Coats Thread by 96 runs. Gajindu Yasas smashed 77 runs in 38 balls which included a dozen boundaries and two sixes for the victors.

At the Nalanda College grounds, Thevindu Senarathne made a quick fire unbeaten 91 off 42 balls with five fours and nine towering sixes to help Home Lands win the game with five wickets in hand an 10 balls to spare.Yohan Ravishka scored 55 off 33 balls for Allianz Insurance. In the afternoon game Prabath de Silva [56*] and Nadeera Ranathunga [34] puton a 91 run stand for the first wicket to help Acuity Analytics register their first win in four outings

At the University of Colombo grounds Mohamed Shilmi smashed an unbeaten 101 off 64 balls with a dozen boundaries and two sixes for Maliban Biscuits and followed it up with a four wicket haul [4-15] to see his team win by 136 runs. In the afternoon game Isuru Jayaranga smashed 0 runs off 51 balls to help CDB ‘B’ overcome WSO2 by seven wickets with two overs to spare.

In the only game played at Dharmapala College ground on Saturday, Malith de Silva scored 53 runs to help LOLC Insurance post 128/5 against MAS Active Kreeda, which their bowlers defended successfully.

Scores:

At D S Senanayake Grounds

JF&I Packaging by 7 wickets

CIC Holdings

154/7 in 20 overs [Eranga Madushan 19, Achala Jayalath 59, Tharaka Jayarathna 12, Anushan Bandara 32, Shehan Jayasinghe 16*; Dihan Darshan 2-21, Chamath Yatawara 2-11, Dinesh Vishwajith 1-29, Gayan Hasanka 1-20]

JF&I Packaging

155/3 in 19.1 overs [Chamath Yatawara 57, Dhanushka Kevitiyagala 12, Dinesh Viswajith 54, Sarinda Malavige 13*, Gayan Hasanka 11*]

Stafford Motors by 96 runs

Stafford Motors

214/7 in 20 overs [Gajindu Yasas 77, Vihanga Malith 14, Shanaka Sampath 46, Sanjaya Fernando 39, Vuishwa Rajapaksha 15; Thusha Malintha 2-24, Arun Nagalingam 2-34, Thilina Gunathilaka 1-60, Heshan Madushanka 1-36]

Coats Thread Exports

118/8 in 20 overs [Duminda de Costa 42, Heshan Madushanka 11, Naveen Pradeep 12,Thushan Malintha 13; Janith Maduwantha 1-22, Shanaka Sampah 2-10, Dammika Kumara 1-18, Venura Nisalitha 1-06, Sajeewa Vishan 1-10, Ravindralal Wimalasena 1-06]

At Nalanda College Grounds:

Home Lands by five wickets

Allianz Insurance

162/10 in 18.4 overs [Yohan Ravishka 55, Charinda Fernando 26, Ranga Dias 35, Dinesh Ranathnga 18; Sanura Dias 2-34, Umesh Lakshan 1-21, Thiwanka Ginige 3-21, Suranga Gamage 2-48, Reshan Basnayake 2-18]

Home Lands

168/5 in 18.2 overs [Suranga Gamage 13, Thevindu Senarathne 91*, Sehan Herath 26, Prasad Karunarathne 25*; Mayura Ranasinghe 1-35, Charinda Fernando 1-27, Ranga Dias 1-18, Sameera Fernando 1-32]

Acuity Analytics by nine wickets

99X

112/10 in 18.5 overs [Yasith Fernando 18, Kirulu Samarakoon 22, Saranga Liyanage 20, Prasanna Lakmal 24*; Prabath de Silva 3-21, Mihindu Samarasinghe 2—14. Maheshwarn Vinthakaran 1-10, Kasun Hettige 3-08, Hamdhan Othman 1-06]

Acuity Analytics

114/1 in 9.4 overs [Prabath de Silva 56*, Nadeera Ranathunga 34; Ishrath Raji 1-24]

At University of Colombo:

Mohamed Shilmi stars with bat and ball in Maliban Biscuits’ 136 run win

Maliban Biscuits ‘B’

229/4 in 20 overs [Tharinda Siriwardena 15, Mohamed Shilmi 101*, Manchuka Nadun Kumara 67, Anjula Perera 12; Tharindu Almeida 1-15, Nisal Perera 2-32]

Jetwing Travels

93/10 in 17.5 overs [Ranusha Pigera 11, Budhdhika Chathuranga 10, Dinuka Peiris 18, Ashan Wijerathne 16*; Chamara Rathnayake 1-18, Dilip Sandaruwan 2-20, Chathuranga Dewapriya 2-22, Mohamed Shilmi 4-15, Dilan Chathuranga Alwis 1-14]

CDB ‘B’ by seven wickets

WSO2 151/7 in 20 overs [Isuru Ruhunage 44, Osanda Herath 52, Dev Wijewardena 30*; Vishwa Dhananjaya 2-07, Praveen Abeysinghe 1-27, Chamod Madushan 1-27, Dasun Senevirathne 2-14]

CDB ‘B’

152/3 in 18.0 overs [Chathuranga Dikkumbura 40, Isuru Jayaranga 70, Themira Niyomal 15*, Dhanushka Dharmasiri 10, Chamathkar Namith 12*; Rakitha Rupasinghe 1-21, Dimuthu Madushan 2-26]

At Dharmapala College Grounds;

LOLC Insurance by 10 runs

LOLC Insurance

128/5 in 20 overs [Malith de Alwis 53, Asanka de Silva 20, Hashan Shalinda 29*, Chamara Thennakon 11*; Pasindu Wijesinghe 1-23, Anju Amaradasa 1-25, Muruganravi Muralitharan 1-14, Chamath Sumithraarachchi 1-16]

MAS Active Kreeda

118/8 in 20 overs [Adeesha Miyusara 12, Anju Amaradasa 50, Subuthi Ranathunga 18; Chamara Thennakon 2-26, Dinesh Chathuranga 3-10, Tharinduu Mohan 1-21, Neranjaya Madushanka 2-18]