In the high-stakes theater of Kandy School Cricket, two weeks can feel like an eternity. On March 22nd, the Asgiriya Stadium was bathed in red and blue as Kingswood College achieved the impossible, ending a 68-year hoodoo to reclaim the T. B. Tennakoon Trophy. However, as the rivalry moved to the lush greens of the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium this Sunday, Dharmaraja College proved that while they may have lost the war of the three-day format, they were not about to surrender the Limited Overs crown.
The Rajans’ 83-run victory was more than a win; it was a clinical exorcism of the ghosts that haunted them just a fortnight ago.
The backdrop of this encounter was one of the most significant moments in Sri Lankan School Cricket history. In the 119th Battle of the Maroons Hill Country, Kingswood Captain Nikeshala Nanayakkara led his side to a historic 148-run victory, their first Big Match win since 1958. For the Rajans, who entered that game as heavy favorites, the collapse for 166 in the final innings was a bitter pill to swallow.
Returning to the field today, the pressure was squarely on the Lake View boys to restore pride.
The morning started precariously for Dharmaraja. Kingswood’s spearhead, Kavija Gamage, seemed intent on repeating the Big Match dominance. He struck early and often, finishing with a stellar 4 for 36 that accounted for the Rajans’ tail and key top-order resistance.
- The Great Resistance, Josephians Dominance Met by Unyielding Peterite Defiance.
- Sri Sumangala College Dominates Moratu Maha Vidyalaya with a 90-Run Victory
- Upcountry rivalry continues as Trinity-St. Anthony’s out to end decade long victory drought
- Gamage’s heroics trump Rajan resistance as Kingswood rewrite history
- Spin to win as Gamage and Pihilianga put Kingwood in pole
However, where the Rajans crumbled at Asgiriya, they dug in at Pallekele. Omesh Ekanayake (47) and Gaveesha Poorna (47) played innings of immense character. Ekanayake provided the aggression, striking three boundaries and a towering six, while Poorna played the quintessential anchor, facing 75 balls to ensure the Rajans batted deep into their overs. Their combined efforts pushed the total to 195, a score that proved to be more than enough on a surface that offered assistance to the disciplined.
If the 3-day game belonged to Kingswood’s collective effort, the One Day encounter was the Sasith Bandara show. Defending 195, the Rajans needed early breakthroughs, and Bandara delivered a spell for the ages.
Mixing subtle variations with a relentless line, Bandara tore the heart out of the Kingswood middle order. He dismissed the dangerous Kenula Pihilianga (31) just as a partnership began to brew and wiped out the lower order to finish with phenomenal figures of 5 for 24 in 9.1 overs. Kingswood, perhaps still riding the emotional high of their March victory, lacked the composure to chase, eventually folding for 112 in the 34th over.
As the curtains fall on the 2026 Cricket season for these two hill-country giants, the honors remain uniquely divided. Kingswood College takes home the trophy that matters most to the history books, ending a nearly seven-decade wait. However, Dharmaraja College heads into the off-season with the sweet revenge of a dominant One Day victory, reminding their rivals that in the limited-overs arena, the Rajans still reign supreme.
For the fans, this edition of the rivalry was a rollercoaster of emotions, from the historic scenes at Asgiriya to the clinical comeback at Pallekele. One thing is certain: the 120th encounter next year cannot come soon enough.
