Kingswood College ends 68-year wait with historic 148-run win over Dharmaraja in the Battle of the Maroons — full match report, scorecards, and player highlights.
A teenage spinner, a century-scoring vice-captain, and a crumbling Asgiriya pitch — the 119th Battle of the Maroons had everything.
The Match That Shook Kandy’s Cricket World
Imagine waiting 68 years for a single victory. Imagine every generation of players stepping onto the same ground, chasing the same dream, and going home disappointed. That long nightmare ended on March 22, 2026, when Kingswood College, Kandy defeated their oldest rivals Dharmaraja College by a commanding 148 runs in the 119th Battle of the Maroons — the most celebrated school cricket encounter in Sri Lanka’s hill country.
This was not just a cricket match. This was history happening in real time on the iconic surface of the Asgiriya International Stadium. The T.B. Tennakoon Memorial Trophy, which Dharmaraja had held with authority for decades, finally changed hands. And it took two extraordinary young cricketers to make it happen.
The Stage: Asgiriya, the Battle of the Maroons, and a Lopsided Record
Every March, the city of Kandy comes alive for the Battle of the Maroons. Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College — fierce crosstown rivals — meet on the Asgiriya ground in a three-day cricket encounter that carries enormous weight in Sri Lankan school sports culture.
Before this match, the head-to-head record told a brutal story for Kingswood: Dharmaraja led with 37 victories against Kingswood’s 19 wins. Dharmaraja had claimed their most recent victory in 2024, while Kingswood’s last win dated all the way back to 1958 — when Maurice Fernando led his team to glory under circumstances no one alive today can fully remember.
Last year’s 118th edition had ended in a draw, but Dharmaraja had dominated proceedings. Their batters Tharindu Warnakulage and Lakvin Abeysinghe had each smashed unbeaten double centuries — 203 apiece — in a record-breaking partnership, piling up 454 for 2 wickets. That performance set a high bar for any Kingswood response.
In 2026, Kingswood didn’t just respond. They made history.
Gamage Leads Kingswood to 226
The opening day at Asgiriya set the tone immediately. Kingswood batted first, and national youth vice-captain Kavija Gamage walked out to the crease and announced his intentions early. He batted with the confidence and composure of someone who had been preparing for this moment his entire life.
Gamage scored a brilliant 112, his first century of the match, giving Kingswood a strong foundation. Saniru Anuhas chipped in with 25, but Gamage’s innings was the backbone of their total. The Kingswood lower-order fell away, but the vice-captain’s century ensured his side finished their first innings on a respectable 226 in 74.4 overs.
Dharmaraja’s bowling was not without quality. Sasith Bandara was their standout performer with 5 wickets for 80 runs, while Keshana Gunawardhana added 3 for 53. But the Rajans had conceded a meaningful total, and the Asgiriya pitch — already showing signs of wear — would only get harder to bat on.
By stumps on Day 1, Dharmaraja were 28 for 2 in 12.5 overs. They were in early trouble, and a long second day waited.
Pihiliyanga and Gamage Spin a Web
If Day 1 belonged to Gamage the batter, Day 2 belonged to the bowlers — especially Kenula Pihiliyanga, Kingswood’s teenage U-17 national prospect who had come into the match under the radar but left it as one of the game’s defining performers.
Dharmaraja resumed their first innings at 28 for 2. The opening delivery of the day went for four to the boundary at point, offering brief hope. But Kingswood’s spinners went to work quickly and ruthlessly. The overnight batting pair fell soon after, and Tharindu Warnakulage — who had scored 203 in last year’s draw — departed cheaply as well. By the 21st over, Dharmaraja had collapsed to 36 for 5, staring down the barrel of a massive deficit.
Sasith Bandara and Mandil Gunawardhana rescued some dignity. They batted with grit, adding 72 runs for the 6th wicket in a partnership that at least gave their supporters something to cheer. But Bandara eventually became another victim of Gamage’s relentless bowling. Gunawardhana fought on magnificently, supporting the tail and bringing up a determined half-century. He finished as the top scorer with 59.
It wasn’t enough. Dharmaraja were bowled out for 160, handing Kingswood a 66-run first-innings lead. Gamage and Pihiliyanga shared 9 wickets between them in that innings alone — an extraordinary effort from two young players carrying their school’s hopes.
Kingswood went into their second innings with momentum. Their openers made a cautious but solid start, putting on 42 in 17 overs before Manula Wijethunga departed for 19. Aadhel Sheriff and Chanul Kodithuwakku built a steady second-wicket partnership before Kodithuwakku was unluckily run out for 31. Gamage joined Sheriff to see out the day, and Kingswood ended Day 2 at 102 for 2 — holding a healthy 168-run lead on a pitch deteriorating rapidly.
The equation was simple. Kingswood had the runs. Kingswood had the bowlers. And the surface was breaking apart beneath Dharmaraja’s feet.
Declaration, Demolition, and Destiny
On the final day, Kingswood batted on with purpose and confidence. They made their declaration at 248 for 4, setting Dharmaraja an enormous target of 315 runs. To win, the Rajans would need to chase down the highest total in the history of their encounters on a pitch that had been wearing since Day 1.
What followed was a performance of clinical bowling excellence. Gamage and Pihiliyanga returned to destroy Dharmaraja’s batting lineup once more. The Rajans tried to resist, but every time a partnership threatened, a wicket fell. The Asgiriya surface offered assistance to the spinners on every delivery, and Kingswood’s bowlers exploited it without mercy.
Dharmaraja were eventually bowled out for 166 — falling 148 runs short of their target. Kingswood had won by 148 runs, and the stadium erupted.
The final match figures told the full story. Kavija Gamage scored centuries in both innings and claimed 8 wickets across the match — a performance so complete that it left commentators searching for superlatives. Kenula Pihiliyanga, the 16-year-old left-armer who barely anyone outside Kingswood circles had heard of before this match, claimed 11 wickets in total across two innings. Eleven wickets. In a three-day school cricket match. Against rivals who had beaten them more than twice as many times in history.
The Heroes: Two Players, One Unforgettable Performance
Kavija Gamage — Sri Lanka Youth vice-captain, Kingswood’s talisman — produced one of the most complete individual performances in the history of Sri Lankan school cricket. A century in the first innings, a century in the second innings, and 8 wickets across the match. He led with his bat when Kingswood needed runs. He led with his ball when Kingswood needed wickets. At just 17 or 18 years old, he walked off the Asgiriya ground as a legend.
Kenula Pihiliyanga — U-17 national prospect and Kingswood’s secret weapon — bowled with the accuracy and control of a seasoned professional. His ability to extract movement and maintain a consistent line on a deteriorating pitch troubled Dharmaraja’s batsmen from the very first over. His final match tally of 11 wickets did not just win a cricket match — it ended six decades of hurt for an entire school community.
Why This Victory Matters Beyond Cricket
In Sri Lankan school sports, “big matches” carry an emotional weight that outsiders sometimes struggle to understand. The Battle of the Maroons is not just an annual fixture — it is an event that binds generations together. Former students, parents, teachers, and current pupils all feel its outcome in a deeply personal way.
For Kingswood College, 68 years without a win in this encounter had become a source of quiet pain. Every year, the school marched to Asgiriya with hope. Every year, hope turned to heartbreak. The 1958 victory under Maurice Fernando had faded into the kind of history that feels more like mythology than memory.
Now, in 2026, Kingswood have their own mythology. Gamage. Pihiliyanga. 148 runs. The T.B. Tennakoon Trophy returning to Randles Hill. These names and numbers will be repeated in Kingswood classrooms, pavilions, and old boys’ gatherings for generations.
The Bigger Picture: Where Does This Leave Both Schools?
For Kingswood, this victory launches a new era. Both Gamage and Pihiliyanga are young enough to play in future editions of this match, and the psychological barrier that had held Kingswood back — the belief that Dharmaraja simply owned this fixture — has been completely shattered. Future Kingswood teams will walk onto the Asgiriya ground knowing that they can win. That belief is invaluable.
For Dharmaraja, the defeat is a painful lesson. They entered the match as heavy favorites based on historical record. They had match-winners of their own — Bandara’s 5-wicket haul in the first innings showed what he can do. Warnakulage, who had scored 203 last year, failed with the bat this time. The Rajans still lead the all-time series 37–20, but the gap just got a little smaller, and the momentum has switched.
Conclusion: A Victory for the Ages
The 119th Battle of the Maroons was not just a cricket match — it was a defining moment in Sri Lankan school sport. Kingswood College ended 68 years of waiting with a performance that mixed individual brilliance, collective discipline, and the kind of belief that only builds through years of shared disappointment.
Kavija Gamage and Kenula Pihiliyanga gave the Kingswood faithful a day they will never forget. The Asgiriya pitch, the crumbling surface, the Kandy sun, the roaring supporters — all of it now forms the backdrop to a victory story that belongs to Kingswood forever.
The T.B. Tennakoon Trophy is going back to Randles Hill. And for the first time in nearly seven decades, Kingswood College can say — with proof — that they are the champions of the hill country.
Match Summary
| Innings 1 | Innings 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Kingswood College | 226 (74.4 ov) | 248/4 dec. |
| Dharmaraja College | 160 (66.2 ov) | 166 |
Result: Kingswood College won by 148 runs
Top performers:
- Kavija Gamage (Kingswood): 112 & century + 8 wickets
- Kenula Pihiliyanga (Kingswood): 11 wickets (match)
- Sasith Bandara (Dharmaraja): 5/80 (first innings)
- Mandil Gunawardhana (Dharmaraja): 59 (top scorer, first innings)
Here are 5 FAQs based on the article:
When did Kingswood College last win the Battle of the Maroons before 2026?
Kingswood College’s previous victory in the Battle of the Maroons was in 1958, under the captaincy of Maurice Fernando. That means they waited 68 years before finally reclaiming the T.B. Tennakoon Memorial Trophy with their 148-run victory over Dharmaraja College in the 119th edition of the match in 2026.
Who were the standout performers in the 119th Battle of the Maroons?
Two players defined the match for Kingswood. Vice-captain Kavija Gamage scored centuries in both innings and claimed 8 wickets across the match — one of the most complete individual performances in Sri Lankan school cricket history. Kenula Pihiliyanga, a U-17 national prospect, was equally devastating with the ball, claiming 11 wickets across the two innings to seal Kingswood’s historic victory.
What was the final result of the 119th Battle of the Maroons?
Kingswood College defeated Dharmaraja College by 148 runs. Kingswood posted 226 in their first innings and declared their second innings at 248 for 4, setting a target of 315 runs. Dharmaraja, who had made 160 in their first innings, could only manage 166 in the final chase and fell well short of the target.
What is the overall head-to-head record between Kingswood and Dharmaraja in the Battle of the Maroons?
Before the 2026 match, Dharmaraja College held a commanding lead in the all-time series with 37 victories compared to Kingswood’s 19 wins. After Kingswood’s historic 148-run victory, their win tally moved to 20, while Dharmaraja still lead the overall series. However, the psychological and emotional momentum has firmly shifted in Kingswood’s favour.
Why is the Battle of the Maroons considered such an important event in Sri Lankan school cricket?
The Battle of the Maroons is one of the most prestigious school cricket encounters in Sri Lanka, played annually between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College — two rival schools from the hill capital, Kandy. The three-day match is played for the T.B. Tennakoon Memorial Trophy at the iconic Asgiriya International Stadium. Beyond the cricket itself, the match carries deep emotional and cultural significance, drawing former students, families, and communities together in a celebration of school pride and rivalry that spans generations.