Thomian skipper Ryan Fernando excels on final day
S. Thomas’ College Captain Ryan Fernando and Royal College Captain Gishan Balasooriya holding the prestigious D.S. Senanayake Memorial Challenge Shield. Here seen (from left:) S. Thomas’ College Co-Chairman Kumudu Warnakulasuriya, Guest of Honour Sulaiman Saldin – Royal College (Captain 1976), S. Thomas’ College Warden Rev. Marc Billimoria, Dialog Axiata Group Chief Executive Supun Weerasinghe, Royal College, Colombo Principal Sanath Jayalath, Guest of Honour – S. Thomas’ College (Captain 1983) Kapila Wijegunawardene, Taian Steel Managing Director K. Pathmanathan and Royal College Co-Chairman Roshan Adams. Picture by Herbert Perera
S Thomas College took major honours at the 143 rd Battle of the Blues big match against Royal which ended in a draw at SSC grounds on Saturday.
After being asked to bat first, S. Thomas’ mustered 242, and in reply, Royal made 219 for 8 declared. S. Thomas’ ended on 142 for 6 in their second essay.
Resuming day three on 136 for 4, Royal lost their overnight batter, Uvindu Weerasekara, who managed to add only 4 runs before he was caught at slips by Kavindu Dias. Ramiru Perera lived a charmed life, scoring 34 runs off 114 deliveries, but was dropped twice.
Nethil Panapitiya and Sandesh Ramanayake made 27 and 21 respectively to take Royal over the 200-run mark. Kavindu Dias took bowling hours for S.Thomas taking 4 for 65 while Caniston Gunaratnam took 2 for 67. Meanwhile Thomian skipper Ryan Fernando hit a fine knock of 74 on the final day.
Chief Scores
S. Thomas’ – 242 Senesh Hettiarachchi 55, Charuka Peiris 51, Mahith Perera 33, Gishan Balasooriya 3/56, Sandesh Ramanayake 2/16, Ramiru Perera 2/36. and 142/6 wickets at close Ryan Fernando 74, Senesh Hettiarachchi 26, Gishan Balasooriya 3/56, Sadisha Rajapaksa 2/30
Royal – 219/8 declared Uvindu Weerasekara 66, Ramiru Perera 34, Sineth Jayawardene 32,,Nethil Panapitiya 27, Sandesh Ramanayake 21, Kavindu Dias 4/65, Caniston Gunarathnam 2/67.
Special awards:
Best Fielder – Sadisha Rajapaksa (Royal), Best Bowler – Kavindu Dias (S. Thomas’), Best Batsman – Uvindu Weerasekara (Royal), Man of the Match – Ryan Fernando (S. Thomas’)