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’)