143rd Battle of the Blues 2022
143rd Battle of the Blues 2022 – Royal / Thomian Big Match Maitland Place ( SSC Ground ), Colombo, Western Province – concluded after 03 days
St. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia put into bat, 242 all out – (106.2 Overs ) Senesh Hettiaarachchi 55 – on debut – Charuka Peiris 51 – on debut – Mahith Perera 33, Janindu Abeygunawardene 28 – on debut – Senadhi Bulankulama 18 – on debut – Skipper Ryan Fernando 18, Extras 17 – Janindu / Senadhi shared a 53 run opening stand, then lost the first 05 wickets for the addition of 31 runs, Senesh / Charuka added 94 runs for the addition of 06th wicket, Mahith / Charuka put on 30 runs for the 07th wicket – last 05 wickets fell for the addition of 64 runs – Skipper Gishan Balasooriya 3 / 56, Sandesh Ramanayake 2 / 16, Ramiru Perera 2 / 36 & 02 catches – on debut – Dasis Manchanayake 02 catches & 142 / 6 – ( 64 Overs ) Skipper Ryan Fernando 74, Senesh Hettiaarachchi 26 – on debut – Gunaratnam Caniston 11no, Muizz Naushan 11 – on debut – recovered from 18 / 3 – Ryan / Muizz added 69 runs for the 04th wicket, Ryan / Senesh put on 40 runs for the 05th wicket – Gishan Balasooriya 3 / 56, Sadisha Rajapaksha 2 / 30.
Royal College, Colombo in reply, 219 / 8 dec – ( 70.4 Overs ) Uvindu Weerasekera 66 – on debut – Ramiru Perera 34, Sineth Jayawardene 32, Nethin Panapitiya 27 – on debut – Sandesh Ramanayake 21 – on debut – Dasis Manchanayake 17, Extras 15 – Sineth / Uvindu added 58 runs for the 03rd wicket. Uvindu / Dasis put on 32 runs for the 04th wicket, Uvindu / Ramiru involved in a 42 run partnership for the 05th wicket, Ramiru / Nethin associated in a 31 run stand for the 06th wicket, Nethin / Sandesh had a 24 run stand for the 07th wicket – Kavindu Dias 4 / 65 – on debut – Gunaratnam Caniston 2 / 67.
Best Fielder : Sadisha Rajapaksha – Royal
Best Bowler : Kavindu Dias – St. Thomas’ ( on debut )
Best Batter : Uvindu Weerasekera – Royal ( on debut )
Player of the Match : Ryan Fernando – St. Thomas’
Dialog Challenge Trophy : Shared, Retained by St. Thomas’
Rt. Hon. D S Senanayake Memorial Challenge Shield : Shared, Retained by St. Thomas’
Royal College :
Captain – Gishan Balasooriya
Head Coach – Rohan Soyza
Master in Charge – Aruna Prashantha
Prefect of Games – Riyaz Aluher
Principal – Mr. Sanath Jayalath
St. Thomas’ College :
Captain – Ryan Fernando
Head Coach – Dinesh Kumarasinghe
Master in Charge – Devsri Bodiyabaduge
Prefect of Games – Aruna Shantha Samarasinghe
Warden – Rev. Marc Billimoria
Senadhi Bulankulama is the first ever continuous 04th generation player to play in the Royal – Thomian, probably the first ever to do so in a cricket match at any level, anywhere. Ryan Fernando is the first captain to play in the Royal – Thomian, having completed two double centuries in the same season, probably the first captain to do so in an inter school cricket match in the country.
On the 02nd Day, a total of 150 minutes was lost due to rain in the first session ( late start ) & bad light in the third session.
The standard of fielding by both teams was not upto the expected level.
Chief Guest : Mr. Supun Weerasinghe Chief Executive – Dialog Axiata plc
Guests of Honour :
Sulaiman Saldin Royal Captain 1976
Kapila Wijayagunawardene St. Thomas’ Captain 1983
Co – Chair Match Organising Committee :
Roshan Adams – Royal
Kumudu Warnakulasooriya – St. Thomas’
Report assisted by slcscorers.com
Photos courtesy Indraratne Balasooriya