Old Royalists and Friends win opener
Led by Ransi Fernando, the Old Royalists and Friends from Australia put the clock back to inflict a 17-run defeat on Dharmaraja College Kandy in their opening T20 fixture at Lake View ground on Friday.
The team comprised of mainly old boys of the Reid Avenue College, three Thomians and an Antonian. The entire team are in the 55 to over 60 age group, with the oldest being Royalist Kirubaithlakan who is 74 years of age.
Friends relaxing at tea time
Taking first lease of the Dharmaraja turf, the visitors piled up a match-winning 177 for three wickets with many of their batsmen retiring.
The Rajans replied with 160 for five wickets falling short of their target by 17 runs.
The team is also scheduled to play the Old Boys teams of Maris Stella College at Negombo, Hindu College in Jaffna, St. Anthony’s in Katugastota and the Combined Foundation of Goodness/Old Boys of Ananda College at Seenigama.
The visitors will also be donating generous cash gifts to the schools for the improvement of the game and all their cricket gear to the last school that they play at Seenigama.
OBRC and Friends 177 for 3 in 20 overs (G. Kandakumar 17, Selva Selvanayagam 20, P. Kariyawasam 23, Ransi Fernando 20, Shaan Ching 23, Priyantha Walalwala 2 for 27)
Old Rajans 160 for 5 in 20 overs (E.M.U. Chandratilaka 18, Vasantha Gunaratne 21, S. Silva 17, C.N.D. Dissanayake 22, Stanley Jayanthakumar 2 for 11)