Hapuhinna’s 65 not out sees the Thomians through
Pic by Amila Gamage
S. Thomas’ College retained the Mustangs Trophy after cruising to a comfortable 4-wicket win against Royal College in their annual Limited Overs encounter played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday. Despite a spirited captain’s knock of 59 by Geeshath Panditharatne, S. Thomas’ spinners Ravindu Thilakaratne and Dineth Kannangara spun a web to restrict Royal to 210. Thereafter Sithara Hapuhinna held his nerves for the Thomians to crack an unbeaten 65 off 52 deliveries to see them through with 25 balls to spare.
Hapuhinna hit six boundaries and three sixes, the last one which sealed the game for his team while putting on 53 runs for the fifth wicket with skipper Sachitha Jayathilake. Jayathilake was unfortunately run out for 34, which he made off 31 deliveries after hitting two fours and two sixes. Opener Yohan Mendis (20), Ravindu Kodituwakku (26) and Dilendra Gunathilaka (21) chipped in with useful knocks when S. Thomas’ were held at bay midway the run-chase. Royal bowlers were decent most of the time but were tamed by the Thomians. Himesh Ramanayake, Helitha Vithanage, Ganith Sandeepa and Malith Kariyawasam claimed a wicket each.
Electing to bat in the inaugural Day/Night big match limited overs encounter, Royal had a shaky start after losing four top batsmen early. The initial damage was done by opening fast bowler Shenal de Silva, but it was right-arm off-spinner Dineth Kannangara who made the important strikes by claiming four top Royal wickets. Thilakaratne joined the onslaught midway to sweep the remaining five wickets. Opener Ronuka Jayawardena was one of the four Royal batsmen to resist the Thomian bowling attack as he salvaged 50 deliveries to make 39 runs, inclusive of eight boundaries.The foundation for a respectable total was laid by skipper Panditharatne, who hit a resolute knock of 59 off 79 deliveries.
He hit four boundaries and a six while sharing two important partnerships – first a 64-run partnership off 78 deliveries with the dependable Kariyawasam for the fifth wicket and a 29-run partnership with Vithanage for the sixth wicket.
Kariyawasam faced 44 deliveries before stroking 30 inclusive of three fours and a six while Vithanage hit 31 off 41 balls with three fours and a six. Royal broke the deadlock to take the lead of wins by 35-34 in the Battle of the Blues this year. Similarly the Thomians take the lead of the Mustangs Trophy win tally by 20-19 with yesterday’s win.
The encounter in 2002 ended in a thrilling tie while the game was abandoned in 2012. Royal 210 all out in 48.2 overs (Ronuka Jayawardene 39, Geeshath Panditharatne 59, Malith Kariyawasam 30, Helitha Vithanage 31, Ravindu Kodituwakku 5 for 36, Dineth Kannangara 4 for 34) S. Thomas’ 216 for 6 wickets in 45.5 overs (Yohan Mendis 20, Ravindu Kodituwakku 26, Dilendra Gunathilaka 21, Sachitha Jayathilake 34, Sithara Hapuhinna 65n.o.)