Roy-Tho Day 01: Thomians restrict Royalists for 83 for four at lunch

Royal were reeling at 83 for four after Thomian seamers claimed honours on the first session of the first day’s play of the 144th Battle of Blues encounter at SSC grounds.

Royal skipper Dasis Manchanayake was unbeaten on 26 at lunch.

Earlier, Thomians, having won the toss and opting to bowl in, banking on their bowlers’ strength, inflicted the first inroad in no time.

Fast-bowler Akash Fernando, opening the attack for the shield holders, prompted opener Rehan Peiris to knick it for a caught behind.  

Soon, the much-hyped return of Sineth Jayawardena, released from the national side to balance school and country duties, was not even short-lived.

Jayawardena, Royals’ lone SL U-19 cap, was bowled off Nathan Caldera for a three-ball one-run.

Uvindu Weerasekera, supposed to settle the early trouble, only committed a hara-kiri, holing out at deep backward square leg.

Kavindu Dias found instant reward in removing Weerasekera off the third ball of his opening spell.

That only brought out their skipper Dasis Manchanayake, relatively early. Manchanayake steadied the ship with Ovina Abanpola with a 44-run partnership for the fourth-wicket, however, on the stroke of lunch, the pair was separated for a score of 63 for four.

Pacie Fernando, the fast-bowler on that occasion, returned to claim his second victim.

Brief scores at lunch:

Royal: 83 for four (23) (Ovina Abanpola 30, Dasis Manchanayake 26 not out, Akash Fernando 2/24, Kavindu Dias 1/15, Nathan Caldera 1/22)