Roy-Tho: Day 02: Full report: Royal claim honours for second straight day

Royal College once again dictated terms to their arch-rivals S. Thomas’, finishing day two on top with a lead of 341, as they reached 168 for 4 here at the SSC when stumps were drawn.

Batting and building on a handsome lead, it was a repeat of the Royal first innings start. Lanky left-armer Akash Fernando fired in removing the openers cheaply.

However, that only brought out one of their first innings heroes, Dasis Manchanayake on to the middle. Manchanayake, all familiar in rescuing his side, went about his affair, pretty briskly. 

Uvindu Weerasekera was looking to accelerate. In that passage of play, he enjoyed a reprieve after skiing a ball, and he was eventually dismissed in the second straight ball, giving Fernando his third wicket. That also brought an end to a useful 72-run stand for the third wicket.

On the other hand, their captain, unafraid and unbowed, reached a 45-ball half-century. Before he could make any more progress, he gifted the fourth to Fernando, chopped on for 57. The southpaw ended the match with an aggregate of 194 (137 and 57) runs.

Earlier in the day, after Royal declared at their overnight score of 326 for 8, the Thomians were never allowed to get off to a good start. They stuttered and stumbled before being restricted to 153, giving a substantial 173-run lead for Royal.

The Royal opening fast-bowler Bulan Weerathunga wasted no time in removing Thomians’ opener Thisen Ehaliyagoda. Ehaliyagoda exited in the same speed he arrived to the crease, on the penultimate ball of the day’s first over.

That also caused a cautious mindset, when there were plenty of plays and misses.

Dineth Goonewardene, who anyway exposed nerves and was struggling, finally fell prey to Sandesh Ramanayake, resulting their skipper, Romesh Mendis, to take the crease.

But disaster struck soon when Mendis, trying to cut through the point region, only edged to second slip, giving Ranuka Malaviarachchi, his big fish.

The Reid Avenue boys, were preserving well the advantage they had earned, placing their rivals on the back foot. Through tactical thinking, they also operated their two fast-bowlers from both ends, placing the Thomians under additional pressure.

Dasis Manchanayake, after a heroic day with the bat on the opening day, inserted himself as a spinner. The Manchanayake-Ramiru Perera combination, instrumental in Royal staging a commanding comeback, and got down to business in bowling too.

Going into lunch at 95 for 4, the worst was yet to come. S. Thomas’ completely collapsed in the second session, adding only 58 runs.

In bowling, Bulan Weerathunga took three, while Ranuka Malaviarachchi, Sandesh Ramanayake, and Sineth Jayawardena all claimed two wickets apiece.

Only Senadhi Bulankulama top-scored for the Thomians with 40.

Saturday marks the third and final day of the 144th Battle of the Blues.

Brief scores: Royal lead by 341 runs

Royal: 326 for 8 (74) decl (o’night) (Dasis Manchanayake 137, Ramiru Perera 128, Ovina Ambanpola 30, Akash Fernando 4/55, Kavindu Dias 3/58, Nathan Caldera 1/64) and 168 for 4 (26) at stumps (Dasis Manchanayake 57, Ramiru Perera 46 not out, Uvindu Weerasekera 28, Akash Fernando 4/35)

S. Thomas’:153 all out (55) (Senadhi Bulankulama 40, Mahith Perera 30, Ranuka Malaviarachchi 2/35, Bulan Weerathunga 3/26, Sandesh Ramanayake 2/36, Sineth Jayawardena 2/9, Ramiru Perera 1/30)