Roy-Tho Mustangs Trophy: Updated: Royal beat STC by 7-wickets to retain Mustangs

Royal College completed a clean sweep of their big match when their batters Rehan Peiris (69 not out) and Uvindu Weerasekera (50) set up a 7-wicket win against S. Thomas’ College and retain the Mustangs Trophy in their 46th annual Limited Overs battle on Friday at the SSC.

In an exact repeat of the 144th Battle of the Blues, it was their skipper, Dasis Manchanayake, who is in perfect form, scored the winning runs. He remained unbeaten on 26 when Royal reached the winning target of 166 runs in the middle of the 38th over.

Almost a week ago, Manchanayake held onto the winning catch, finishing a famous win for Royal at the same venue.

With the win Royal expanded their win tally to 23, but their run chase was affected after losing two quick wickets at 20.

However, that didn’t bother much at all as a 107-run for the third wicket, gradually propelled them towards the target.     

Uvindu Weerasekera, looking for an upper cut, four runs shy from his half-century, was dropped at third man.

In a race between the two, on who would reach their half century first, Ramiru Perera continued from where he left at the big match, winning the race.

Soon Weerasekera too, notched his half century, extending the stand for the fourth wicket to 107.

The Thomians, stuck with 21 wins in the series, opted to bat first, which was not a good decision eventually.

Despite Senadhi Bulankulama’s lone and long knock of 66 runs, batting nearly till the end, all Royal bowlers finished the innings with wickets.

Thomians, still afresh from their big match loss, only repeated an unreformed batting display.

Coming into the contest, well and truly aware of a consolation win on offer, they still failed to make the most.

They kept on losing wickets at regular intervals, and the worst was their skipper Romesh Mendis, out only for two.

Though a brief rescue act, a 41-run stand for the fourth wicket, paused the procession, Ranuka Perera promptly thwarted it from progressing from any further. 

Perera, hence, had his man, Mahith Perera, 28, caught well at third man as the next best score.

Opener Senadhi Bulankulama battled right from the start, in a lone effort and deservedly registered his maiden one day big match half century.

Having batted responsibly, and being instrumental for carrying the team forward, the right-hander finally ended his knock of a superb 66.

Built on the back of six boundaries, he was caught behind, giving Sandesh Ramanayake his second wicket.

Manchanayake claimed the wicket of Charuka Peiris off his own bowling.

Chief scores:

STC: 165 for ten (48.2)  (Senadhi Bulankulama 66, B Weerathunga 2/24, A Polonnowita 1/23, S Ramanayake 2/34, D Manchanayake 2/25, R Malaviarachchi 1/16, R Perera 1/41) beaten by

Royal: 166 for three (37.3) (Rehan Peiris 69 not out, Uvindu Weerasekera 50, Dasis Manchanayake 26 not out)