Big Match: Royal stun S. Thomas’ to win 137th Battle of the Blues

A resolute Royal College team which was battered on day one, came back strongly on the third to score a seemingly impossible 4-wicket win over S. Thomas’ College in the 137th Battle of the Blues encounter which ended at the SSC ground in Colombo today (12).

Royal was left with a simple target of 150 runs with ample of time left after S. Thomas’ were totally undone in the second innings for 127.

In reply to S. Thomas’ 350-5 declared, Royal reached 328-9 before declaring. 

A team that had scored 350-5 declared in the first innings was rolled over for a paltry 127 in their second essay as careless batting and a confusing batting order combined to cause their rout.

At the end, which came at 6.10pm, there was no headlong rush to victory. 

It seemed a case of meandering towards their target. 

Probably Malith Kariyawasam knew that overs were on his side but the light had faded. 

Some of the scenes were bewildering and bizarre. 

This is Royal’s second win in four years, after Devin Pathmanathan’s side won in 2013.

When Royal started their pursuit of a 150 run target in 49 overs, one expected pure, unadulterated aggression. 

Naveen Widanapathirana provided it early on by playing a few scintillating shots. 

With his dismissal, there seemed to be a run crawl. 

The Thomian tactics were strange, a lot of pace was employed. 

It may have been in an effort to use up time. 

Funnily enough, Royal seemed content to follow the Thomian lead. 

Pasindu Sooriyabandara was among the runs once again but he lacked fluency.

Skipper Geeshath Panditharatne hastened matters after his advent. 

In tandem with Kariyawasam, he pushed the score along at a more acceptable rate. 

He scored a brisk 19 before swinging wildly at Ravindu Tillekaratne and losing both his bat and his wicket.

Kariyawasam together Helitha Vithanage stood tall in the last half hour or so to keep the team on course. 

When the winning run eventually came there was a sense of relief that this confusing, even strange game had come to an end.

Pasindu Sooriyabandara, 97 not out overnight, took a mere two balls to become at 16, the youngest Big Match centurion. 

He added 58 runs for the eighth wicket with Vithanage.

The Thomians made a bit of a meal of their second innings. 

From the start the batting was a little airy-fairy. 

First innings hero Rashmika Opatha started with a lovely back foot force for four. 

The he swished wildly and collected a top edged four to third man. 

Inexplicably, he then tamely drove Ramanayake to mid off.

The Thomian contrived to lose wickets through faulty shot making. 

In no time, they found that they had lost five wickets for 60 runs in 17 overs by lunch. 

Quite apart from the approach, the batting order was bewildering. 

Their prized possession, Sachitha Jayatilleke came in at eight, followed at nine by Dilendra Gunatilleke. 

There was no way back even though Shenal de Silva batted with admirable sense and composure for his unbeaten 28.  

At the end of the second day Royal were 280-7 at stumps in reply to S. Thomas’ total of 350-5 declared in the first innings.

S. Thomas’ College

First innings 350 for 5 wickets (75) declared (Yohan Mendis 64, Rashmika Opatha 124, Ravindu Kodituwakku 35, Yohan Perera 38, Sachitha Jayathilake 50n.o, Ravindu Tillakaratne 11n.o, Lasith Embuldeniya 1/42, Duvindu Hettiarachchi 1/55, Ganith Sandeepa 1/58, Himesh Ramanayake 1/98)

Second innings 127 all out (45.5) (Yohan Mendis 18, Danush Peiris 22, Senal de Silva 28n.o, Himesh Ramanayake 4/64, Duvindu Hettiarachchi 2/7, Lasith Embuldeniya 2/21)
    
Royal College 

First innings 328 for 9 wickets (116) declared (Naveen Widanapathirana 24, Ronuka Jayarawardene 25, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 123, Geeshath Panditharatne 26, Malith Kariyawasam 78, Helitha Vithanage 23, Yohan Perera 3/47, Hansaka Liyanaarachchi 2/44)

Second innings 150 for 6 wickets (31) at close (Naveen Widanapathirana 29, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 28, Malith Kariyawasam 38n.o, Geeshath Panditharatne 19, Ganeeth Sandeepa 14n.o, Sachitha Jayathilake 2/29)