All roads lead to the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) on the 12th, 13th and 14th of March as these two hallowed institutions continue to make history, as the ‘Battle of the Blues’ continue to be one of the most awaited sporting extravaganzas in the Sri Lankan calendar.
S.Thomas’ College let it slip away from them after having Royal in a heap at 59/8 in the first inning at the 135th Battle of the Blues while Royal College played a dogged second innings led by Hashen Ramanayake who unfortunately missed out on a well-deserved century.
Royal trump Thora
Royal College have recorded 7 outright wins out of the 16 matches played, one more than their counter parts from the school by the sea. Having lost to St. Peters College after many years being the only setback for the Royalists, they have enjoyed a very successful run overall. The highlights however is that the team was able to record 3 outright wins in the last 4 games played, evidently peaking at the correct time ahead of the big game this weekend.
S.Thomas’ have played 16 matches this season winning six out right matches- including St.Anthony’s, St.John’s, Dharmasoka, President, Wesley and Mahinda and six on first innings- Prince of Wales, St.Benedict’s, St.Joseph’s, St.Peter’s, Nalanda, and Trinity with bad weather denying outright wins against Nalanda and Prince of Wales. S.Thomas’ got off to a bad start in the season losing to Richmond and Thurstan on first innings but since had a string of success.
“Royal better team compared to last year”
In the batting arsenal the hero for Royal on many occasions has been fresher, Navin Nimesh who has bagged-up 911 runs during the season being supported by top order batsmen Geeshath Panditharatne and Hasitha Samarasinghe while the skipper has been able to put in the long handle in the middle order with support from Randev Pathirana who have all scored over 500 runs during the season.
Lasith Ambuldeniya constantly worked his left arm magic capturing over 55 wickets having being supported by Harith Samarasinghe who had tied down the runs from one end after the damage had been made by the new ball by past Sri Lankan fast bowler and coach Champaka Ramanayake’s son Himesh Ramanayake who has constantly been a threat to the opposing batsmen.
Under the watchful eyes of Sri Lankan Cricketer and Club coach Avishka Gunawardane the team seems to be in very good form and seem to be playing a good breed of cricket clearly showing that the Sri Lankan Lion’s experience and knowledge has brushed off on these youngsters.
Chenutha, Tharindu key for S.Thomas’
Batting would revolve around all-rounder Chenutha Wickramasinghe who has been a revelation this season for the boys in blue & black scoring 800 runs in 14 matches at an average of 44.61 including 2 centuries and 6 half centuries while picking up 14 at an average of 10. He scored only 76 runs in 8 matches last season. Hard hitting opening batsman Ravindu Kodituwakku and Captain Helakamal Nanayakkara has also scored 600 plus runs with Yohan Mendis(436), Nipuna Gamage(540), Sachitha Jayathilaka(405). The Thomians will solely miss Ravindu’s opening partner in crime Rashmika Opatha who has given them blistering starts in the early half of the season. Opatha injured his knee while on Sri Lanka U19 duty against the visiting Bangladesh U19.
In the bowling department all eyes again would be on Tharindu Rathnayaka who bowls from both hands. Tharindu who made a blistering match winning 70 in the one day encounter, has taken 82 wickets this season. He is ably supported by his spin partners Sajana De Silva(21), Jayathilaka( 28) and opening bowlers Shenal De Silva, Helakamal who has taken 29 & 25 wickets respectively.
Dinesh Kumarasinghe who took over the side after the loss in the 134th Battle of the Blues, is in his second stint at the S Thomas. In his first stint he coached from 1988 to 2003 where he guided the team to three Battle of the Blues victories in ’88, ’97 and ’99 and a Lemonade Trophy Limited Overs win as well. He started from where he left off guiding the Thomian outfit to the All Island T20 Championship and becoming Runners-Up in the Limited Overs tournament last year.
S.Thomas’ College XI
Helakamal Nanayakkara (C) – Nipuna Gamage – Chenutha Wickramasinghe – Sachitha Jayathileke – Yohan Mendis – Tharindu Rathnayake – Ravindu Kodituwakku – Navodh Fernando – Sajana De Silva – Danush Peiris – Senal De Silva
Royal College Squad
Harith Samarasinghe (C) – Geeshath Panditharatne – Hasitha Samarasinghe – Thiran Dhanapala – Randev Pathirana – Umesh Sooriyabandara – Lasith Ambuldeniya – Navin Nimesh – Helitha Vithanage – Shan Tennakoon – Malith Kariyawasam – Chandula Weliwita – Duvindu Hettiarahchi – Ronuka Jayawardane
