The oldest traditional cricket encounter in Sri Lanka between Royal College and S. Thomas’ College is all set to be played on the 21st, 22nd & 23rd of July at the Sinhalese Sports Club Grounds. This will be the 143rd uninterrupted 2-dday encounter between the two schools.
Royal College will be led by left-arm spinner Gishan Balasooriya and S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia will be led by right-handed batter Ryan Fernando, two highly talented cricketers who will be looking forward to writing their names in the history books as a captain who won prestigious Battle of the Blues ‘big match’.
The Thomian skipper, Fernando has scored 880 runs in 11 matches this season which includes a mammoth unbeaten knock of 252 against Isipathana College. The highest wicket taker for the school by the sea is right-arm off-spinner Charuka Peiris, who has picked up 31 wickets in 9 games.
For the Royalists, their U19 youth player and ThePapare Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer 2021, Sadisha Rajapaksa has had a brilliant season with both bat and ball, scoring 623 runs and picking up 40 wickets in 9 encounters.
The coveted D S Senanayake Memorial Shield at present sits at S. Thomas’ College – Mt. Lavinia, after the Thomas won the 2019 Battle of the Blues by 7 wickets under the captaincy of Sithara Hapuhinna.
The 143rd ‘Battle of the Blues’ cricket encounter will be broadcast live on Dialog Television Channel Number 01 & 140, and will also be available via a live stream on the ThePapare.com and the Dialog ‘Viu’ app.
Royal College – Probable XI – Sanvidu Senaratharchchi, Sineth Jayawardena, Sadisha Rajapaksa, Uvindu Weerasekara, Dasis Manchanayake, Ramiru Perera, Nethin Panapitiya (WK), Sandesh Ramanayake, Bulan Weerathunga, Gishan Balasooriya (Captain), Dan Poddiwela
S. Thomas’ College – Probable XI – Senadhi Bulankulame, Janindu Abeygoonawardena, Dineth Goonawardena, Ryan Fernando (Captain), Senesh Hettiarachchi (WK), Muiz Naushan, Mahith Perera, Charuka Peiris, Caniston Gunarathnam, Akash Fernando, Kavindu Dias
