Royal College won the toss and elected to field first on a grassy pitch. Speaking to Devin Pathmanathan the Captain of Royal after the toss, he said early wickets would be the key, and that he thought it was a good toss to win.
Chamika Karunarathne and Anupa Thilakaratne opened the bowling for the Royalists with the former taking quick early wickets. The Thomian openers Deelaka Herath and Nipuna Gamage tried to settle their nerves by playing cautiously, but Herath succumbed earlier on to a brilliant delivery by Chamika.
Much expectations were on Javed Bongso, who hoped his team could put up atleast 350 runs after the toss. However, Chamika had other plans with an inswinging delivery catching Javed unaware eventually finding himself adjudged LBW for just 5 runs, as the Thomians were in trouble with the score on 20 runs for the loss of two wickets.
Nipuna Gamage followed soon after, as Devin Jayasinghe and Thilaksha Sumanasiri took over the reins having much experience between both of them. The pair put on over 30 runs before Sumansiri was unfortunately run out due to a terrible miscommunication between the two batsmen.
Chamika who was brought back into the attack took the wicket of Sanesh De Mel, as the Thomians went into lunch with the score on 100 for the loss of 5 wickets.
S. Thomas College 1st Innings – 134 for 5 wickets in 40 overs. Nipuna Gamage 19, Thilaksha Sumansiri 17, Devin Jayasinghe 63*, Chamika Karunarathne 3/43
