Royal put up a spectacular batting performance to claim the Mustangs Trophy at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC).
The boys from Reid Avenue recorded an 88 run win, with Hashen Ramanayake scoring a brilliant century. Thomian Devin Jayasinghe led a brilliant fight back scoring 99 before being dismissed.
The Thomians won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that was aided by the early moisture in the pitch and the outfield.
Shaminda Dias and Raonaka Ahangama opened the batting for the boys from Reid Avenue. Dias was given the nod ahead of Isuru Gunathilake, due to his performances in the season and had to prove himself. The pair put up a 72 run opening partnership, with Ahangama scoring the bulk of the runs.
Dias was the first to go after holding out to Javed Bongso, and was soon followed by Ahangama who tried to play an unnecessary slog at 48 eventually missing the ball which went on to rattle his stumps, much to the delight of ‘chinaman’ Ravindu Thilakarathne.
The two new batsmen, Hashen Ramanayake and Sampath de Silva put together a swashbuckling 90 run partnership, lifting the Royal innings. The pair battered the Thomian bowling, as they accelerated the scoring easily, on a typical SSC pitch.
Sampath missed out on a half century as well, with Ravindu being the wicket taker once again. The spinner trapped Sampath LBW breaking a brilliant partnership. However, the Royal middle order lived upto their reputation of being extremely run-hungry, as Heshan Kumarasiri and Hashen who had now made his half century put up another seventy plus partnership as Royal raced to 200 in less than 35 overs.
Again, another Royal batsman fell in the 40’s this time, Kumarasiri failing to make contact with the ball, as Thilaksha Sumansiri managed to hit the woodwork. However, the run rate failed to reduce even with the loss of wickets, as Ramanayake punished every possible delivery. The young lad, definitely a bright prospect in the future, displayed an innings of sheer masterclass that included plenty of boundaries and a few sixes. The Royal stumper, Milan Abeysekara managed to score 23, as Nanayakkara took his second wicket of the day.
Hashen managed to score a century, and went on to break Chalaka Bogoda’s record for the highest individual score at the Mustangs Trophy. Ramanayake on 116, tried to further accelerate towards the end mistiming his shot off Nanayakkara’s delivery, which found the safe hands of Javed Bongso.
However, the damage was already done as Royal raced to 330 for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 50 overs, also surpassing the previous highest total of 289 set in 2010 at the Mustangs Trophy.
The Thomians who definitely had a tough task ahead, did not start too well with R. Gunaratne falling in the first over to Chamika Karunaratne who continued to enjoy bowling at the SSC after a match winning performance in last week’s ‘Battle of the Blues’. His dominance continued as he bagged the scalp of Thilaksha Sumanasiri soon after, as the Thomians were in 24 for 2 wickets and in trouble.
Devin Jayasinghe and N. Gamage managed to steady the Thomian ship, frustrating the Royal bowlers. However, Gamage failed to stick around for long, with Karunratne bagging his third of the day. Devin and S. Jayatilleke gave the Thomians some hope as they managed to take grip of things, with the required run rate slowly creeping up.
Devin played brilliantly, just like his performance in the 1st innings at the ‘Battle of the Blues’. However, this time he showed his prowess in quick run scoring, as he lambasted the Royal bowling right round the ground. The pair put up over 70 runs before Devin on 99, unfortunately for him succumbed to the pressure, as he drove the ball back into the hands of Devind Pathmanathan. A soft dismissal indeed but a valiant effort by Devin nevertheless.
The Thomians never really recovered after that partnership, as wickets fell at regular intervals. D. Peiris fell to Harith Samarasinghe and Javed Bongo, met his nemesis in Chamika, who bagged his wicket for the third time in the three innings taking the big match into consideration as well. S. Jayathilake managed to complete his half century before falling to Samarasinghe who grabbed his second wicket.
The school by the sea managed to score only 242 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their allotted 50 overs, thus losing out by 88 runs.
Royal College – 330 for the loss of 7 wickets in 50 overs
(Hashen Ramanayake 116, Raonaka Ahangamage 48, Sampath de Silva 48, Heshan Kumarasiri 43, Helakamal Nanayakkara 3/61,Ravindu Thilakarathne 2/41)
S. Thomas’ College – 242 for the loss of 8 wickets in 50 overs
(Devin Jayasinghe 99, S. Jayathilake 58, N. Gamage 32, Chamika Karunaratne 4/38, Harith Samarasinghe 2/51)
Royal won by 88 runs
