During its span of 135 years, the Royal-Thomian encounter has witnessed great batsmen who entertained the crowd with the willow in their hand. So far 53 centuries are recorded in the history with 27 coming from the Thomian camp while 26 from Royal.
The first century in the series came in the 38th encounter in 1917, when Thomian batsman B.T Janz scored 103 runs. Eight years later, the Royalists achieved their first when Neil Joseph scored 113 runs in 1925. It was regarded as the fastest century which came in just 60 minutes of play. In the following year he scored his second century, becoming the first player to score consecutive centuries in the Royal-Thomian.
In 1936, Thomian Norman Siebel’s 151* became the first to break the 150 barrier, a record which stood until 1956. Royalist Jagath Fernando’s record of 160* in 1971 was soon to be broken in the following year when Thomian skipper Duleep Mendis scored 184 runs in 1972 which still remains as the series record for a two day encounter. Mendis also scored a century in 1971. In 1980, Sumithra Warnakulasuriya scored a marathon 197 runs on debut which remains unbroken for the past 34 years.
1983 saw a charming 145* by Rochana Jayawardana which led to a well deserved Royal victory. Rochana also dominated the 104th Royal-Thomian by securing a match bag of 9 wickets for 73, producing perhaps the best all round performance at a Royal-Thomian encounter. In 1987, Anura Bulankulame scored a scintillating century by attacking from the first ball he faced. In the following year he led the Thomian team to victory after 24 years. His brother Dhammika Bulankulame also scored a ton in 1984.
In 1989, at the age of 16 years, Nigel Fernando became the youngest to captain Royal College. Later in 1991, as a fifth year senior, he scored an elegant 128 runs which eventually led to victory under the captaincy of Rohan Iriyagolle. In the same year, Nigel Fernando led the Sri Lanka U 19 side.
The year 1992 was remembered for a match saving innings of 144 by Gamini Perera which prevented a certain Thomian victory. Duleep Mendis’s nephew Manoj Mendis scored consecutive centuries in 1992 and 1993 while Anushka Polonowita (165) and Yasas Dharmaratne (124) set up two centuries in 1996, the only instance of both captain and deputy scoring centuries.
The year 1997 too witnessed 2 centuries in the same encounter when Thomians Bhathiya Karunaratne (116) and skipper Nilanka Peiris (108) scored tons which eventually resulted in victory. The 20th century saw its last century scored by Thomian Meshad Peiris (103) in 1999 while Dhanushka Perera (116), the Royal opener set up the first ton in new millennium.
Hardly anyone can forget Royal skipper Ganganath Ratnayake’s 111* in 2003 and Dhanushka Edussuriya’s 136 in the 125th encounter. The thriller in 2006 saw both openers Malinga Maligaspe (140) and Sukitha Senaratne (104) scoring centuries for Royal, the only instance in the series.
A win for S.Thomas’ in 2005 came with Ashan Peiris’s majestic 125-run inning. He repeated the same feat in 2007 when he was joined by Nizam Mazahir which the pair dismissed the Royal bowlers from their presence. Ashan Peiris scored 161 while Mazahir’s destruction resulted 162 runs. Both centuries by Peiris in 2005 and 2007 resulted in Thomian victories inflicting innings defeat to the Royalists.
Kusal Perera’s classy Royal innings of 142 in 2009 was overshadowed by F. Saleem’s 165 which saved Thomians from a definite loss.
The crowd that was present in 2010 witnessed Ramith Rambukwella going on a rampage against the Thomians when he scored massive 165 runs off just 148 balls, which included 21 fours and 5 giant sixes. He along with Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored 22 runs off L. Peiris’s over, the most runs in an over by Royalists in the series.
Heshan Kumarasiri’s 127 runs in 2012 remains the last century recorded at a Royal-Thomian. In the same year Thomian all rounder Chamodh Pathirana missed on a well deserved century where he was dismissed for 99. It was a heart-rending moment when a packed crowd at SSC witnessed the Royal wicketkeeper Milan Abeysekera consoling Pathirana just after his dismissal revealing the comradeship of the two institutions.
Jagath Pattiarachchi (100*) and Sumithra Warnakulasuriya (197) in 1974 and 1980 respectively remains as the only occasions of centuries on debut for Royal while Manoj Mendis (124) stand as the only Thomian to score a ton on debut, achieved in 1992.
The distinction for the highest opening partnership goes to Sukitha Senaratne and Malinga Maligaspe who added 218 runs to the Royal first innings score in 2006. The highest partnership for any wicket goes to Anushka Polonowita and Yasas Dahrmaratne, the pair which went on to add 254 runs for the 3rd wicket in 1996.
Only 3 Thomians and 2 Royalists have achieved a rare batting double (a century and a fifty) in the same game. Willie Jayetileke (62 & 110*) in 1937, Dhammika Bulankulame (108 & 72) in 1984 and Jeewan Mendis (111 & 54) in 2001 have done it for the Thomians while Malinda Thotuwilage (95 & 108) and Ganganath Ratnayake (75 & 111*) did the same for the Royalists in 2001 and 2003 respectively.
The 2006 encounter resulted in the highest match aggregate where a total of mammoth 1149 runs were scored by both sides. S. Thomas’ two innings comprised of 278/8 dec & 295 while Royal made the highest team total in the series 432/7 dec. in the first innings which was followed by a dramatic run chase of 144/3.
If a person wonders as to whether who has scored the highest career runs at the Royal-Thomian, the distinction goes to two Royal batsmen, Sumithra Warnakulasuriya (1980-82) and Bhanuka Rajapaska (2007-11) scoring 386 runs in their careers. Contrary to Warnakulasuriya, Bhanuka Rajapaksa had also taken 14 wickets for 306 runs, planting one of the most successful careers at the Royal-Thomian. The Thomian skipper in 1998, Upeka Fernando has been the top run getter for S.Thomas’ with 394 runs during his career span from 1995 to 1998.
These batsmen, along with many others have decorated the Royal-Thomian encounter with the willow in their hand, sealing unforgettable memories in the minds of Royalists and Thomians, both young and old. We salute them.
