During its span of 136 years, the Royal – Thomian has witnessed great batsmen who brought memories with the willow in hand. Scoring a ton at a Royal – Thomian is certainly the ultimate dream of a batsman. Out of the many individuals, only a handful have been able to accomplish this on the grandest stage.
Fifty four centuries have been recorded throughout the 136-year history with 28 coming from the Thomian camp and 26 coming from Royal. The first 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, coming in just 60 minutes of play. In the following year he scored his second century, becoming the first player to score consecutive centuries at the Royal-Thomian.
In 1936, Thomian Norman Siebel’s unbeaten 151 became the first to break the 150 barrier, a record which stood until 1956. Royalist Jagath Fernando’s unbeaten 160 in 1971 was soon to be broken in the following year when Thomian skipper Duleep Mendis scored a dashing 184 which still remains as the series record for a two day encounter. Mendis also scored a century in 1971. Sumithra Warnakulasuriya’s marathon 197 runs on debut in 1980 remains unbroken for the past 35 years.
1983 saw a delightful 145* by Rochana Jayawardana which led to a right Royal victory. Rochana also dominated the 104th encounter 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 glittering century by attacking from the first ball he faced. In the following year he led the Thomians 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 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 where both captain and the deputy have made centuries.
The year 1997 too witnessed 2 centuries in the same encounter when Thomians Bhathiya Karunaratne (116) and skipper Nilanka Peiris (108) scored tons that ultimately led to victory. The 20th century saw its last ton 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. The pair dismissed the Royal bowlers from their presence, deriding the deliveries that deserved severe punishment. 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.
In 2008 when the Royalists were reeling at 67/5 in their first innings, stepped up Charith Fernando to score a rapid 137. His valiant effort took them from a dreadful position to score 300 at the end. Kusal Perera’s classy 142 in 2009 was overshadowed by F. Saleem’s 165 which saved Thomians from a definite loss. It was until 5 years later when a Thomian scored a century as the deadlock was broken by Sanesh de Mel in 2014.
The crowd that was present in 2010 witnessed Ramith Rambukwella on a rampage against the Thomians when he scored a massive 165 runs off just 148 balls, which included 21 fours and 5 gigantic sixes. He along with Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored 22 runs off L. Peiris’s over, the most runs in an over by the Royalists in the series.
Heshan Kumarasiri’s 127 in 2012 remain as the last century recorded by the Royal camp. In the same year Thomian all-rounder Chamodh Pathirana was deprived of a well-deserved century as he was dismissed for 99. It was a heart-rending moment when a packed crowd at SSC witnessed the Royal glovesman Milan Abeysekera consoling Pathirana after his dismissal revealing the great comradeship of an unmatched rivalry.
Jagath Pattiarachchi (100*) and Sumithra Warnakulasuriya (197) in 1974 and 1980 respectively remains as the only occasions of centuries on debut for Royal while David Ponnaih (100*) and Manoj Mendis (124) stand as the only Thomians to score a ton on debut, achieved in 1967 and 1992 respectively.
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 Dharmaratne, as the pair which went on to annex 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 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 one wonders who carries the highest individual aggregate at the Royal-Thomian, the distinction goes to the Thomian skipper in 1998, Upeka Fernando who has made 394 runs during his career span from 1995 to 1998. The two Royal batsmen, Sumithra Warnakulasuriya (1980-82) and Bhanuka Rajapaska (2007-11) have been the top run scorers for Royal with 386 runs in their careers. Contrary to Warnakulasuriya, Bhanuka Rajapaksa has also taken 14 wickets for 306 runs, planting one of the most successful careers at the Royal-Thomian.
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.
