S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia took major honours on day one in the 136th Battle of the Blues against Royal College at SSC grounds as the much-anticipated ‘Big Match’ of the season began in usual sedate grandeur today.
Royal College were shut down for only 199 in 74.5 overs while the Thomians replied superbly and sensibly by scoring 50 runs in 25 overs at the end of first day’s proceedings. The Thomian skipper Helakamal Nanayakkara won the toss and elected to field on a pleasant and sunny Thursday morning.
The Royal opening pair of Naveen Vidanapathirana and Hasith Samarasinghe negotiated the early pressure from the Thomians for 10 overs but Vidanapathirana played a rash sweep shot off Tharindu Rathnayake and missed in completely as Royal lost their 1st wicket when the score was 24. Hasith Samarasinghe got off to a very good start but was dismissed in the 18th over by the off-spin of Sajana De Silva as Royal was restricted to 48 for 2.
The Thomian leg-spinner Sachitha Jayathilake struck two blows in the 28th over of the Royal innings when he trapped wicket-keeper batsman Tiran Dhanapala and took the out-side edge of Randev Pathirana as Royal went into dire straits from 77/2 into 77/4. Royal College ended the first session on 86 for 4 in 33 overs with vice-captain Geeshanth Panditharathne unbeaten on 21 but he was dismissed right-after lunch which brought the skipper Harith Samarasinghe and last year’s captain, Chamika Karunarathne to the crease.
The 6th wicket pair of Samarasinghe and Karunarathne played a complete different brand of cricket as they stroked positive cricket shots in their 87-run stand which came in just 96 balls. Karunarathne knocked off a memorable ‘Big Match’ half-ton and he was finally dismissed by Helakamal for 57 and he was followed by his partner-in-crime, Harith Samarasinghe when he miscued a pull shot off Sachitha Jayathilake.
Royal were once again in danger at 178 for 9 but a last-wicket partnership between Shan Tennakoon and Lasith Embuldeniya helped them add 21 more runs to their score and the Royal innings was finally ended by the part-time off spin of Nipuna Gamage in the 75th over. Skipper Helakamal Nanayakkara and double-armed spinner Tharindu Rathnayake took 2 wickets apiece for the College by the sea while Sachitha Jayathilake was the most impressive taking 3 wickets to keep the Royalists to 199.
The Thomians in their reply were very watchful as they left-alone the unnecessary deliveries as the left-handed opening pair of Ravindu Kodituwakku and Yohan Mendis batted steadily for 25 overs to put the Blue and Black camp in comfort for the night. Kodituwakku remained unbeaten on 11 while composed Mendis struck 27 not out at stumps.
Chief Scores:
Royal – 199 all out in 74.5 overs: Chamika Karunarathne 57, Harith Samarasinghe 35, Hasith Samarasinghe 27, Sachitha Jayatilake 3/27, Tharindu 2/60, Helakamal Nanayakkara 2/43.
S. Thomas’ – 50 for no loss in 25 overs: Yohan Mendis 27*, Ravindu Kodituwakku 11*.
The play will be continued tomorrow and catch the live action on – www.thepapare.com.
