They say Cricket is a game of great uncertainty but, if you witnessed the 137th Battle of the Blues, which concluded on Saturday, you’d certainly realize it is in fact an understatement. What took place within those three days is certainly one for the story books.
Having been put into bat on what seemed like a pace-friendly track, the Thomians got off to a blistering start with openers Rashmika Opatha and Yohan Mendis putting on a magnificent 197 for the first wicket. Things seemed pretty grim for the Royalists on the first day as the Thomians with the help of some lusty blows courtesy skipper Jayathilake put on a well compiled 350 for the first innings and invited the Royalists to take lease of the wicket.
Now THIS declaration might have been the turning point of this encounter and one that could be argued over many a drink. With the light deteriorating and clouds hovering over the SSC, it was evident that the game was going to be called off early. Bearing this in mind, it was my thinking that the Thomians should have batted the whole day and put on what looked like an easy 400 on the board. This would have put immense pressure on the Royalists and the decision may have been a different one. Having said that it could also be argued that it showed some spirit on the part of the Thomian camp to not bat a full day as a mere gesture of sportsmanship. What ‘should’ve been’ is for you to debate but, at the end of the first day Royal faced just an over when the umpires called it a day.
“It was a tiring and rather disappointing day in the field and we were under a lot of pressure at the end of the first day” said the triumphant Royal Skipper Geeshath.
The boys from Reid Avenue were in a spot of bother on the second day when they were reeling on a 122 for 5. This is when most spectators including myself witnessed two of the best Royal-Thomian innings. Both on debut, Pasindu Sooriyabandara (123) and Malith Kariyawasam (78) put on a show that revealed pure guts. “I was under pressure but I made sure I played my normal game, batting became easier as Malith and I settled down and we had small targets which we achieved. It was a dream come true to score a century and a bigger dream to have won the Royal Thomian” the centurion expressed his feelings which got him quite emotional.
Royal stun S.Thomas’ to secure an improbable victory
With Royal making a sporty declaration on 328/9 most comprehended that the game was still open. Many sensed a decision at the end of the third day but, only a handful that thought after the first inning of S.Thomas’, Royal would be on the positive end of the decision.
All odds were for the school by the sea. Most expected the Thomians to put on a quick-fire 150 (already with a lead of 22 from the first inning) before lunch and get the Royalists in to bat. They would then have had two sessions of play to get the Royalists out. Tables certainly turned when the Thomian batting line up crumbled like stale bread. Things had taken a major twist; the Royalists were on the brink of an amazing and historic win!
It’s fair to say that Royal went into the game as the assured underdogs. The Thomians had peaked at the right time and looked a fierce outfit. On the first day most Royalists hoped for rain, yes I admit it “we hoped that rain would save Royal”, but a big thank you to the rain gods for keeping away. We witnessed one of the best Royal Thomians in the recent past.
“We didn’t just want to retain the shield, we wanted to win it” said Geeshath and win they did quite convincingly.
“In 2013 we not only had to beat the Thomians but also the rain but, ‘Timpi’ (Geeshath) and the team you guys displayed some great spirit and I along with all Royalists and even Thomians are proud of what you have done, thank you for a great game of Cricket and for retaining the shield not by default but by winning” said the Royal captain of 2013 Devind Pathmanathan wishing the latest winners of the DS Senanayake shield. “I would like to congratulate and thank Sachitha and his team for displaying great sportsmanship and giving us the privilege of witnessing one of the best big matches” the previous winner added.
267 overs were bowled, 955 runs were scored and 30 wickets taken, there was plenty of cricket played. The 2006 Roy-Tho is considered one of the best encounters in the history of the series and arguably the 137th could very well join that tab. The mere fact that Royal were on the brink of what looked like a certain defeat but ultimately turned the game on its head to win the match, only brings out the glories of the gentleman’s game and this age-old traditional fixture.
In summary this encounter produced great cricket, great character and tremendous entertainment which most would remember for many years down the line. There was Opatha’s blistering century, Yohan Mendis’s supportive half century, the 197-run opening partnership by S Thomas’, a match saving century on debut by Sooriyabandara which eventually became a match winning innings. Add to that another supportive half century by fresher Malith Kariyawasam and the not leaving out the splendid spell of bowling by Himesh Ramanayake and Lasith Embuldeniya, this match had everything.
I was at the boundary line and made the mad dash to the center when Milan Abeysekara scored the winning boundary in 2013 under Devind Pathmanathan and I was at the boundary making the dash yesterday when Ganith Sandeepa scored that single to take her home for College. I was at the player’s balcony in 2013 when we sang the College song with fists clenching our crests on the jersey and I was at the SSC lower tent yesterday singing with that same pride along with most of the teammates from 2013. Winning a big match is something that most dream of experiencing, My generation and myself have witnessed 3 and we consider ourselves truly blessed.
Sachitha and his team, yes you have lost the shield and the match but you have definitely won the hearts of many and we all thank you for a great display of Cricket and spirit in unveiling what could be said as one of the greatest games in history. ‘For when the one great scorer comes to mark against your name, he writes – not that you won or lost – but how you played the game’ – Alumnus Football.
To Geeshath and the team, thank you, you’ve put a sense of joy, pride and happiness in the heart of millions.
