Persistent rain hogged the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds as two sessions of play were washed away in the 136th Battle of the Blues with S.Thomas’ College looking to assert the authority.
Rain came down an hour after lunch and drizzled its way for most part of the post lunch session before easing to get another 1.3 overs in and came down again this time heavily at Maitland Crescent. At that time it was the Thomians who were bossing the game on 182 for the loss the solitary wicket that of Yohan Mendis for 51. Opener Ravindu Kodituwakku made a sedate 88 not out off 214 balls inclusive of 11 fours a contrasting batting display to what he has shown throughout the season.
As a fresher he showed great composure and self-discipline to compile these runs curtailing his natural attacking instincts. He enjoyed a fruitful partnership of 73 runs in 21.4 overs with Nipuna Gamage who scored 26*. The pair was threatening to take the game into another gear before the heavens opened up.
Earlier in the day resuming from their overnight score of 50 for no loss, the two left handers had it easy against the left arm spin of Royal’s ace Lasith Embuldeniya and Harith Samarasinghe before they opted to bowl the right arm off spin of Randev Pathirana. Randev bowled an accurate line not allowing the Thomian batsmen to cut lose.
However the batsmen not to be out done, had the scoreboard ticking with quick singles and with one such single second year coloursman Yohan Mendis brought up his first Big Match half century. Yohan and Ravindu put together a solid century first wicket partnership in 44.5 overs before Yohan was trapped leg before wicket soon after to the bowling of Randev Pathirana. Royalists weren’t allowed to take the initiative with Nipuna joining Ravindu to add another 73 runs.
Thomians would be disappointed not to get two sessions of play in but with nine wickets in hand and some explosive batsmen to follow another 150 runs in quick time tomorrow would put the cat among the pigeons. Play will start at 9.45am for the 3rd days at the 136th Battle of the Blues.
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’ – 182/1 in 66.3 overs: Ravindu Kodituwakku 88*,Yohan Mendis 51, Randev Pathirana 1/35
Play will be continued tomorrow and catch the live action on – www.thepapare.com.
