Royal retained the coveted D S Senanayake Challenge Shield after a spirited performance by their top order batsmen who went on to score 265 runs in their second innings to see off a potentially dangerous threat.
Star batsman Hashen Ramanayake led the gritty Royalists who lost their second wicket early in the day as Shaminda Dias fell to a good Chelutha Wickramasinghe delivery that found the edge of his bat and travelled to wicket keeper Sanesh de Mel who collected it joyously.
Ramanayake was then joined by Hasitha Samarasinghe who was retired hurt from yesterday. Samarasinghe added 31 runs to his overnight total of 16 and was unfortunately bowled by Sachitha Jayathilake.
Royal’s best batsman this season Randev Pathirana made amends for his failure in the first innings with a patient 154 ball 23 runs and he too was run out in what created a bit of drama in what otherwise seemed a dull day at the SSC.
Captain Chamika Karunarathne then helped Ramanayake establish another good partnership with a quick fire 35 runs, which also included 6 boundaries, before falling to mystery bowler T.Rathnayake.
Hero in the first innings T. Dhanapala continued his good form with the bat as he managed to support Ramanayake who was bogged down in the nervous ninties as Royal passed the 250 run mark.
The crowd converged on the pitch anticipating an end of match at the stroke of Ramanayake’s 100 and Dhanapala scored a boundary at which point a large contingent of people converged on the pitch some in celebration of the perceived century and others the end of the match. The stumps were uprooted and the players and others made off with it leaving poor Ramanayake stranded on 96.
What ensued was the most drama witnessed at the match with security dispersing the crowd, groundsmen hunting for their missing stumps and the Royal-Thomian committee recalling the players. There was a state of confusion as to if the match will be recalled or abandoned, however sanity prevailed soon enough and having the stumps replaced the umpires commenced the game to allow the match saving Ramanayake to reach his 100.
The spectators surrounded the boundary in numbers waiting almost impatiently for him to reach the milestone and the pressure undid Ramanayake who unfortunately top edged a Aftab Cader delivery to end the days play heart-wrenchingly ending the hopes of a well-deserved century for the young lad.
At close, the Royalists had amassed 267 runs for the loss of 6 wickets and also had a lead of 100 runs signalling another tame draw at the SSC.
Kudos to the Royalists who showed that they too have a bit of ‘grit’ that everyone talks about to ensure that the shield stays at Reid Avenue.
Man of the Match: Hashen Ramanayake
Scores Summary:
Royal College 1st innings 158/all out – H Samarasinghe 50, S Wijesinghe 46/4
S.Thomas’ College 1st innings 325/8 dec – S.De.Mel 110*, SYCK Wickramasinghe 66, C.Karunaratne 91/4
Royal College 2nd innings 268/6 – H Ramanayake 96
Match drawn
