Saturday Nov 16, 2024
Saturday Nov 16, 2024
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Royal College Captain Dasis Manchanayake receives the Mustangs Trophy from Royal College Principal R.M.M. Rathnayake. Others from left: S. Thomas’ College Co-Secretary Arjuna Waidyasekera, S. Thomas’ College Co-Chair Kumudu Warnakulasuriya, S. Thomas’ College Match Adjudicator Madushan Ravichandrakumar, S. Thomas’ College Warden Rev. Marc Billimoria, Dialog Axiata PLC Home & Fixed Broadband Business Vice President/Head Chirantha De Zoysa, Taian Steel Chief Financial Officer S. Subangan (covered), Royal College Chief Guest (Captain 1994) Dinesh Dharmaratne, Royal College Match Adjudicator Devin Pathmanathan, Royal College Co-Chair Rehan Gunesekera, and Co-Secretary Ramesh Abeywickrema
Royal College yesterday defeated S. Thomas’ College convincingly by 7 wickets to retain the Mustangs Trophy at the Sinhalese Sports Club Grounds.
Both teams made one change from the 144th Battle of the Blues – with Anush Polonowita replacing Royal Vice-Captain Sineth Jayawardena who is on Sri Lanka U19 duty, while Ashen Perera replaced Abheeth Paranawidana for S. Thomas’.
After winning the toss Thomian skipper Romesh Mendis decided to bat first but their batting never really got going and were 26 for 3 in no time. Polonowita got the first wicket of Thisen Eheliyagoda caught at slip and Bulan Weerathunga’s direct hit found Dineth Goonewardena well short of the crease. Mendis chopped on off the bowling of Weerathunga.
Mahith Perera and Senadhi Bulankulame put on 41 runs for the 4th wicket while Akash Fernando and Bulankulame added 38 for the 5th wickets. Bulankulame scored a laborious 66 off 133 balls before he was brilliantly caught by Sanvidu Senaratharachchi diving to his right.
Royal had an excellent day in the field and with Weerathunga, Sandesh Ramanayake and Dasis Manchanayake picking up two wickets each managed to bowl out the Thomians for 165 in the 49th over.
Chasing 166 for the win Royal lost two quick wickets. Ovina Ambanpola was run-out by Akash Fernando and the very next ball Fernando bowled the new batsman Polonowita with an exquisite delivery.
However, Rehan Peiris and Uvindu Weerasekara put on a 107-run partnership for the 3rd wicket that set up the win for the Reid Avenue boys. Weerasekara scored a half century which included 4 fours and two monster sixes.
The 14-year-old Peiris was not out on 69*, 7 fours and 1 six, while captain Manchanayake (26*) scored the winning run in the 37th over. The tally now stands at 23 for Royal and 21 for S. Thomas’ with 1 tied and 1 shared.
Royal College also regained D.S Senanayake Memorial Shield last weekend.
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