Royal College regain D.S. Senanayake Memorial Shield

Royal College Captain Dasis Manchanayake receiving the D.S. Senanayake Challenge Shield to in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. S. Thomas’ College Warden Rev. Marc Billimoria, Co-Chair Kumudu Warnakulasuriya, Dialog Axiata PLC Group Chief Executive Supun Weerasinghe, Royal College Guest of Honour Sumithra Waranakulasuriya, Axiata Group Berhad Telecommunications Business CEO Dr. Hans Wijayasuirya, Royal College Colombo Principal R.M.M. Rathayake, S. Thomas’ College Guest of Honour Ken De Alwis, Taian Steel Managing Director Dr. K. Pathmanathan and Royal College Co-Chair Rehan Gunesekera are also present

Royal College on Saturday registered an emphatic 180-run win over S. Thomas’ College on day three in the 144th Battle of the Blues annual cricket encounter played for the D.S. Senanayake Memorial Shield at the SSC Grounds, Colombo.

S. Thomas’ were bowled out for 161 in their second innings, following up on another poor batting display, having shot out for 153 in the first innings on day two. Royal skipper Dasis Manchanayake stood out

The Royalists declared overnight setting a mammoth target of 342 runs for the Thomians. The boys from Mount Lavinia never looked comfortable in their second essay, just like their first innings as they lost Thisen Eheliyagoda, who was trapped LBW in the very first over on day three by seamer Ranuka Malaviarachchi.

Bulan Weerathunga trapped the Thomian skipper Romesh Mendis right in front for 12, while opening batter Dineth Gunawardena was sent back to the pavilion courtesy a brilliant flying catch by Uvindu Weerasekara off Sandesh Ramanayake’s bowling.

As the spinners were introduced, the Thomian batting line-up crumbled like dominoes as they were 6 down for just 76 runs before the lunch break. Off-spinner Nethwin Dharmaratne picked two wickets, having had no chance to bowl in the first innings. Skipper Manchanayake got the crucial wicket of Mahith Perera.

After lunch, wicket-keeper batter Senesh Hettiarachchi and off-spinning all-rounder Charuka Peiris put up a resilient 7th wicket stand worth 66 runs off 153 balls to delay the inevitable.

Just before the tea break, leg-spinner Ramiru Perera broke the stand, castling Peiris for 22 with a flighted delivery, which the right-hander missed completely. Akash Fernando fell in the very next ball as S. Thomas’ were 8 down for 142.

In the third and final session, Royal did not waste much time to wrap things up as vice-captain Sineth Jayawardena took the last two wickets. Player of the Match, the Royal Captain Dasis Manchanayake held onto the final catch, dropped onto his knees, and celebrated the win with tears in his eyes.

Royal regained the shield which they lost to S. Thomas’ in 2019. Thomians will be utterly disappointed with their performance, probably their worst-ever in the 2022/23 season.

Individual Awards

Best Fielder - Uvindu Weerasekara (RC)

Best Bowler - Akash Fernando (STC)

Best Batter - Ramiru Perera (RC)

Player of the Match - Dasis Manchanayake (RC)