Thomian win will be discussed in awe for decades to come

With the change at the helm at S’Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia, there was a notable shift – the Thomian Boys Tent was scrupulously clean at the end of each day and not a single Thomian ran on to the field despite milestones ticked off!

This steely new disciplined mind-set was apparent even amongst the 11 Thomian Cricketing sportsmen under the eye of a proven new Cricket Coach Nilanka Peiris, victorious Thomian Captain circa 1997 possessing impeccable credentials. 

The young Thomian X1 didn’t have Stars from the Sri Lanka Under-19 pool like Royal. 

At the end of the first day Royal rattled out 319/7 and invited STC to face the music for 10 tension-filled overs. The two Thomian freshers were not parted on way to 32, overnight.

Again when STC were precariously placed at some 210/7 hardly anyone gave the Thomians even a slim chance of getting close to 300. Yet they did – with bags of the famed Thomian Grit, crafted by a masterful century by Dineth Goonewardena, ensured STC ended up at 302, just 17 runs shy of overhauling RC’s mammoth first innings score. 

This was the beginning of greater things to come.

The champion RC batsman Rehan Peiris was in a league of his own, notching north of 200 runs total in both essays. 

Then the next pivotal point: The remarkable 5 wickets in the second innings by Darien Diego adding to the couple in the first innings and that rare feat of a Hat Trick at a Royal Thomian! In fact Shanaka Amarasinghe that Sports commentator par excellence said that the last time a Thomian took a hat trick they won! This point was ominous!

RC thus collapsed in a heap with that memorable hat trick and were floundering at 215/8 with no frontline batsmen in the middle with just a few overs possible before tea. 

Either Royal would have been all out before tea or here was the other game changer!

The RC Camp declared giving STC an improbable 233 runs to get in just over 42 overs. 

The rookie Thomian Openers played the survival game. 

Many past cricketers joined the live telecast and opined that the “Thomians just don’t have the firepower to make a game of it –they cannot win!” Yet, the Thomian resolve and grit then re-surfaced! 

First innings half century maker Avinash Fernando perished for 5 in the 2nd innings. Things looked bleak!

Enter Sadev Soysa – he just took the RC attack by the scuff of its neck and splayed the ball to all four corners including a few hefty 6s!

Suddenly the picture was transforming! 

The momentum shifted back to the college by the sea! 

Sadev Soysa’s quick-fire 50 in some 30 odd balls laid the dramatic platform! 

And then the unruffled, cool and collected Dineth Goonewardene continued his brilliant work from last year’s RT when he hit twin fifties!

Add to his first innings 100, Goonewardena was a picture of professional calmness. He found an amazing ally in 15 year old diminutive, albeit talented Reshan Solomon. 

What Champaign batting skills were displayed by both Dineth and Solomon. 

Their unbroken and eventual victorious partnership when both notched unconquered half centuries are stuff of legend! And will be discussed in awe for decades to come! 

Congratulations Thomians on regaining the Rt Hon DS Senanayake Trophy from Reid Avenue to Mt Lavinia after six long years! Well done Skipper Kavindu Dias for leading from the front with exceptional pace bowling along with an invaluable 37 Not Out in first innings to help Dineth and STC recover to pass 300 and your unfazed, proactive captaincy, gelling the team! 

In the end the glorious uncertainty of Cricket prevailed and Cricket indeed was the ultimate winner!

Well done Royal for making this 146th Battle of the Blues one for the ages! 

Esto Perpetua!