COLOMBO – Royal College set their traditional rivals S. Thomas’ College a tough victory target of 342 runs on the third and final day of the 144th Inter-School Battle of the Blues Big Match at the SSC Grounds in Maitland Place on Saturday.
Royal declared their second innings at the overnight score of 168 for four leaving middle-order batsman Ramiru Perera unbeaten on 46 and just four runs away from another milestone of completing a hundred and a half century in the same Big Match.
Skipper Dasis Manchanayake had earlier achieved this feat on the second day of the match while becoming the first Royal Captain to score a century and a half century in the same Big Match.
Manchanayake, who promoted himself in the batting order, plundered 57 from just 49 deliveries inclusive of six boundaries as Royal reached 168 for four in their second innings to extend their overall lead to a massive 341.
Manchanayake and Uvindu Weerasekera added 62 runs for the third wicket in even time to wrest the initiative after Royal had lost two early wickets in pursuit of quick runs.
Paceman Akash Fernando had a memorable game for the Thomians as he captured four wickets in each innings for a superb matchbag of eight for 83.
Meanwhile, S. Thomas’ opened their second innings with the two left-handers, Thishen Ehaliyagoda and Dineth Goonewardene while Ranuka Malaviarachchi and Bulan Weerathunga shared the newball for Royal.
SCOREBOARD
Royal 1st innings 326 for 8 decl
S. Thomas’ 1st innings 153 all out
Royal 2nd innings
Ovina Ambanpola c Mendis b Fernando 05
Sineth Jayawardena lbw b Fernando 04
Uvindu Weerasekara b Fernando 28
Dasis Manchanayake b Fernando 57
Ramiru Perera not out 46
Sanvidu Senaratharachchi not out 11
Extras: (wd4, nb2, lb5, b6) 17
Total: (4 wkts decl, 26 overs) 168
Fall: 1-6, 2-13, 3-85, 4-115
Bowling: Nathan Caldera 7-0-28-0, Akash Fernando 9-0-59-4, Kavindu Dias 6-0-39-0, Dineth Goonewardene 3-0-16-0, Charuka Peiris 1-0-15-0
March 18, 2023
