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By Srian Obeyesekere

Royal pulled off an epoch making 7-wicket triumph over arch rivals S.Thomas' yesterday after 15 years in the 127th 'Battle of the Blues' at the SSC grounds. Needing 142 runs for victory in 23 overs Royal reached the target with 11 balls to spare. That they overcame the odds of innumerable spectator interruptions by Thomian supporters in a badly controlled game by securitymen was also remarkable. Royal last won in 1991 under Gamini Iriyagolle.

Having bowled out S.Thomas' in their second innings for 296, in 91.3 overs, Royal's openers Sukith Senaratne and Malinga Maligaspe posted 32 runs in 4 overs before 15-year Kusal Perera and the experienced former captain Dimitri Siriwardena figured in third wicket partnership of 54 runs keeping a 6.1 run rate to bring the capacity crowd to life.

After Senaratne had departed for 22 and Maligaspe for 15, Perera found an able partner in Siriwardena. Perera coupled aggression with defence striking a big six off Rayendra Karunaratne in a 48-ball 42 which spanned only a solitary boundary while pushing as many as a dozen two's and singles.

Siriwardena, who had been somewhat off colour during the season, rose to the occasion with an unbeaten 46 off 39 balls. He reeled off a six off Dhanushka Colombage, who had earlier threatened to take the game away from Royal with the wickets of both openers. Fittingly Siriwardena struck the winning boundary to take Royal home with vice captain Dulanjaya Wijeratne at the other end on 17.

S. Thomas,' who resumed their second innings on 5 for no loss with 154 runs in arrears to Royal, made 296 and at one time looked as if they would last the distance. But after opener Shashika Pussegolla departed for 73 with the score on 137 for 4 wickets, their hopes faded when no. 5 batsman Dhanushka Colombage, who put some of the seniors in the shade with some resolute batting, was eighth out in circumstances the Thomians would want to forget.

Colombage played a delivery from pacie Wijeratne which struck his partner Jehan Tahir's leg and the bowler picked up and threw to wicket-keeper Kusal Perera before Colombage could get back.

At that stage S. Thomas' were 232 for 7 and 78 runs ahead.

Royal's bowlers were backed by some classy fielding with off spinner Dilan Nanayakkara taking the vital wickets of Pussegolla and Rayendra Karunaratne in one over.

S. THOMAS' - 1ST INNINGS (278 for 8 declared)

ROYAL - 1ST INNINGS (432 for 7 wkts. declared)

S. THOMAS' - 2ND INNINGS (all out 296)

ROYAL - 2ND INNINGS (144 for 3 wkts)

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.