Rambukwella stars in drawn 131st Battle of the Blues

By Leslie FERNANDO

S. Thomas' College chasing a victory target of 258 runs in 62 overs were 194 for 7 in their drawn 131st Battle of the Blues against Royal played at the SSC grounds yesterday. But the highlight of the drawn encounter was the sparkling century by Ramith Rambukwella 165 runs for Royal. Royalists continuing from their overnight total of 20 for no loss started confidently with the openers Kithuruwan Vithanage and Ramith Rambukwella giving a bright start. Vithanage hit a quick 45 runs in just 43 balls and shared a 81-run stand with Rambukwella. Vithanage was well set for a bigger score but was dismissed when he was caught by Nilaksha off leg spinner Umesh Fernando.

Left hander Ramith Rambukwella batted aggressively and was in tremendous form after Vithanage's departure. Imal Liyanage who came one drop did not last long and was unfortunately run out for just 2 runs. Royal were 2 for 95 at this stage.

Rambukwella joined by Waruna Fernando and batted with authority to share a stand of 89 runs for the 3rd wicket off 38.1 overs. After the dismissal of Waruna for 22 skipper Bhanuka Rajapakse who top scored for Royal with 68 in the first innings joined in form batsman Rambukwella tore a part of the Thomian attack. Both lefthanders showed their superiority in batting. Rambukwella top scored with a belligerent 165 which was studded with 21 fours and 5 sixes. For Rambukwella it was his fourth century of the season.

He also became the fourth Royalist to pass the 150-run mark. Sumithra Warnakulasuriya hit 199 in 1980, Anushka Polonowita made 164 in 1996 and Jagath Fernando scored 160 in 1991.

Sri Lanka under-19 player Rambukwella also shared a valuable 102-run stand with skipper Bhanuka Rajapakse who scored fine unbeaten 40 runs with 2 fours and 1 six. Rambukwella's 165 runs came in 148 balls and in 165 minutes. Royal declared after the dismissal of Rambukwella at 288 for 4 scored off 50.1 overs and 229 minutes.

The declaration came in one hour before tea time. For Thomian leg spinner Umesh Fernando was the most successful bowler capturing 3 for 74 runs off 16.1 overs. Thomians with a victory target of 258 runs in 62 overs with an asking rate of 4.16 never took up the challenge and from the beginning showed negative approach. It was a sporting declaration by the Royal skipper Bhanuka Rajapakse.

Thomians lost their first three wickets for 53 runs in 16 overs. Brian Dharmasena who made 'duck' in the first innings was trapped in front by G. Deva for 10 while Pasan Wijewardene who top scored for Thomians with a defiant 99 was out leg before to M. Thanthirigoda for 4 and Nuwan Kavinda who made a defiant 86 for S. Thomas' in the first essay was caught and bowled by spinner Devin Pathmanathan for 15.

At 66 for 3 Dinesh Walpita who opened batting for his side offered a straight forward catch to Imran Khan at long off, off the bowling of Devin Pathmanathan but Khan missed a sitter.

This would have been a great chance for Royal and outside chance to go for a win. However Thomians were in trouble losing 5 for 123 with two quick wickets falling. Both Dinesh Walpita who stroked a 51 with 9 fours and Sachin Peiris (0) were dismissed by skipper Bhanuka Rajapakse.

Ashane Fernando batting at number five position batted with guts to hit a well compiled 55 with 6 fours. Chamodh Pathirana unbeaten on 27 and Neomal Wickremasekera 13 not out saw Thomians to safety from 167 for 7 to 194 for 7 when the umpires called off the match due to bad light with 6 overs left to score 69 runs for victory.

Thomians were 194 for 7 off 57.4 overs in 222 minutes. Royal skipper Bhanuka Rajapakse who bowled his medium pace stuff claimed 2 for 27 while leg spinner Waruna Dissanayake captured 2 for 27.

ROYAL COLLEGE 1ST INNINGS 283 for 9 decl.
Chalaka Bogoda 47, Bhanuka Rajapakse 68, Waruna Dissanayake 45,
Dinesh Walpita 4 for 51, U. Fernando 2 for 46.

S. THOMAS' COLLEGE 1ST INNINGS All Out 314
Pasan Wijewardene 99, Nuwan Kavinda 86,
Bhanuka Rajapakse 4 for 68, Maneesha Thanthirigoda 4 for 69.

ROYAL COLLEGE 2ND INNINGS
Kithruwan Vithanage c Fernando b U. Fernando 	 45
Ramith Rambukwella c Fernando b U. Fernando 	165
Imal Liyanage run out 				 02
Waruna Dissanayake b U. Fernando 		 22
Bhanuka Rajapakse not out 			 40
Extras 						 14
Total (for 4 wkts decl.) 			288

Batting time: 50.1 overs
Strike rate: 5.74 R/O
Bowling: Pathirana 17-1-85-0; Fernando 7-0-38-0; N. Fernando 5-0-33-0;
	Walpita 5-0-33-0; U. Fernando 16.1-2-74-3; Kavinda 1-0-12-0; Peiris 4-0-38-0.

S. THOMAS' COLLEGE 2ND INNINGS
Brian Dharmasena lbw b Deva 			 10
Dinesh Walpita c Gunaratne b Rajapakse 		 51
Pasan Wijewardene lbw b Thanthirigoda 		 04
Nuwan Kavinda c & b Pathmanatha 		 15
Ashen Fernando c Rajapakse b Basnayake 		 55
S. Peiris c Deva b Rajapakse 			 00
Chamod Pathirana not out 			 27
Lalindra Peiris b Dissanayake 			 04
Neomal Wickremesekera not out 			 04
Extras 						 15
Total (for 7 wkts at stumps) 			194

Batting time: 57.4 overs
Strike rate: 3.36 R/O
Fall of Wickets: 1-18 (Dharmasena), 2-28 (Wijewardene), 3-53 (Kavinda),
		4-122 (Walpita), 5-123 (S Peiris), 6-151 (Ashen Fernando),
		7-167 (Lalindra Peiris).
Bowling: Rajapakse 8-0-27-2; Khan 6-3-15-0; Deva 4-0-14-1; Thanthirigoda 10-3-34-1;
	Pathmanathan 10-2-29-1; Dissanayake 10-5-27-2; Rambukwella 6-1-27-0; Vithanage 3.4-0-12-0.