Chamod (99) excels as Royal-Thomian ends in a tall-scoring draw
By Ranjan Amandappa
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Royal's left-arm leg spinner Devin Pathmanathan who captured
four wickets for 105 in action yesterday. In the 133rd
Battle of the Blues against S. Thomas' at the SSC grounds
yesterday which ended in a draw. Pic: Kavindra Perera
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In a match that produced an avalanche of runs, the 133rd Battle of
the Blues cricket encounter between traditional rivals Royal College and
S. Thomas' College ended in a high scoring draw at the SSC grounds
yesterday. The match produced 765 runs in the first two days and ended
up with 1,089 runs on the third-day as the match was called off around
5.15 pm due to bad light with 21 overs still to be bowled. Royal were
set a victory target of 242 runs to get in 23 overs. They were 22 for 1
in 4 overs when play stopped prematurely due to fading light.
Royal's Heshan Kumarasiri scored 127 on the second day while Thomian
Javed Bongso made 97 on the first day and another Thomian Chamod
Pathirana was dismissed at 99 which was a clear indication that the
pitch was a bowlers nightmare.
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Thomian Chamod Pathirana drives a ball during his innings of
99 on the third-day of the 133rd Battle of the Blues against
Royal which ended in a draw at SSC grounds yesterday. |
The Thomians began their second innings at 27 for no loss with a
deficit of 88 runs. But were soon in trouble losing Asiri Wickremanayake
stumped by Abeysekera off Aluthge and Bongso and Devin Jayasinghe
departed reducing the Thomians to 86 for 3 and in a spot of bother.
Left-arm spinner Devin Pathmanathan taking two of those wickets which
included the one of Bongso who scored 97 in the first Innings. Skipper
Sachin Peiris and his former captain Chamod Pathirana dispelled any
doubt of further embarrassment with a calculated fourth wicket stand of
153 runs off 237 deliveries. They took the score from 86 for 3 to 239
when Sachin Peiris was bowled by the hard working Pathmanathan for 58
after facing 130 deliveries with six boundaries. Thereafter Chamod
Pathirana joined by Thilaksha Sumanasiri added a further 41 runs for the
fifth wicket.
At tea the Thomians were 249 for 4 with Pathirana unbeaten on 87 and
Sumanasiri 8 not out with an overall lead of 158 runs six wickets in
hand and about 43 overs to be bowled for the day. Unless something
sensational would have taken place the match was heading towards an
inevitable draw.
The only interest was focused whether Pathirana could reach the three
figure mark which is any players dream in a match of this magnitude.
Royal skipper Imal Liyanage in a desperate effort to dislodge Pathirana
who was batting exceptionally well switched his bowlers to lure the
batsman into errors. But the pitch was an amiable one for the batsmen
with no purchase for the bowlers. With the Thomian score reaching 280
for 5 the hard working left-arm leg spinner Devin Pathmanathan provided
the break through for Royal. Chamod Pathirana showing signs of nerves
while in his 90's and trying to break the shackles finally succumbed
trying to sweep and was bowled around his legs for 99.
Some say that getting out at 99 is better remembered than converting
that into a hundred and Pathirana will no doubt will fall into that
category when entering the record book. His Innings contained twelve
fours facing 154 deliveries.
The Thomians closed their innings as Thilaksha Sumanasiri reached his
50 facing 55 deliveries with five fours and two sixes.
SCOREBOARD
S. THOMAS' COLLEGE - 1ST INNINGS 325 for 9 decl.
(A. Wickremanayake 85, J. Bongso 97, C. Pathirana 48, C. Karunaratne 3 for 59, P. Aluthge 3 for 90).
ROYAL COLLEGE - 1ST INNINGS:413 For 9 dec.
I. Gunatileka 67, I. Liyanage 80, H. Kumarasiri 127, M. Abeysekera 58, C. Pathirana 4 for 92).
S. THOMAS' COLLEGE – 2ND INNINGS
Devin Jayasinghe c Kumarasiri b Pathmanathan 37
Asiri Wickremanayake st. Abeysekera b Aluthge 19
Javed Bongso c Liyanage b Pathmanathan 17
Sachin Peiris b Pathmanathan 58
Chamod Pathirana b Pathmanathan 99
Thilaksha Sumanasiri not out 50
Danush Peiris not out 20
Extras 29
Total (for 5 wkts decl. in 87.2 overs) 329
Fall of wickets: 58, 81, 86, 239, 280
Bowling: Gaurav Deva 8-2-33-0 (2nb)
Anupa Tillekeratne 13-3-32-0
Chamika Karunaratne 15-0-72-0 (10nb)
Poorna Aluthge 23-4-63-1
Devin Pathmanathan 26.2-3-105-4
Imal Liyanage 2-1-9-0
ROYAL COLLEGE – 2ND INNINGS
Sampath de Silva lbw b Pathirana 01
Isuru Gunatileka not out 08
Imal Liyanage not out 13
Extras 00
Total (for 1 wkts in 4 overs) 22
Fall of wickets: 2.
Bowling: Cahmod Pathirana 1-0-2-1
Umesh Fernando 2-0-8-0
Thilaksha Sumanasiri 1-0-12-0 |
