Hashen and Chamika power Royal to a cricket double

by Sajeewa Jayakody

Hashen Ramanayake with a blistering century and Big Match hero Chamika Karunaratne powered Royal College to a 88 run win over S Thomas’ College in their 38th Mustangs’ Trophy annual one day encounter played at the SSC grounds yesterday.

Ramanayake’s superb effort with the bat highlighted yesterday as the right hander smashed 116 runs in just 115 balls. The former Sri Lanka Test seamer and current bowling coach Champaka’s son struck magnificent seven fours and four sixes.

After Thomian skipper Javed Bongso put Royal into bat on the green top at SSC, which usually helps seamers in the early two hours. Royal openers got off to a flying start reaching 50 runs in just seven overs. Ronaka Ahangamage was dropped by Nipuna Gamage off Sahan Wijesinghe when the batsman was on 27. Right handed Ahangamage’s 46-ball aggressive innings ended as same as in the Big Match a fortnight ago, as he was bowled by Tillekeratne in the third ball when the batsman attempted a lofted shot at 48.

With the new batsmen on the crease, Royal run rate dropped with some accurate bowling by Wijesinghe and Tillekeratne and the Reid Avenue schools reached 100 in the 18th over. The pair batting sensibly steered Royal for 150 in 160 balls with their 50-run stand for third wicket in 70 balls.

Ramanayake hit a six over cover charging against left arm spinner Tillekeratne. Sampath de Silva was fell lbw off Tillekeratne for 47 ending the 90-run partnership when the total at 163.

Left handed Dias was out to a straight forward catch by Bongso at extra cover off Nanayakkara for 17 when the total was on 72.

At half way stage, Royal were in a strong position with 143 for 2 with Sampath de Silva on 40 and Ramanayake on 23 at the crease. With the start of 43rd over by Tillekeratne, Ramanayake hit a powerful struck down the ground for four and the bowler slipped and fell on the pitch the left arm spinner taken off the field replacing Nipuna Gamage. Ramanayake hit the first six over long-on. Royal scored heavily since 40th over and surpassed 250 mark in the 42nd over. Former Test cricketer Champaka’s son reached 81 with five runs as with an over throw. Ramanayake hit the second six in the match with a towering mid-wicket six off Devin Jayasinghe. were in a very strong position after 44 overs with the score board read 270 with inform batsman Ramanayake on 89 not out in the batting powerplay.

Royal created history in the Mustang’s Series surpassing previous highest total made by Bhanuka Rajapakse led side in 2010 in the expensive over by Sahan Wijesinghe giving away 15 runs with0, 6, 1, 3, 5. Royal accelerated run score in the 43, 44 and 45th over scoring 40 runs for the three overs. Left handed Abeysekara was caught at mid-on off Nanayakkara.

Royal reached 300 run mark in 48th over (in 287 balls) with a fine off drive for four by Ramanayake off Nanayakkara, recording the first 300 runs in the 38-year-old series. Ramanayake made his century punching for a single to mid-wicket became the fifth centurion in the series fourth Royallist and (Heshan Morawaka (106), Chalaka Bogoda (104), Ramith Rambukwella (103)

Devin Jayasinghe for S Thomas’ in the last year.

The highest individual score beating Heshan Morawaka’s 106 hitting a big six over mid wicket and the elegant right hander earned a four through cover with the pleasing cover drive with superb timing in the most expensive over of the match as Wijesinghe went away giving 20 runs (1, 1W, 4, 6, 4, 0, 2). At last the highest run scorer in the Mastang’s Trophy was caught at when he tried clear over at 116.

The Thomians were off to a disastrous start losing two wickets for 24 but left hander Devin Jayasinghe rescued them with a fighting knock.

Jayasinghe pushed two runs for midwicket for make his personal score 99 and he was deserving to his 100, crowd were gathered to cheer him near the rope but showing cricket’s uncertainty Jayasinghe was caught and bowled by skipper Pathmanathan when batsman was at 99, ending his deserving back to back hundred after his last year’s 106 not out. Royal’s Big Match hero’s early strike removed right handed Ramith Gunaratne caught at point for a leading edge for duck in the second ball. Karunaratne deceived batsmen through some outstanding deliveries and left handed Sumanasiri was bowled through the gate for 8 in well deceived slowed delivery.

It was apparent that Reid Avenue cricketers’ body language and match management were excellent when compare with Thomians. Royal skipper Devind Pathmanathan’s leadingship was par ahead with his counterpart. Devin Jayasinghe, who batted with a runner, escaped being run out as the both batsmen confined to one end when Heshan Kumarasiri missed a chance with an overthrow to Aluthge at bowler’s end.

Jayasinghe dropped at 65 by Randev Pathirana, who covered long distance from fine leg to behind wicket keeper off Samarasinghe. The aggressive left hander, who cracked 76 in the Big Match a fortnight ago smashed a wonderful six over long-on. Jayasinghe thrilled the spectators hitting a superb straight drive for six after a couple of balls in the same over off Samarasinge, who gave away 14 runs.

Man-of-the-Match: Heshan Ramanayake (RC)

Best Batsman: Devin Jayasinghe (STC), Hashen Ramanayake (RC)

Best Bowler:Ramindu Tillekeratne (STC), Chamika Karunaratne (RC)

Best performance by Fresher: Sachitha Jayatilleke

SCOREBOARD
		
ROYAL INNINGS  
Shaminda Dias c Bongso b Nanayakkara			17  
Ronaka Ahangamage b Tillekeratne                        48 
Sampath de Silva lbw Tillekeratne                       47  
Hashen Ramanayake c J Bongso b H Nanayakkara           116  
Heshan Kumarasiri b T Sumanasiri                        43 
Milan Abeysekara c N Gamage b H Nanayakkara             24  
Chamika Karunaratne run out           	   		06  
Randev Pathirana not out 				01  
Poorna Aluthge not out    	 			01  
Extras (b3, lb4, w15, nb5)            	 		27  
TOTAL  (for 7 wicks, in 50 overs)    	  	       330  

Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-74, 3-164, 4-241, 5-292, 6-324, 7-329  
Bowling: Sahan Wijesinghe 9-0-74-0
	 Danush Peiris 6-1-39-0
	 Helakamal Nanayakkara 9-0-61-3
	 Devin Jayasinghe 8-1-56-0
	 Ravindu Tillekeratne 7.1-0-41-2
	 Thilaksha Sumanasiri 10-0-41-1
	 Nipuna Gamage 0.5-0-15-0  
  
THOMIAN INNINGS  
Ramith Gunaratne c H Samarasinghe b C Karunaratne       00  
Nipuna Gamage c S Dias b Karunaratne                 	32  
Thilaksha Sumanasiri b C Karunaratne                    08  
Devin Jayasinghe c & b Pathmanathan                     99 
Sachitha Jayatilleke c P Aluthge b H Samarasinghe       58  
Danush Peiris c H Kumarasinghe b H Samarasinghe		01  
Javed Bongso c M Abeysekera b C Karunaratne         	15  
Helakamal Nanayakkara c C Karunaratne b P Aluthge	07  
Sanesh de Mel not out                                	07  
Ravindu Tillekeratne not out                            00  
Extras  (lb2, w12, n2)                 			15  
TOTAL   (eight wickts, in 50 overs)     	       242  

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-24, 3-93, 4-171, 5-172, 6-214
		 7-232, 8-234  
Bowling: C Karunanaratne 10-1-38-4
	 Hashen Ramanayake 7-0-45-0
	 Randev Pathirana  6-0-24-0
	 Harith Samarasinghe 10-2-51-2
	 Sampath de Silva 3-0-11-0
	 Poorna Aluthge 6-0-23-1
	 Devind Pathmanathan 8-0-48-1