Sri Lanka Sports News | Sundayobserver.lk

Royal-Thomian: With eight coloursmen, in their ranks and considering the fewer number of losses during the season and with a quite an experienced outfit S.Thomas certainly has the edge over their traditional rivals Royal, when they meet in the 133rd 'Battle of The Blues' cricket encounter which will be played over three-days on March 8,9 and 10 at the Singhalese Sports Club ground, Maitland Place.

Royal has seven coloursmen, in their ranks. However due to injuries to some of their key players who have missed some matches and the suspension of some key players due to disciplinary reasons, they have mised the services of some stalwarts and had these top-notch players been with the team, the Royalists would have done better during the early half of their season.

The Royalists did give an improved performance against Prince of Wales, Thurstan and Trinity and are ready for their big clash.

The Thomians have a better record of six wins, though losing to Trinity badly in their penultimate match of the season. Royal, on the other hand with a solitary win against Isipathana, has lost to Richmond, St.Sebastian's and Wesley. Being one in a series of prestigious matches which has stood the best of time, both teams have the tendency to give off their best, the three-day contest should provide interesting fair for all who make their way to the SSC.

The Thomians will be led by fourth-year colourman Sachin Peiris who is the 'stumper' of the side and a reliable middle-order batsman.

He will have the services of another fourth-year coloursman and last year's skipper Chamod Pathirana who opens the bowling and bats in the middle order. With these two seasoned players, Peiris and Pathirana, the Thomians can expect a reasonable total. Peiris with 761 runs with a top score of 83 and Pathirana with 552 runs with his best effort of 91, the rest Asiri Wickremanayake 807 highest (93), Javed Bongso (489) with a best score of 75 and fresher Thilaksha Sumanasiri (522) and Rishane Mathangaweera (394)- the only centurion in the side (117) and Ramith Gunaratne should prop up the batting for the Thomians and get them a reasonable total

In the bowling department, Pathirana's opening spells with the new ball, the Thomians have in their ranks a variety of spin bowlers. Neomal Wickremasinghe, a left-arm leg-spinner who has been in and out of the side due to injury, is also a very reliable batsman in the middle order, Madushan Ravi Chandrakumar (left-arm spin), Rishane Mathangaweera, a spinner who could also bat, and fresher Thilaksha Sumanasiri, a budding off-spinner who displayed his batting prowess by scoring 93 and saving his side from a certain defeat against Wesley.

Among the Royalists skipper Imal Liyanage has been among the runs scoring 790. He has several half centuries to his credit, but has been unable to convert them into three figure scores. He has been getting out in his 80's and 90's. In bowling, Royal will have to bank on their spin duo Devin Pathmanathan (Left-arm) and Poorna Aluthge (off-spin) who have bowled impressively during the season, taking 53 wickets and 35 wickets respectively. Aluthge, who was sidelined by injuries besides, his bowling, could also bat in the late middle order.

In the 132 matches played so far, S.Thomas' have won 34 to Royal's 33. The Thomians last won in 2007 under Ashan Peiris . They also won in 2005 under Vidyesh Balasubramanium.

The highest individual score in the series is by Royal's Sumithra Warnakulasuriya (197) in 1980 while former Sri Lanka captain Duleep Mendis struck 184 for the Thomians in 1972. The highest partnership for any wicket (254) is by Royal's third- wicket pair of Anushka Polonowita (165) and Yasas Dharmaratne (124) in 1996. The Thomian third wicket pair of Ashan Peiris (161) and N.Mazahir (162) had the second best partnership of 238 in the 2007 match. In the 1884 match, Thomian F.Thomasz took 8 for 3 and in the 1880 encounter Royal's J.W.de Silva took 7 for 10 in the first Innings and 7 for 14 in the second Innings. In 1935, Thomian M.O. Gunaratne produced a superb allround effort, scoring 107 and taking 7 for 34. Thomian L.H.Arndt had the startling bowling figures of 6 for 26 and 8 for 28 in the 1905 match.

In 1983, 29 years ago, Royal's Rochana Jayawardene probably produced the best allround effort, stroking an unbeaten 145 and taking 5 for 29 and 4 for 44 (a match-bag of 9 for 73). In 1930, Barney Gunasekera of Royal too, had a impressive match analysis a top score of 148 and 7 for 57.

The highest team score was recorded by Royal 432 for 7 declared in 2006 and three years later in 2009, S.Thomas ' scored 411.

S.Thomas' College: Sachin Peiris (Captain), Umesh Fernando (V.Captain), Chamod Pathirana, Madushan Ravichandrakumar, Asiri Wickremanayake, Javed Bongso, Ramith Gunaratne, Neomal Wickremasinghe, Thilaksha Sumanasiri, Rishane Mathangaweera and Sanesh de Mel

Royal College: Imal Liyanage (Captain), Roaneka Ahangamage, Isuru Gunatileka, Supun Subasinghe, Heshan Kumarasiri, Milan Abeysekera, Chamika Karunaratne, Devin Pathmanathan, (VC) Poorna Aluthge, Gaurav Deva, Anupa Tillekerante, Harith Samarasinghe, Anjana Kudahetty and Sampath de Silva.

Royal College: Seated (from left) M.T.N. Rauff (Senior Games Master), Heshan Kumarasiri, Supun Subasinghe, Milan Abeysekera, Imal Liyanage (Captain), Upali Gunasekera (Principal), Sarath Keerthisena (Vice Principal), Devin Pathmanathan, Gaurav deva, Anjana Kudahetty, E.G.M. Rajakaruna (Master In Charge), Neil Rajapakse (Coach). Standing from right. Poorna Aluthge, Chamika Karunaratne, Heshan Ramanayake, Samapth de Silva, Roaneka Ahangamage, Anupa Tillekeratne, Isuru Gunatileka, Harith Samarasinghe. (Pic.Chinthaka Kumarasinghe)

S.Thomas' College: Seated (from left) Lakmal de Zoysa (Master-In-Charge), J.B.Peiris (Prefect Of Games), Madushan Ravichandrakumar (Secretary), Sachin Pieris (captain), Professor Indra de Soysa (Warden), Umesh Fernando (Vice captain), Chamod Pathirana, Ranil Pieris (Coach), Dharantha Manerigama (Ass.Coach), Standing first row from left. Rishen Mathangaweera, Javed Bongso, Asiri Wickremanayake, Ramith Gunaratne, Neomal Wickremasinghe, Thilaksha Sumanasiri, Standing second row from left. Navod Henakankanamge, Shiven Perera, Usman Ishak, Sanesh de Mel, Akthab Abdul Cader, Sahan Wijesinghe, Devin Jayasinghe, Dinush Peiris, Bashitha Jayasuriya. Absent. Lakshan Weerakoon, Dilum Fernando.

S. Thomas' has edge over Royal in 133rd 'Battle of the Blues'