The stage is set to unveil the 138th episode of the ‘Battle Of The Blues’ cricket encounter between Royal College and S ..Thomas’ College from March 9 to 11 at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds.
Both teams have fared moderately during the season although the Thomians have recorded two wins and remained unbeaten while the Royalist have failed to win a single game and has lost a solitary game outright to Prince Of Wales. However, as it has happend in the past a game of cricket at this magnitude could provide a different ball game as both teams thrive hard to get the better of each other. Royal are the holders of the prestigious D.S.senanayake Shield by virtue of their last year win ,but the Thomians surely will want to bounce back in to contention. The Thomians were unimpressive at the beginning of the tournament but now they are very much an improved lot. They have maintained their unbeaten status while winning two games outright. A balanced all - rounder Romesh Nallaperuma a right hand batsman and an off spinner will lead the Thomians and Ravindu Kodituwakku who has a century against his name will be his deputy. The Thomian batting will revolve around the skipper Nallaperuma, Ravindu
Kodituwakku the deputy, Ishen Perera and Manthila Wijeratne and left hander Sithara Hapuhinna. While the Thomian batsmen chipped in with useful contributions it was the varied spin attack of Delon Peiris over 70 wickets, Pavith Ratnayake (95) wickets and Ravindu Kodituwakku that has delivered the goods for the Thomians.
For Royal, skipper Helitha Vithanage with three centuries and over 1000 runs for the season against his name Kavindu Madarasinghe(960 runs), Ronuka Jayawardena,( over 500runs) HImesh Ramanayake (over 600 runs with a century against St.Peter’s), and Pasindu Sooriyabandara last year hero ( over 600 with a century against Wesley) have provided the backbone for the Royal batting. HImesh Ramanayake in addition to his bowling has also
excelled as a batsman. Royal too has the spin duo of Ganith Sandeep (off spin 32 wickets) and 15 year old promising left arm spinner Manula Perera ( 20 wickets)
S. Thomas’ College
Romesh Nallaperuma (Captain), Ravindu Kodituwakku (V.Captain), Delon Peiris, Ishen Perera, Trevin Irriyagama,
Sithara Hapuhinna, Manthila Wijeratne, Kalana Perera, Pavith Ratnayake, Tehan Schaffter, Anuka Bulankulame,
Bagya Dissanayake, Shalin de Mel, Dinura Gunawardene Mohammed Ishan.
Royal College
Ronuka Jayawardene, Lakindu Nanayakkara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Helitha Vithanage (Captain),
Himesh Ramanayake ( V.Captain), Kavindu Madarasinghe, Ganith Sandeep, Chamaka Edirisinghe, Abhishek Perera,
Manula Perera, Gayan Dissanayake, Thevindu Senaratne, Ashan Wickremasinghe, Gothama Ranasinghe.