A hat-trick and two half centuries paved the way for S. Thomas’ to beat Royal College by 5 wickets in their “146th Battle of the Blues” annual Cricket encounter and embraced the “D.S. Senanayake Memorial Shield” after 6 years at the SSC ground in Maitland Place yesterday.
S. Thomas’ were given a target of 233 runs to win in 43 overs and ended up scoring 233 runs for 5 wickets in 40.5 overs.
Put in to bat first Royal scored 319 runs for 7 wickets in 78 overs. Right hand opener Rehan Pieris scored a valuable 158 runs off 220 deliveries with 21 boundaries and 3 sixes. Thevindu Wewelwala (48), Yasindu Dissanayake (25 n.o.), Vimath Dinsara (25) and Yasindu Dissanayake (25) helped to build their total.
S. Thomas’ replied with 302 runs before the close on day two. Deputy skipper Dineth Goonewardene scored 119 runs off 262 deliveries with 17 boundaries and a six. Avinash Fernando (50), Kavindu Dias (37 n.o.), Jaden Amaraweera (31) and Sadev Soysa (27) helped build their inning.
Royal started their second innings with a lead of 17 runs went on to score 215 runs for 8 wickets off 51 overs. Opener Rehan Pieris scored 53 runs and skipper Ramiru Perera scored 50 runs. Openers Rehan Pieris and Hirun Liyanarachchi put on a partnership of 71 runs for their first wicket. Hirun Liyanarachchi (37) and Vimath Dinsara (35) helped to boost their total.
Darien Diego claimed 5 wickets for 40 runs including a hat-trick and Dineth Goonewardene claimed 2 wickets for 51 runs.
The Thomians were given a target of 232 runs to score for victory was made possible with useful contributions made by Sadev Soysa who scored 52 off 32 deliveries and Deputy skipper Dinegh Goonewardene who scored an unbeaten 50 off 47 deliveries.
Reshon Solomons also batted with caution and aggression to be unbeaten on 50 runs off 48 deliveries with 5 boundaries. Opener Jaden Amaraweera scored 48 runs.
Jaden Amaraweera and Mithila Charles put on 50 runs partnership for the second wicket. Then another useful partnership of 57 runs for the third wicket between Jaden Amaraweera and Sadev Soysa made the chase for victory possible. Then came the most fruitful partnership of 80 runs for the sixth wicket between Dinesh Goonewardena and Reshon Solomons that carried the Thomians to victory.
Dineth Goonewardene of S. Thomas’ who was scored 119 runs and an unbeaten 50 runs was adjudicated man of the match. Darien Diego who claimed a match bag of 7 wickets was adjudicated the best bowler.
S. Thomas College recorded their 36th win and level series.
