In stark contrast to the tame draw of the 147th Battle of the Blues, the 49th Mustangs Trophy delivered a spectacle worthy of its legacy, records shattered, momentum swings, and a thrilling finish under fading light.
S. Thomas’ College, winning the toss, had no hesitation in opting to bat first, and what followed was nothing short of extraordinary. The Thomian top order came out with intent, scoring freely and putting Royal under immediate pressure. At the heart of it all yet again, was a monumental innings from Jaden Amaraweera.
Given a second life early on, dismissed on 9 only to be recalled for a no-ball, Amaraweera made Royal pay in full. Displaying composure, control, and calculated aggression, he etched his name into Mustangs Trophy history with a stunning unbeaten 184, the highest individual score the encounter has ever seen. It was an innings that combined resilience with dominance, as he carried his bat through to the history books. Supporting him admirably was Raphael Hettige, whose unbeaten 44 provided the perfect foil. Together, they propelled S. Thomas’ to a commanding 313/4, the highest Thomian team total in the history of the Mustangs Trophy, setting Royal an imposing target and a place in the record books.
Faced with a daunting chase, Royal College responded in emphatic fashion. Skipper Rehan Pieris led from the front alongside Hirun Liyanarachchi, the duo launching an aggressive counterattack that immediately shifted the tempo of the game. Liyanarachchi’s fluent 51 laid a strong foundation before his departure momentarily checked Royal’s charge.
However, the defining innings of the chase came from Sri Lanka U19 captain Vimath Dinsara. After a subdued outing in the Battle of the Blues, Dinsara arrived at the crease with intent and purpose. What followed was a masterclass in chasing under pressure. Anchoring the innings with remarkable composure, he crafted a brilliant century, guiding Royal through fluctuating phases and ensuring they remained firmly ahead of the required rate. He was well supported by Ramiru Perera & Dushen Uduwela, whose contributions proved vital in seeing the Royalists home.
As the game progressed, S. Thomas’ were left to rue crucial lapses. most notably a slow over rate and a below-par fielding performance, which compounded their challenges in defending the total. With bad light eventually halting play, the umpires called an early end to proceedings. By that stage, Royal were comfortably ahead of the DLS par score, finishing on 296 in 46 overs, and were thus declared winners, retaining the Mustangs Trophy in dramatic fashion.
This encounter will be remembered not just for its records, but for its intent. Where the Battle of the Blues lacked urgency, the Mustangs Trophy delivered a contest full of ambition, execution, and match-winning performances, a true celebration of schoolboy cricket at its finest.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaden Amaraweera | not out | 184 | 149 | 14 | 11 | 123.49 |
| Methuka Gunarathne | b Ramiru Perera | 37 | 53 | 3 | 1 | 69.81 |
| Avinash Fernando | run out (Himaru De Silva) | 18 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 62.07 |
| Reshon Solomons | b Gegan Gamage | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 37.50 |
| Ludeesha Matarage | run out (Lakindu Induwara Nanayakkara) | 12 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 63.16 |
| Raphael Hettige | not out | 44 | 44 | 6 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 15 (b 0 , lb 0 , nb 0, w 15, pen 0) |
| Total | 313/4 (50 Overs, RR: 6.26) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gegan Gamage | 9 | 0 | 63 | 1 | 7.00 | |
| Hirun Liyanarachchi | 4 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 10.75 | |
| Himaru De Silva | 10 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 3.20 | |
| Dushan Uduwala | 6 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 7.00 | |
| Ramiru Perera | 10 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 4.70 | |
| Induwara Wickramarachchige | 10 | 0 | 63 | 0 | 6.30 | |
| Sasindu Mapa | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 16.00 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hirun Liyanarachchi | lbw b Shanil Perera | 51 | 44 | 9 | 0 | 115.91 |
| Rehan Peiris | c Stevon Peiris b Minon Warnasuriya | 18 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 150.00 |
| Vimath Dinasara | not out | 109 | 124 | 6 | 0 | 87.90 |
| Ramiru Perera | c Raphael Hettige b Abheeth J Paranawidana | 38 | 35 | 5 | 1 | 108.57 |
| Udantha Gangewatte | hit-wicket b Shanil Perera | 14 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Thevindu Wewalwala | c & b Reshon Solomons | 8 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 53.33 |
| Himaru De Silva | run out (Raphael Hettige) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Dushan Uduwala | not out | 25 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 104.17 |
| Extras | 27 (b 0 , lb 0 , nb 0, w 22, pen 5) |
| Total | 290/6 (46 Overs, RR: 6.3) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abheeth J Paranawidana | 10 | 0 | 50 | 1 | 5.00 | |
| Gimhan Mendis | 7 | 0 | 49 | 0 | 7.00 | |
| Minon Warnasuriya | 5 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 6.60 | |
| Raphael Hettige | 6 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 7.33 | |
| Shanil Perera | 10 | 0 | 60 | 2 | 6.00 | |
| Reshon Solomons | 7 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 5.14 | |
| Ludeesha Matarage | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9.00 | |
