The much-anticipated limited-overs encounter, the “Battle of the Hindus,” lived up to its billing with a dramatic display of cricket at the P. Saravanamuttu Oval. In a clash of tradition and brotherhood between Hindu College, Colombo, and Hindu College, Jaffna, the visitors from the north did their homework well and produced a commanding performance to secure a massive 87-run victory, bouncing back strongly after their heavy defeat in the two-day encounter.
Winning the toss and electing to field first on a batsman-friendly track, Colombo captain Ramanathan Deshkar put the Jaffna side into bat. The decision appeared to backfire immediately as the Jaffna openers, Jagathesan Bhavanan and Thinesreman Preemikan, came out firing. The visitors raced to 23 runs in just 2.4 overs, putting the Colombo bowlers under early pressure.
However, Thavakumar Santhosh provided the breakthrough for the hosts, dismissing Preemikan off a brilliant catch. This wicket brought Colombo back into the game, briefly shifting the momentum. But the resistance was short-lived. Jagathesan Bhavanan, anchoring the innings, found an able ally in Ravindran Aathidian. The pair stitched together a valuable 55-run partnership for the second wicket, wresting control back for Jaffna.
The Colombo outfit fought back spiritedly, claiming three quick wickets to swing the pendulum their way. Undeterred, the solid opener Bhavanan paired with Sivalogesan Sivakajeesan to establish another half-century stand, applying immense pressure on the hosts. Bhavanan continued his masterclass, later combining with Thineshraman Preeththikaran for yet another fifty-run partnership.
>>Hindu College, Colombo reigns supreme in the 15th “Battle of the Hindus”
At the 42.4-over mark, Jaffna were sitting comfortably at 194 for 5, eyeing a total in excess of 250. However, the Colombo bowlers displayed remarkable resilience in the death overs, orchestrating a stunning collapse by picking up five wickets for just 26 runs. The vital wicket of Bhavanan, who played a lone hand with a magnificent 81, was the cornerstone of this fightback. A late cameo by Sutharsan Abivarnan (18 not out) helped the visitors cross the 200-run mark, as Jaffna were eventually bundled out for 220 in 49.3 overs. For Colombo, Vishwanathan Yuvaraj and Ramanathan Dheskar were the chief destroyers, claiming three wickets apiece, while Thivakaran Yaadhav chipped in with two.
Chasing a target of 221, Colombo got off to a steady start. Openers Thivakaran Yaadhav and Harsha Mithumina provided early momentum, with Mithumina striking a quickfire 12, including a six and a four, before departing. Suresh Sarvish then joined Yaadhav, and the duo navigated the bowling effectively to push the score past the 50-run mark.
Just as the Colombo innings was gaining traction, disaster struck as the Jaffna skipper produced a brilliant fielding effort to run out the set batsman, Sarvish. In a dramatic turn of events, the hosts suffered a catastrophic top-order collapse, losing five wickets for a mere eight runs. The game seemed to be slipping away rapidly from the home side.
Amid the ruins, Vellandurai Abinesh and Suresh Kumar Midushegan staged a recovery. The pair batted with patience and grit, constructing a crucial 55-run partnership to resurrect Colombo’s hopes. With the Jaffna side under pressure, the breakthrough finally arrived through Thineshraman Preeththikaran, whose magnificent fielding effort resulted in a run-out, dismissing the set Midushegan and shifting the game decisively back in Jaffna’s favour.
Following the run-out, the Colombo innings lost its way completely. The tailenders could not cope with the pressure, and the hosts were eventually bowled out for just 133. Vellandurai Abinesh was the only batter to make a notable contribution for the hosts, while the others failed to cross the 20-run mark. Sivalogesan Sivakajeesan and Kanagaraj Niththees led the bowling attack for the boys from the Northern Peninsula, picking up two wickets each.
It was a comprehensive team performance by Hindu College, Jaffna, capped off by brilliant fielding and disciplined bowling in the final overs. The 87-run victory marks a significant win for the visitors in this prestigious encounter, leaving the Colombo side to ponder a batting collapse that turned a potentially competitive chase into a lopsided affair.
Brief Scorecard
Hindu College, Jaffna – 220 all out (49.3 Overs)
Jagathesan Bhavanan 81, Sivalogesan Sivakajeesan 24, Ravindran Aathidiyan 23, Thineshraman Preeththikan 20, Sutharsan Abivarnan 18*, Thinesreman Preemikan 11
Ramanathan Dheskar 37/3, Vishwanathan Yuvaraj 43/3, Thivakaran Yaadhav 26/2, Thavakumar Santhosh 34/01
Hindu College, Colombo – 133 all out (37.2 Overs)
Vellandurai Abinesh 41, Suresh Sarvish 17, Suresh Kumar Midushegan 16, Thivakaran Yaadhav 14, Harsha Mithumina 12
Kanagaraj Niththees 16/2, Sivalogesan Sivakajeesan 29/2, Sutharsan Abivarnan 20/1, Sivamohan Ashwin 24/1, Sutharsan Subarnan 25/1
Hindu College, Jaffna won by 87 runs
Special Awards
Best Fielder – Sutharsan Subarnan (Jaffna)
Best Bowler – Ramanathan Dheskar (Colombo)
Best Batsman – Jagathesan Bhavanan (Jaffna)
Player of the Match – Jagathesan Bhavanan (Jaffna)
