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Senesh, Charuka fifties propel S. Thomas’

143rd Battle of the Blues

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Senesh Hettiarachchi and Charuka Peiris hit fighting fifties as S. Thomas’ College took the major honours on day one of the 143rd Battle of the Blues against Royal College at SSC Grounds on Thursday.

The second oldest uninterrupted cricket encounter in the world got underway with the Royal College captain Gishan Balasooriya opted to field first on a green deck on an overcast morning.

The Thomian openers – Janindu Abeygunawardene and Senadhi Bulankulame batted cautiously in the first session to add 53 runs without losing any wicket to frustrate the Royalists.

However, after the lunch break, in the third ball of the session, leg-spinner Ramiru Perera caught and bowled Abeygunawardene for 28 to break the opening stand. In the very next over, left-arm spinner Dasis Manchanayake trapped Bulankulame for 18 as Royal slowly crawled their way back into the game.

A superb direct hit by Sadisha Rajapaksa ended number three batter Dineth Gunawardene’s innings as the Thomians lost their third wicket. Royal skipper Balasooriya got two key wickets as the School by the Sea were restricted to 84 for 5 at one stage. Muizz Naushan was trapped LBW and S. Thomas’ captain Ryan Fernando was caught at short extra-cover to the joy of Royalists.

Hettiarachchi and Peiris resurrected the Thomian innings with a fine 94-run stand for the sixth wicket. Left-handed wicket-keeper batter Hettiarachchi scored 7 fours during his 118-ball 55.

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Leg-spinner Perera removed Hettiarachchi with another caught and bowled as Royal struck back before the second new ball was taken in the 79th over.

Number eight batter Mahith Perera remained unbeaten along with Peiris till close of play as S. Thomas’ took major honours on day one. Peiris stood out with a fighting, unbeaten 51 off 143 balls with five fours.

Play will continue tomorrow (22nd July) at 9.40am local time.

S. Thomas’ – 207/6 (90) Senesh Hettiarachchi 55, Charuka Peiris 51*, Janidu Abeygunawardene 28, Gishan Balasooriya 2/52, Ramiru Perera 2/36

Result

Match drawn

Royal College
219/8 (70.4)

S. Thomas’ College
242/10 (106.2) & 142/6 (64)

Batsmen R B 4s 6s SR
Senadhi Bulankulama lbw b Dasis Manchanayake 18 85 1 0 21.18
Janidu Abegoonawardena c & b Ramiru Perera 28 93 2 0 30.11
Dineth Gunawardena run out (Sadisha Rajapaksha) 12 25 1 0 48.00
RAYAN FERNANDO c Dasis Manchanayake b Gishan Balasuriya 18 31 1 0 58.06
MUIZZ NAUSHAN b Gishan Balasuriya 1 7 0 0 14.29
Senesh Hettiarachchi c & b Ramiru Perera 55 118 7 0 46.61
Charuka Peiris lbw b Sandesh Ramanayaka 51 151 5 0 33.77
Mahith Perera c Dasis Manchanayake b Gishan Balasuriya 33 83 2 0 39.76
Gunaratnam Caniston b Bulan Weerathunga 3 15 0 0 20.00
Akash Fernando c Sadisha Rajapaksha b Sandesh Ramanayaka 6 22 0 0 27.27
Kavindu Dais not out 0 8 0 0 0.00


Extras 17 (b 7 , lb 6 , nb 0, w 4, pen 0)
Total 242/10 (106.2 Overs, RR: 2.28)
Bowling O M R W Econ
Dan Poddiwela 14 3 36 0 2.57
Sandesh Ramanayaka 12 6 16 2 1.33
Gishan Balasuriya 31.2 11 56 3 1.79
Bulan Weerathunga 12 1 29 1 2.42
Sadisha Rajapaksha 21 4 34 0 1.62
Ramiru Perera 9 1 36 2 4.00
Dasis Manchanayake 7 0 22 1 3.14
Batsmen R B 4s 6s SR
Sanvidu Senartharachchi lbw b Kavindu Dais 1 8 0 0 12.50
Sineth Jayawardena c MUIZZ NAUSHAN b Janidu Abegoonawardena 32 38 6 0 84.21
Sadisha Rajapaksha c Senesh Hettiarachchi b Kavindu Dais 5 12 1 0 41.67
Uvindu Weerasekara c RAYAN FERNANDO b Kavindu Dais 66 109 9 0 60.55
Dasis Manchanayake lbw b Gunaratnam Caniston 17 31 1 0 54.84
Ramiru Perera b Akash Fernando 34 114 3 0 29.82
Nethil Panapitiya c Mahith Perera b Gunaratnam Caniston 27 73 0 0 36.99
Sandesh Ramanayaka c Charuka Peiris b Kavindu Dais 21 34 3 0 61.76
Gishan Balasuriya not out 1 7 0 0 14.29


Extras 15 (b 1 , lb 5 , nb 2, w 2, pen 5)
Total 219/8 (70.4 Overs, RR: 3.1)
Bowling O M R W Econ
Gunaratnam Caniston 23 1 67 2 2.91
Kavindu Dais 17.4 2 65 4 3.74
Akash Fernando 9 1 33 1 3.67
Janidu Abegoonawardena 4 0 6 1 1.50
Charuka Peiris 6 0 22 0 3.67
RAYAN FERNANDO 11 5 15 0 1.36


Batsmen R B 4s 6s SR
Senadhi Bulankulama c Sineth Jayawardena b Dan Poddiwela 2 10 0 0 20.00
Janidu Abegoonawardena c Uvindu Weerasekara b Gishan Balasuriya 7 38 1 0 18.42
Dineth Gunawardena b Gishan Balasuriya 1 43 0 0 2.33
RAYAN FERNANDO c Sadisha Rajapaksha b Gishan Balasuriya 74 117 10 0 63.25
MUIZZ NAUSHAN lbw b Sadisha Rajapaksha 11 71 0 0 15.49
Senesh Hettiarachchi c Sandesh Ramanayaka b Sadisha Rajapaksha 26 65 2 0 40.00
Mahith Perera not out 8 23 1 0 34.78
Gunaratnam Caniston not out 11 17 1 0 64.71


Extras 2 (b 0 , lb 1 , nb 0, w 1, pen 0)
Total 142/6 (64 Overs, RR: 2.22)
Bowling O M R W Econ
Dan Poddiwela 4 2 3 1 0.75
Sandesh Ramanayaka 3 3 0 0 0.00
Bulan Weerathunga 4 1 17 0 4.25
Sadisha Rajapaksha 18 7 30 2 1.67
Gishan Balasuriya 20 5 56 3 2.80
Ramiru Perera 13 2 32 0 2.46
Dasis Manchanayake 2 1 3 0 1.50