Royal decided to declare before the first session began, having a lead of 68 runs after scoring 260 for the loss of 5 wickets yesterday.
The Thomian openers had a considerably cautious start, with Nipuna Gamage and Deelaka Herath at the crease. In the absence of Anupa Thilakaratne, Hashen Ramanayake opened the bowling with Chamika Karunaratne.
Ramanayake seemed to be quite comfortable with the new ball, and went on to claim his first wicket after he managed to rattle Gamage’s wicket in his 3rd over. Soon after, Devin Jayasinghe who top scored for Thomians in the first innings holed out to Raonaka Ahangamage after a brilliant short ball by Ramanayake who bagged his second wicket.
The Thomian Captain Javed Bongso and Deelaka Herath put up a resilient partnership, however Bongso met his nemesis Karunaratne who trapped him LBW once again when he was on 19. Karunaratne collected his second scalp when Herath was caught behind by Milan Abeysekara as the Thomians were reeling at 63 for 4 wickets.
Sanesh De Mel and Thilaksha Sumanasiri looked to be the partnership that could put an end to the Royalists hopes of a victory, but Sumanasiri was run out for the second time in the game, this time off a brilliant effort by Harith Samarasinghe who was fielding at point.
With five wickets down, the Thomians will look to Sanesh de Mel and Helakamal Nanayakkara to keep the Thomian boat afloat, as the Royalists will be extremely happy with their performance thus far.
Match Summary
S. Thomas’ College 1st Innings – 193 all out in 73.2 overs
(Devin Jayasinghe 74, R. Thilakarathne 26*, Helakamal Nanayakkara 24, Chamika Karunarathne 5/55, Poorna Aluthge 2/22)
Royal College 1st Innings – 260 for 5 wickets dec. in 63 overs
(Raonaka Ahangama 40, Sampath De Silva 64,Hashen Ramanayake 43, Milan Abeysekara 50*, I. Kularatne 2/44)
S. Thomas’ College 2nd Innings – 78 for 5 wickets in 37 overs
(Deelaka Herath 25, Javed Bongso 19, Hashen Ramanayake 2/29, Chamika Karunarathne 2/19)
