The young Uvindu Weerasekara ushered Royal College to a six-wicket win against the S. Thomas’ College, at the 9th Battle of the Blues – Royal Thomian Adelaide Cricket Encounter played at the Hectorville Cricket Grounds in Adelaide, South Australia.
Winning the toss, the Royal skipper Tharindu Manchanayake elected to field and grabbed the first wicket of the Thomian opener Jehan Thahir; being caught at slip by Royal’s Shanil Samarasinghe.
Kavisha Kishor and Rohan Joshna put up an important 47-run partnership for the Thomians, when Samarasinghe worked his quick reflexes yet again for a successful catch off Kishor’s bat at the first slip, for a Pinindu Weerasekara delivery.
S.Thomas’ College with a total of 70 runs on board for three wickets in the 19th over, was relying on the middle order to put up a stable partnership. However, the Royalists managed to take quick three wickets with Esala De Livera being bowled out by Buddhika Arsecularatne for 9, Devinda Fernando run-out for 1 by Uvindu Weerasekara and Rohan Joshna being caught by Gayan Silva for 32 for a Dulith Hettiarachchi delivery.
With 89 runs for six wickets on the 26th over, Manesh Fernando was stumped out by Manojkumar Siva for a yet another Pinindu Weerasekara delivery, when Fernando had added 17 runs to the Thomian total. Uditha Rajasekara scored 17 off 18 balls, but he was run-out yet again by Uvindu Weerasekara when the S. Thomas’ College total was at 116.
At the end of 35th over, the Thomians were all out for a total of 131 runs on board.
Chasing a target of 132, the Royalists were faced with early dismissals when the opening duo Shanil Samarasinghe and Joel Ariyadorai were caught LBW by two tricky deliveries of Esala De Livera, within the first five overs of the Royal Innings.
Royal’s Dhan Uswatte and Uvindu Weerasekara then recorded an impressive 68-run partnership, which restored the victory hopes for the Royalists. With a total of 90 runs on board, Thomians made yet another breakthrough as Kasun Silva bowled out Uswatte for 38.
Uvindu Weerasekara was then joined by Gayan Silva in the middle. With a dominant batting display, Weerasekara went on to score a half ton for the Royalists and ended up scoring 64 which included seven 4’s and two 6’s. However, with just one run behind from the target, Jehan Thahir dismissed Weerasekara as the latter was caught by Mahen Fernando. Sachinda Fernando who joined Gayan Silva in the middle, scored the winning run for the Royalists.
The ‘Man of the Match’ and ‘Best Batsman’ titles were awarded to Uvindu Weerasekara, his brother Pininidu Weerasekara was awarded the ‘Best Bowler’ while Shanil Samarasinghe was awarded the ‘Best Fielder’.
With this year’s win, Royal College is leading the tally of the Battle of the Blues – Royal Thomian Adelaide Cricket Encounter by 6 to 3.
The 9th Battle of the Blues – Royal Thomian Adelaide Cricket Encounter was organized by the Joint Committee of Royal College and S. Thomas’ College Old Boys Associations in Adelaide, South Australia.
Brief Scores
S.Thomas’ College 131 (35) Rohan Joshna 32, Kavisha Kishor 20, Kasun Silva 17, Manesh Fernando 17, Uditha Rajasekara 17, Pinindu Weerasekara 3/29, Tharindu Manchanayaka 2/18, Buddhika Arsecularatne 1/13, Manojkumar Siva 1/20, Dulith Hettiarachchi 1/11
Royal College 132/4 (21) Uvindu Weerasekara 64, Dhan Uswatte 38, Gayan Silva 17*, Esala De Livera 2/29, Kasun Silva 1/35, Jehan Thahir ½
Result – Royal College won by 6 wickets
Royal College team – Shanil Samarasinghe, Joel Aiyadorai, Dhan Uswatte, Uvindu Weerasekara, Gayan Silva, Dulith Hettiarachchi, Sachinda Fernando, Pinindu Weerasekara,
Manojkumar Siva, Tharindu Manchanayaka, Buddhika Arsecularatne, Thilina Gunasekara, Charit Tissera
S.Thomas’ College team – Jehan Thahir, Kasun Silva, Kavisha Kishor, Rohan Joshna, Esala De Livera, Devinda Fernando, Manesh Fernando, Uditha Rajasekara, Yashod Enduruwa, Mahen Fernando, Dulan Peiris, Adarsh Nanayakkara
