Chris Dhambarage
Royal College recovered from a shock start to post a respectable 79 for two wickets at lunch on the second day of the 145th Battle of the Blues Inter-School Big Match against the traditional rivals S. Thomas’ College at the SSC Grounds in Maitland Place today.
The Thomian opening bowlers Akasha Fernando and Ashen Perera got their side off to a magnificent start by removing both Royal openers inside the first two overs of the innings.
Isula Geeganage was trapped in front by a beautiful delivery from Fernando for a seven-ball duck while his partner Rehan Peiris also did not last long and was dismissed for a solitary run having faced eight deliveries.
But Royal’s third wicket pair of Skipper Sineth Jayawardena and Ovina Ambanpola produced a splendid batting display under tremendous pressure to pull their side from further disaster.
Jayawardena reached his half century shortly before the break and was unbeaten on 50 from 83 deliveries and his partner Ambanpola provided excellent support to stay unbeaten on 19 from 96 balls.
The pair have so far added 77 runs for the unbroken third wicket as the Thomian bowlers toiled hard unsuccessfully to have any breakthrough.
SCOREBOARD
S. Thomas’ 1st innings 297
Royal 1st innings
Isula Geeganage lbw b Perera 00
Rehan Peris b Fernando 01
Sineth Jayawardena not out 50
Ovina Ambanpola not out 19
Extras: (lb1, nb2, b6) 09
Total: (For 2 wickets in 32 overs) 79
Fall: 1-1, 2-2
Bowling: Akash Fernando 6-3-16-1, Ashen Perera 10-4-18-1, Nathan Caldera 5-2-12-0, Kavindu Dias 5-0-10-0, Abheeth Paranawidana 5-1-15-0, Marlon Diego 1-0-1-0
