S. Thomas’ College were bowled out for 153 runs on the second day of the 144th Battle of the Blues Inter-School Big Match against the traditional rivals Royal College, which continued at the SSC Grounds in Maitland Place on Friday.
This is after Royal had decided to declare their first innings at the overnight score of 326 for eight having completely dominated the opening day through some outstanding batting from Skipper Dasis Manchanayake and debutant Ramiru Perera.
The Thomians were in early trouble as they lost opener Thishen Ehaliyagoda in the fourth over with just six runs on the board as the Royal seamers enjoyed bowling under favourable conditions.
S. Thomas’ collapsed to 45 for three in the 14th over as the Royal fast bowlers Ranuka Malaviarachchi, Bulan Weerathunga and Sandesh Ramanayake captured one wicket each.
The lads from Mount Lavinia made a desperate attempt to get out of trouble through their fourth wicket pair of Senadhi Bulankulama and Nathan Caldera with a brief partnership.
However, off-spinner Ramiru Perera broke the threatening stand with a clever delivery as Skipper Manchanayake held on to a superb diving catch at mid-off to get rid of Caldera in the 24th over.
Bulankulama went on to hit a top score of 40 from 105 balls inclusive of five boundaries and was dismissed shortly after lunch following a diving catch by the wicket-keeper Sanvidu Senaratharachchi.
The more experienced Mahith Perera, batting lower in the order, also made a valiant effort before he became Bulan Weerathunga’s second victim while Sineth Jayawardena snapped up two wickets from his seven overs.
SCOREBOARD
Royal 1st innings 326 for 8 decl
S. Thomas’ 1st innings
Senadhi Bulankulama c Senaratharachchi b Malaviarachchi 40
Thishen Eahaliyagoda c Ramanayake b Weerathunga 05
Dineth Goonewardene lbw b Ramanayake 10
Romesh Mendis c Ramanayake b Malaviarachchi 04
Nathan Caldera c Manchanayake b Perera 20
Charuka Peiris c Jayawardena b Ramanayake 17
Mahith Perera c Senaratharachchi b Weerathunga 30
Senesh Hettiarachchi c (sub) Polonnowita b Jayawardena 09
Akash Fernando not out 01
Kavindu Dais st Senaratharachchi b Jayawardena 00
Abheeth Paranawidana b Weerathunga 00
Extras: (wd 9, nb2, lb2, b4) 17
Total: (All out, 55 overs) 153
Fall: 1-6, 2-27, 3-45, 4-83, 5- 107, 6-130, 7-151, 8-151, 9-152
Bowling: Ranuka Malaviarachchi 12-1-35-2, Bulan Weerathunga 14-6-26-3, Sandesh Ramanayake 10-0-36-2, Dasis Manchanayake 2-0-11-0, Ramiru Perera 10-1-30-1, Sineth Jayawardena 7-3-9-2
