By Marlon Dale Ferreira
S.Thomas’ College, after being sent into to bat under overcast skies, batted out the entire day, scoring 207 for the loss of six wickets in the 143rd Battle of the Blues played at the Singhalese Sports Club Grounds yesterday (21).
Royal skipper Gishan Balasooriya, who won the toss, did not hesitate to invite the Thomians to take the first lease of the wicket, given the overcast conditions that virtually remained consistent throughout the day.
If Royal were hell-bent on making early inroads, then they were in for a rude shock as the two Thomian openers, Janindu Abeygunawardena and Senandhi Bulankulame, both freshers, looked surprisingly comfortable facing the Duke Ball. Royal College opening bowlers let the Thomian openers settle in, as they comfortably let balls pass by to the wicketkeeper and also shouldered arms to the bouncy deliveries that looked far from threatening. The duo took the Thomians to lunch at 53 for no loss after facing 29 overs.
If the first session belonged to the Thomians, then the post-lunch session belonged mainly to Royal. In fact, it took Royal just three deliveries after lunch to break the Thomian partnership, when Janindu Abeygunawardena was out caught and bowled by Ramiru Perera for 28. Shortly thereafter, his partner Senadhi Bulankulame joined him back in the pavilion being trapped LBW for 18 by part-timer spinner Dasis Manchanayake, off 85 deliveries.
In walked the Thomian Skipper Ryan Fernando, of whom much was expected after his two record-breaking double-centuries made earlier in the season.
At 80 for 2 after 37 overs, the Thomian hearts were made to pound a tad faster, as Royal College snapped up three quick wickets, including the prized scalp of Skipper Ryan Fernando for 18, to have the Thomians at a spot of bother at 84 for 5.
Thereafter fresher Senesh Hettiarachchi who was joined by another fresher, Charuka Peiris, negotiated time until tea by putting on 49 runs and taking the Thomian total to 133 for 5.
The pair resumed after tea and their partnership realised a useful 94 runs for the sixth wicket before Royal could separate the pair. Senesh Hettiarchchi made a deserving half-century before he was dismissed. Charuka Peiris also reached his half-century, and he ended the day remaining unbeaten on 51.
The game, which has a rich history of 143 years played uninterrupted, witnessed a fourth-generation Thomian player in Senadhi Bulankulame representing the Thomians.
Senadhi is the son of former victorious 1988 Thomian skipper Anura Bulankulame, whose two brothers Dhammika and Suresh also went on to represent S. Thomas’ College. Senadhi Bulankulame’s grandfather Patchi Bulankulame and great-grandfather Edmond Asoka Bulankulame also represented S. Thomas’ College in a family history of Royal Thomian tradition that dates back 103 years.
143rd Battle of the Blues: Thomian freshers control Day 1
22 Jul 2022
143rd Battle of the Blues: Thomian freshers control Day 1
22 Jul 2022