“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”

– Christopher Reeve –

On the 10th, 11th and 12th of March the Sinhalese Sports Club Grounds played host yet again to the mother of all ‘big matches’, the Royal – Thomian Battle of the Blues, the second oldest uninterrupted cricket series in the world.

This year’s match produced what is undoubtedly one of the most surprising results in the history of the encounter, when a struggling Royal College side on the first day of the game turned the tables to secure a breathtaking victory on day three thanks to a valiant duo of freshers and a potent bowling attack which lead to the crumbling of the second Thomian innings. A comparable incident occurred in the year 1999 at the 120th Battle of the Blues, except in which case the Thomians were the victors.

On day one the toss was won by Royal College and taking the pitch conditions into consideration the skipper Geeshath Panditharatne elected to field first. The two openers for S. Thomas’ proved to be deadly, setting a partnership of 197 runs which included 124 runs by hard hitter Rashmika Opatha. The Thomian camp set an imposing score of 350 for the loss of 5 before declaration which further included two more half tons, one by the Thomian Skipper Sachitha Jayathilake.

Royal College in their 1st innings managed to score one run before the heavens opened ending the day’s play.

On day two the spectators at the SSC witnessed what became the game-changing phase of the match. Together, Malith Kariyawasam and sixteen-year-old Pasindu Sooriyabandara built up a partnership of 139 runs (the second highest for the sixth wicket). By lunch, the Royal Camp had lost 4 wickets for a mere 96 runs. Soon after lunch, the deputy Thiran Dhanapala was dismissed for 9 runs. Kariyawasam’s aggressive knock of 78 runs which consisted of 12 fours enabled Royal College to avoid a follow on. The day ended with Sooriyabandara and Helitha Withanage at the crease with Royal securing a safe score of 280.

The third and final day of the match saw the young debutant reaching his century. Royal College went on to make a bold declaration at 327 runs, 23 runs short of the Thomian score, following the loss of their 9th wicket. In their second innings, S. Thomas’ College was bundled out for 127 runs. None of their batsmen managed to score beyond 28 runs. The bowling attack for Royal was led by Himesh Ramanayake claiming 4 victims for 64 runs. Lasith Embuldeniya and Duvindu Hettiarachchi contributed with 2 wickets a piece. This left Royal College with a target of 150 runs in 49 overs.

It was not the start that Royal was after as they lost the opener Ronuka Jayawardane in the first over. Naveen Withanapathirana and Pasindu Sooriyabandara kept Royal steady as they built a small partnership of 30 runs but yet again three quick wickets fell as Royal were struggling at 79/4. Skipper Geeshath and first innings hero Kariyawasam steadied the ship as they put on a 44 run partnership for the 5th wicket. Two wickets fell in a close gap but Malith Kariyawasam was determined to finish the game off for the royalists. In the last over of the day Royal had 6 runs to get and fresher Ganith Sandeepa had the rare privilege of finishing the game off which he did in the last ball of the day.

Along with the final run the ardent Royal supporters dominated by the boys in white ran into the grounds with feelings of overwhelming joy bringing back memories from three years ago when captain Pathmanathan reclaimed the hallowed Senenayake Challenge Shield.

This year the Shield was presented to Royal College by none other than the Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, a distinguished old Royalist. The award for man of the match rightfully went to Pasindu Sooriyabandara.

A summary of awards are as follows:

• Best Fielder – Dilendra Gunathilake (STC)
• Best Bowler – Himesh Ramanayake (RC)
• Best Batsman – Rashmika Opatha (STC)
• Man of the Match – Pasindu Sooriyabandara (RC)
• Dialog Trophy – Royal College
• Senenayake Challenge Shield – Royal College