Royalists young and old would have woken up on Saturday the 16th of March 2013 in anticipation of another Royal – Thomian win from the Big Match winning team and yes, the team did deliver, and that too in scintillating style.

The Thomians would have had vengeance in heart, as they won the toss and put Royal into bat, looking to dismiss the team for a low score. Their decision did not turn out to be the best as the track proved to be a tremendous surface to bat on. Shaminda Dias who replaced Isuru Gunatillake started off strong, with Raoanaka Ahangamage, making quick runs off the bowlers as he did in the three day game as well. Unfortunately, Dias fell for 17 but this did not slow down the Royal innings as Raonaka kept things going at a steady pace along with Sampath de Silva. Things were looking good for Royal, and Raoanaka found himself on 48 reaching out for that illusive half century but gave away his wicket cheaply getting bowled trying to slog one over mid off. S. Thomas’ breathed a sigh of relief as the dangerous Raoanaka left the field, but their relief did not last long as the now well set Sampath along with Hashen Ramanayake kept the runs ticking at above 6 an over. Royal sped through to 100 runs in just 17 overs losing only 2 wickets and then 150 runs in just 25 overs. The Thomians sensing danger upped their game and were able to dismiss Sampath; LBW for 47 two overs later. Hashen was joined by Heshan Kumarasiri at which point you could say the Thomians’ struggle had just begun. Both batsman went after the bowling elegantly, sending the ball to the boundary as well as ticking the score board over with the one’s and two’s.

In the 33rd over Royal reached 200 runs and looked set to put up a more than competitive total. Hashen and Heshan kept the run rate at above 6 an over and in no time, Hashen reached his half century with a simple back – foot push to point. Heshan then became the 4th Royal player to enter the 40’s but his stumps were rattled for a well played 43. Milan Abeysekera was the next man in and his entry brought about a flurry of strokes all around the ground from both ends of the pitch. Milan made a quick 24 before being dismissed but Hashen was well set at this point and was in full control, bringing the 250 mark with a 6 over mid on and then the 300 mark with a cracking drive through the covers in the 47th over. He then went on to score his century with a simple flick on to the leg side becoming the 5th player and the 4th Royalist in the Royal – Thomian one day series to score a century. Hashen was dismissed for 116 which is the highest individual score in the one day series. At this point Royal had also surpassed the highest team total and went on to score a mammoth total of 330 for the loss of 7 wickets in their allotted 50 overs.

S. Thomas’ had before them a great mountain to climb, and losing a wicket on the 2nd ball would not have been a part of the plan, but Chamika Karunaratne was still in blazing form with the ball and picked up the wicket with ease. 6 overs later, Chamika struck again bowling T. Sumanasiri out for just 8. S. Thomas’ had a shaky start with just 24 runs on the board for the loss of two wickets when danger man Devin Jayasinghe took his guard. Devin’s entrance steadied the Thomian innings, but as he remained constant, his partners were unable to bring about much change as the performances were insufficient to keep such a high required run rate going. N. Gamage made a useful 32. Thomian Skipper Javed Bongso came in down the order and played some aggressive strokes, but was dismissed for 15 for the third consecutive time off Chamika’s bowling. 30 overs in to the game, Sachintha Jayatillake and Devin brought about a turn of events as Sachintha began to swing for the fences, sending the likes of Captain Devind Pathmanathan’s bowling sailing over mid on to crash in to the SSC pavilion walls. Devin continued his good form from the three day game as he had scored his half century and looked to be the first player in the series to score two consecutive centuries at the Mustangs Trophy Encounter. The Thomian crowds gathered along the boundary in anticipation of this repeat performance but to the shock of Royalists and Thomians alike, there was pandemonium at the SSC as Devin’s drive on 99 was miss – timed and hit straight into the hands of Devind Pathmanathan who held on to a comfortable caught & bowled. At this point the asking rate was over 12 runs an over and Sachintha had only one way to go and that was up. It was raining huge 6’s all around the ground as Sachintha reached his half century but his efforts were too little too late as he fell to Harith Samarasinghe.

Royal’s win was inevitable at this point, as S. Thomas’ had reached a respectable total, braking another record; highest aggregate runs scored by both teams, but they needed over 90 runs to win with just an over left. The team tried hard to help Chamika reach an amazing milestone of 5 wickets at the Mustangs Trophy, setting a field of 9 slips to the helpless Thomian batsmen with 2 balls to go, but Chamika was unable to pick his 5th scalp. The over enthusiastic crowd rushed the field with one ball to go forgetting a wide bowled earlier in the over. After clearing the crowds the final delivery was bowled and the score board read ‘S. Thomas’ College 242/8 in 50 overs’ as Royal recorded a historic win, bringing home the D.S. Senanayake Shield and the Mustangs Trophy together after 23 years, bringing a well deserved win to the Royal 1st XI team.

Special Awards

Best Batsman STC – Devin Jayasinghe
Best Batsman RC – Raoanaka Ahangamage
Best Bowler STC – Ravindu Tillakaratne
Best Bowler RC – Chamika Karunaratne
Best Performance by a Fresher – Sachintha Jayatillake (STC)
Man of the Match – Hashen Ramanayake

Summary

Royal 330/7 in 50 overs

Hashen Ramanayake 116
Raoanaka Ahangamage 48
Sampath de Silva 47
Heshan Kumarasiri 43

S. Thomas’ 242/8 in 50 overs

Chamika Karunaratne 4/38
Harith Samarasinghe 2/51

Result – Royal Win