Royal wins by an innings and 58 runs;

 8 wicket haul by Lasith Embuldeniya.

It is once again that time of year. Reid Avenue is filled with that festivity of the big match season, as students flock to the College main grounds to witness the final home ground match for the season. Joyous cheers fill the air as the College first XI team march down to the grounds to face Trinity College, Kandy.

The game for the day (27^th February) begins with Trinity College winning the toss and electing to field. Amidst much cheer Royal makes a head start with Naveen Widanapathirana and Hasitha Samarasinghe lifting the sides score to 68/0 as rain halts play.

Once again they resume their commendable partnership going on to raise the sides score to 121/1 as Naveen falls scoring 74 runs. Soon after Hasitha is replaced as he faces a slight injury, bringing Geeshath Panditharathne and Randev Pathirana to the pitch. Another wicket falls with Randev dismissed for none, bringing in Chamika Karunaratne. Just as the side’s score is raised to 161, another wicket falls. One more falling at 165 brings Harith Samarasinghe to the game. At 188 another wicket falls for the side bringing Helitha Vithanage soon to be dismissed for nil.

With Royal standing at 200/5, Hasitha returns to the game having being injured previously. Royal sees another good run as the sides score is taken up to 290 with Geeshath scoring an astounding 75 runs over his long stand at the wicket alongside Hasitha ‘s 49, runs. This is followed by Lasith Embuldeniya alongside Himesh Ramanayake taking up the sides score further. Shan Tennakoon walks in as the 9^th wicket of the side falls. Himesh still holding on continues as he scores his 50^th run for the day, bringing the innings to an end as Royal declared at 309.

The Trinitian innings begin with Chamika making an early strikes at 7/1 followed by his second wicket for the day at 31/2. Trinity begins a somewhat steady gathering of runs, soon to be halted by Embuldeniya making his mark at 90/3, followed by an eager Randev joining in at 98/4. Another wicket falls in the hands of Lasith at 103/5. The Trinitians attempt for some come back is again halted with Embuldeniya striking at 132/6 alternately assisted by Samarasinghe as the next few wickets of the side soon fall, pushing Trinitians to 146/10. Embuldeniya picks up a 4 wicket haul for College alongside Samarasinghe’s 3 wicket haul.

The second innings sees Embuldeniya back in rhythm as he makes his mark again at 4/1. Following up is Randev Pathirana displaying some excellent bowling with his wickets at 30 and 33 pushing the batsmen in to an uncomfortable position. Chamika joins in with his run-out at 35/4. Once again, Harith and Embuldeniya are at their best as they join in again putting the side to 58/7 with either taking two wickets. Chamika makes his mark again at 99, with Embuldeniya ending the days play pushing Trinitians to 105/10. The 4 wickets by Embuldeniya and 2 wickets each by Randev and Harith during this innings must be noted.

Thus the Royal Trinity 1^st XI cricket encounter came to an end on the 27^th and 28^th of February, with Royal College emerging victorious by an innings and 58 runs.

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