 Return to LNP
This News Site:
Lanka Newspapers is the largest Sri Lanka News forum online. Thousands of Sri Lankans from around the world gather here daily to discuss current news events of Sri Lanka. Join Today!
|
|
|
127th Battle of the Blues: Royal win by 7 wickets after 15 years
Sunday, 12 March 2006 - 5:08 AM SL Time
|
|
|
Royal pulled off an epoch making 7-wicket triumph over arch rivals S.Thomas` yesterday after 15 years in the 127th `Battle of the Blues` at the SSC grounds. Needing 142 runs for victory in 23 overs Royal reached the target with 11 balls to spare. That they overcame the odds of innumerable spectator interruptions by Thomian supporters in a badly controlled game by securitymen was also remarkable. Royal last won in 1991 under Gamini Iriyagolle.
Having bowled out S.Thomas` in their second innings for 296, in 91.3 overs, Royal`s openers Sukith Senaratne and Malinga Maligaspe posted 32 runs in 4 overs before 15-year Kusal Perera and the experienced former captain Dimitri Siriwardena figured in third wicket partnership of 54 runs keeping a 6.1 run rate to bring the capacity crowd to life.
After Senaratne had departed for 22 and Maligaspe for 15, Perera found an able partner in Siriwardena. Perera coupled aggression with defence striking a big six off Rayendra Karunaratne in a 48-ball 42 which spanned only a solitary boundary while pushing as many as a dozen two`s and singles.
Siriwardena, who had been somewhat off colour during the season, rose to the occasion with an unbeaten 46 off 39 balls. He reeled off a six off Dhanushka Colombage, who had earlier threatened to take the game away from Royal with the wickets of both openers. Fittingly Siriwardena struck the winning boundary to take Royal home with vice captain Dulanjaya Wijeratne at the other end on 17.
S. Thomas,` who resumed their second innings on 5 for no loss with 154 runs in arrears to Royal, made 296 and at one time looked as if they would last the distance. But after opener Shashika Pussegolla departed for 73 with the score on 137 for 4 wickets, their hopes faded when no. 5 batsman Dhanushka Colombage, who put some of the seniors in the shade with some resolute batting, was eighth out in circumstances the Thomians would want to forget.
Colombage played a delivery from pacie Wijeratne which struck his partner Jehan Tahir`s leg and the bowler picked up and threw to wicket-keeper Kusal Perera before Colombage could get back.
At that stage S. Thomas` were 232 for 7 and 78 runs ahead.
Royal`s bowlers were backed by some classy fielding with off spinner Dilan Nanayakkara taking the vital wickets of Pussegolla and Rayendra Karunaratne in one over.
S. THOMAS` - 1ST INNINGS (278 for 8 declared)
ROYAL - 1ST INNINGS (432 for 7 wkts. declared)
S. THOMAS` - 2ND INNINGS (all out 296)
ROYAL - 2ND INNINGS (144 for 3 wkts)
|
|
|
prasath
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 120
Member Profile
|
12 Mar 2006 01:02:56 GMT Report for Abuse
|
| Underdogs always performs better at the big match, big ups to royal lads for saved this big one for the last and important match, what a fine piece of batting display that was |
podda
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 85
Member Profile
|
12 Mar 2006 01:05:20 GMT Report for Abuse
|
I ve also seen lot of thomians in this forum before the match, shouting like if they had already won the match. What happened to all Gal Thoras..?
Edited By - podda - 12 Mar 2006 01:06:26 GMT |
DrAkai
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2405
Member Profile
|
12 Mar 2006 01:42:22 GMT Report for Abuse
|
For all the Royalists,
Let me express my profound and rightful congratulations.
Well played you guys and the Thomians were just crap yes, TRUE.
Once again well done you Royalists! |
Fairplay
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2337
Member Profile
|
12 Mar 2006 06:40:24 GMT Report for Abuse
|
RRRRRRRROOOOOOYYYYYYYAAAAAAALLLL
R..O...Y..A..L... |
UnitedVRise
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 133
Member Profile
|
12 Mar 2006 06:52:14 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Give me R...
Give me O...
Give me Y...
Give me A...
Give me L...
Well done boys, sad that I couldn't go there. |
asian35
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 106
Member Profile
|
12 Mar 2006 08:10:02 GMT Report for Abuse
|
| Well done royal. dont worry we will b back. goooooooo thoraaaa |
ambro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1
Member Profile
|
12 Mar 2006 10:02:17 GMT Report for Abuse
|
What a victory, good to see positive cricket being played by the Royalist, instead of just settling for a draw from day 1. A lot credit to Chulaka Amarasinghe their coach. He really transformed the same side that lost by an innings last year. He was an amazing player when he played too, they won the big match when he captained in 1983.
Well done Blue Gold and Blue |
Bonggo
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1156
Member Profile
|
12 Mar 2006 14:21:01 GMT Report for Abuse
|
| How come only a handful of Royalists and Thomians played for the country at Test level? |
technobatta
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 20
Member Profile
|
12 Mar 2006 21:56:00 GMT Report for Abuse
|
'How come only a handful of Royalists and Thomians played for the country at Test level?'
Because a famous past national captain did all he can to prevent them from entering the national team while he was in charge.
Go n check the national teams of 60s, 70s and 80s......count the number of Roy-Tho cricketers there in the national team those days. |
|
