Thomians out to clinch the double

32nd limited over match against Royal:

CRICKET: S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia which scored a resounding innings win over traditional rivals Royal College in the 128th Battle of the Blues will go all out to clinch the double when these two schools clash in their 32nd limited over cricket match for the Mustangs Trophy which will be played at the SSC grounds on Saturday.

With Big Match centurions Ashan Peiris and Nizam Mazahir in cracking form and Shashrika Pussegolla, Ashan Fernando, Jehan Thahir, Thilina Nugawela, Viswa Weerawardena and Ruchira de Silva capable of coming up with useful contributions with the bat the Thomians batsmen should send the Royalists on a leather hunt.

Opener Diren Warankulasuriya and all-rounder Charith Fernando were the only two Royal batsmen to impress in the Big Match and the other batsmen like Bhanuka Rajapakse, Kusal Perera, Kavisha de Silva, Feroze Ahamed and skipper Haroon Mowjood should give a much better performance if they are to put up a decent total.

The Thomians gave a marvellous display of fielding in the Big Match and should give a repeat performance in Saturday’s match. In contrast the Royalists gave a pathetic display of fielding.

Of the 31 matches played in the series Royal have won 16 matches while Thomians have triumphed on 14 occasions with one game ending in a tie. Last year the Thomians retained the Mustangs Trophy for the second successive year with a 37-run win and will go all out to make it three in a row this year.

The teams:

Royal (from) - Haroon Mowjood (Captain), Dilan Nanayakkara, Feroze Ahamed, Diren Warnakulasuriya, Kavisha de Silva, Kusal Perera, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Charith Fernando, Maneesha Thantirigoda, Yasith Abeykoon, Lakshitha de Silva, Kanishka Boteju.

S. Thomas (from) - Ashan Peiris (Captain), Sashrika Pussegolla, Ashan Fernando, Nizam Mazahir, R. Niroshan, Viswa Weerawardena, Ruchira de Silva, Jehan Thahir, Thilina Nugawela, Milan Fernando, Dinesh Walpita, R.R.D. Fernando.