This left handed side of Royal

RICHARD DWIGHT

The composition of this year's Royal College cricket team led by Yasith Abeykoon, is regarded as unusual to be unique.

Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it has 9 left handed batsmen in the side. At the most it could be referred to as a phenomenon, that's reflective of a few and far between occurrence.

One isn't sure as to whether it is an advantage or disadvantage for a team to have as many as 9 left handed batsmen (Royal perhaps had no options). But it certainly makes it that much easier for the fielding side, whose strategy will be so planned to merely contend with left handed batsmen.

Notwithstanding this, we aren't being serious when we say that this 'left handed stance' may have brought Royal a measure of luck, to keep forging ahead.

This in no way detracts from the splendid performances of the cricketers, be they batsmen or bowlers - which resulted in 5 outright wins against St. Sebastians, Nalanda, Isipatana and Richmond and St. Benedict's. They did have the distinction of dismissing St. Sebastian's for 26 runs and defeating them after 29 years, whilst they beat Nalanda after 40 years.

The drawn matches were against Mahinda, St. Anthony's, Thurstan and last weekend Royal dismissed the strong Josephian side for 135 runs to lead, by 37 in the first innings, with the match fizzling out in a draw.

Those who have done well for Royal with the bat are Bhanuka Rajapakse, Kusal Perera, Hettiarachchi, Abeykoon and Kithruwan Withanage, the bowlers who have impressed are Abeykoon, Mowjood and Randevala. Royal have yet to taste defeat and, so all this and more will augur well for their remaining matches, to give them added confidence as they front up to S. Thomas' in March.