Sachin - the unsung Thomian hero

Much has been said about the brilliant partnership between Faahim Saleem and Raveenthiraja Nirrushan that helped S. Thomas' College to force a draw to their 130th inter school Battle of the Blues cricket encounter against their traditional rivals Royal College worked off at the SSC grounds in Maitland Place.

But their marathon effort would have been in vain had Sachin Peiris also perished in quick succession during the first session of the third and final day.

The fifteen year old wicket keeper batsman of S. Thomas' College walked into the middle under tremendous pressure having to survive a hattrick ball from Haroon Mowjood.

Not only he did survive the hattrick ball but he also put on 57 vital runs for the seventh wicket with Saleem and with that any ideas that Royal had of dismissing the Thomians quickly and knocking off the required runs fast diminished.

The little left hander counter attacked and stroked the ball to all parts of the field that completely rattled the opposition.

He never hesitated to punish the loose deliveries while coming out of his crease.

The other significant fact was that his maturity and the mental application was far beyond his years and his very sound. He went onto complete his half century with a pull to the square leg fence after having faced 172 deliveries.

His superb knock of 58 contained six boundaries and was ninth out with the total on 411 which is their highest score in the series. Sachin Peiris then completed a memorable Big Match by effecting a smart run out of Kusal Janith Perera and then went on to take a stunning catch to dismiss Kithruwan Withanage.

Peiris was also selected as the best fielder.