Royal-Thomian clash for Mustangs Trophy

Two evenly balanced teams and traditional rivals Royal College and S Thomas' College will clash for the 36th time in their limited over match for the Mustangs Trophy at the SSC grounds on March 26 (Saturday).

Royal are the holders of the trophy having emerged victorious in 2009 and 2010 by five wickets and 133 runs respectively but will face a fierce challenge from the Thomians who will be determined to regain the trophy having last won in 2008 by edging out Royal by two wickets at the Sara Stadium. Of the 35 encounters played Royal have won 18 while the Thomians have triumphed on 16 occasions while the 2002 game ended in a tie. Fielding plays a vital role in limited over cricket and the Thomians have a distinct advantage having given a fine display in the 132nd Battle of the Blues while the Royalists gave a woeful display of fielding in the Big Match.

Royal's batting will be spearheaded by skipper Ramith Rambukwella who made two sparkling knocks of 83 and 79 in the Big Match and should be ably supported by Sri Lanka under 19 skipper Bhanuka Rajapakse, Varuna Dissanayake, Supun Subasinghe, Imal Liyanage (who had a fine innings of 65 in the Big Match), 17-year-old fresher Heshan Kumarasiri (whose elegant knock of 60 not out in the Big Match enabled him to reach the 1000-run mark) and Milan Abeysekera.

The batting sparkle for the Thomians will be provided by Nuwan Kavinda (who reached the 1000-run mark with an attractive 67 in the Thomian second innings), Sachin Peiris (who remained unbeaten with a superb innings of 77), Kavindu Perera, skipper Chamod Pathirana hard hitting Madushan Ravichandrakumar and opener Asiri Wickremanayake.

Last year Royalist Chalaka Bogoda made a well compiled 104 not out to become only the second centurion in the series after Royalist Heshan Morawaka who made 103 not out in 2004.