133rd Battle of the Blues cricket encounter:

Experienced Thomians take on determined Royalists

Dinesh WEERAWANSA

S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia could well capitalize on their experience and impressive season’s record when they take on their traditional rivals Royal College, Colombo 7 in their 133rd Battle of the Blues three-day cricket encounter which starts at the picturesque SSC grounds today.

Be it on experience of the team composition or the team’s track record during the current season, the Thomians are well ahead of Royal. Hence, they could well hold the key to this year’s Battle of the Blues encounter. Leading S. Thomas’ will be fourth-year coloursman Sachin Peiris. There are three other fourth-year coloursmen in the Thomian side, including last year’s captain Chamod Pathirana. That would be a big plus point in handling pressure situations in a key game such as Royal-Thomian.

Unlike last year, Royal may not have big name such as Bhanuka Rajapakse and Ramith Rambukwella. Nevertheless, they are determined to meet the challenge and live upto expectations under their new skipper Imal Liyanage after early setbacks. The Reid Avenue boys are looking forward to capitalize on S. Thomas’ pathetic performance in the last outing against Trinity, losing by nine wickets at Asgiriya.

However, the toss will play a decisive role in determining the worthy winners of the second oldest inter-school cricket series which was not even disrupted by the two World Wars. The SSC strip for the game look a slow track that could favour batsmen. Hence, the captain who calls correctly this morning would not hesitate to take the first lease, unless he has other ideas.

Even then, the top order of the team batting first should be cautious in the initial session as the early life of the wicket could give some assistance to quick bowlers. But if the openers of the side batting first put their heads down and survive the initial hour, there seems to be plenty of runs in the wicket.

If S. Thomas’ could win the toss and negotiate Royal’s opening bowlers well, the lads from Mount Lavinia will have a distinct advantage with their experience and proven ability.

But that does not mean that they should underestimate their opponents in any way. Royal has always been an unpredictable side in the Battle of the Blues series, often coming in as the underdogs and upsetting their opponents. If Royal could play to their true potential and take even the half chances that come their way, then the Reid Avenue boys could spring the biggest surprise this inter-school season.

S. Thomas' College captain Sachin peiris and Royal College captain Imal Liyanage

Sri Lanka Under-19 paceman Gaurav Deva, who shares the new ball with 15-year-old Chamika Karunaratne, could well pose a big threat to Thomian batsmen.

Hence, the Thomian top order should be extra cautious during the pre-lunch session today, if they bat first. Most often in the Royal-Thomian series, the season’s track record has been immaterial and the underdogs have always bounced back in recent times. Hence, even the most accomplished and experienced cricket experts would have second thoughts in making predictions. That has been the hallmark of this prestigious encounter which provides one of those rare opportunities to experience the true gentlemen’s game played in its true spirit.

Royal-Thomian has been more than a mere inter-school cricket match. It has been the annual meeting place for thousands of old boys of the two schools and their supporters. Even the Heads of State, including the late President J.R. Jayewardene had made it a habit of taking time off their busy schedules to catch the excitement which is unique for the Royal-Thomian. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe too has been a notable spectator at the series, even when he was the Prime Minister. The Royal-Thomian also brings politicians of both ruling party and the Opposition under one roof in the Mustangs tent to catch the big match fever and recall their old memories and traditions which are hard to match. Having chosen almost all top cricket grounds in Colombo as its host venue, it now seems that the Royal-Thomian has finally settled for the Mecca of Sri Lanka cricket - the SSC grounds, which will be hosting the Royal-Thomian cricket encounter for the 19th consecutive time. Since switching back to the SSC in 1994, all matches of the series have been played at Maitland Place.

However, it took almost a century for the Royal-Thomian to choose the SSC grounds as its host venue. The first ever Royal-Thomian at the SSC grounds was played in 1975, some 96 years after the inception of the series. Overall, the SSC has hosted 26 Royal-Thomian encounters, including the centenary encounter in 1979 - the year since the Battle of the Blues turned out to be a three-day affair. Except for the 1985 game, all matches since 1979 have been three-day games. Incidentally, the current ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle had the honour of leading Royal in that centenary encounter which was a drawn affair.

The Thomians take a close one-match lead in the series tally through a majority of the past 132 meetings were drawn. S. Thomas’ has won 34 matches while Royal has emerged victorious on 33 occasions.

The Royal-Thomian now provides yours truly a chance of going back to his pet subject and do a sports reporter’s job at least once a year. The writer’s elevation to the pinnacle of his career in journalism as Editor-in-Chief of the Sunday Observer has not stopped him from reporting the Royal-Thomian for the 25th successive year and to experience the rich culture associated with the series.

It has been a tremendous experience to be a part of the Battle of the Blues series for the 36th consecutive year, initially as a schoolboy at the blue and gold school from the 98th encounter and then as a sports writer covering the match after leaving college.

THE TEAMS:

ROYAL COLLEGE: Imal Liyanage (Captain), Roaneka Ahangamage, Isuru Gunatileka, Samapath de Silva, Heshan Kumarasiri, Milan Abeysekera, Chamika Karunaratne, Devin Pathmanathan, Poorna Aluthge, Gaurav Deva, Anupa Tillekeratne, M.T.M. Rauf (Senior Games Master), E.G.M. Rajakaruna (Master In Charge), Neil Rajapakse (Coach).

S. THOMAS’ COLLEGE: Sachin Pieris (Captain), Asiri Wickremanayake, Javed Bongso, Thilaksha Sumanasiri, Chamod Pathirana, Madushan Ravichandrakumar, Umesh Fernando, Dilum Fernando, Rishen Mathangaweera, Dinush Peiris, Devin Jayasinghe, J.B. Peiris (Prefect Of Games), Lakmal de Zoysa, (Master-In-Charge), Ranil Pieris (Coach).

Umpires: Asoka de Silva and Ruchira Palliyaguru.