144th Battle of the Blues

by Reemus Fernando  

Skipper Dasis Manchanayake and Ramiru Perera staged a dramatic fight back after Thomian pacemen rattled the top four wickets for Royal to post 326 for eight wickets at stumps on day one of the 144th Battle of the Blues at the SSC on Thursday.

The pair broke the all time record for the fifth wicket partnership as they defied Thomians during the entire second session. Manchanayake scored 137 runs inclusive of 17 fours and never let the initial damage dampen the spirits of the Royal camp and thousands of school boys who had returned to the match after two years. Despite losing four wickets for 63 runs Royal batsmen played positively and took lunch at 83 for four wickets.

The pair broke the 70 year-old all time record for the fifth wicket partnership (187) held by P.I. Peiris (123) and G.L. Wijesinghe (64) after erasing the Royal partnership record for the fifth wicket. The 60-year-old Royal record was held by V.P. Malalasekara (112n.o.) and C.M. Fernando (47n.o.) who had put on an unfinished partnership of 165 runs at the 1963 match.

Manchanayake and Perera had reached their half centuries before tea and continued to frustrate the Thomians during the final session as both reached their centuries. When paceman Kavindu Dias separated the duo they had extended their record stand to 229 runs. It was Dias who accounted for both centurions. Perera made 128 runs (in 186 balls, 15x4s,  2x6s).

The big stand and the ease in which the Royal pair batted during the last two sessions was in utter contrast to the morning session where the pacemen dominated under overcast conditions.

Deciding to field first after winning a vital toss, S. Thomas’ got the start they wanted with Akash Fernando getting Rehan Perera caught behind for just four runs in the first over. Nathan Caldera then bowled Sri Lanka Under 19 cap Sineth Jayawardena for just one run.

First change bowler Kavindu Dias joined the party getting Uvindu Weerasekara out caught at deep backward square leg  in his first ball. Ovina Ambanpola,  who was repairing the early damage with skipper Manchanayake was bowled by  left-armer Fernando for a carefully made 30. Royal had just 62 runs on the board when they lost their fourth wicket.

The dismissal of the two  centurions exposed a fragile tail who could not negotiate the pacemen in the latter part of the final session where Fernando returned to take two more wickets under overcast conditions.