Rehan’s century propels Royal

by Reemus Fernando 

S. Thomas’ were 32 without loss at close after Rehan Peiris top scored with 158 runs to propel Royal to 319 for seven wickets declared on day one of the 146th Battle of the Blues at the SSC ground on Thursday.

Deciding to bowl first after winning the toss S. Thomas’ skipper Kavindu Dias took two early wickets with the new ball but Rehan Peiris who opened batting doused fears of an early collapse with a mighty knock that held the Royalists together.

The entertaining knock, the highest individual score by a Royalist since 2010 was inclusive of 21 fours and three sixes.

He became the fifth Royal batsman in the history of the Battle of the Blues to score over 150 runs. After Ramith Rambukwella scored 165 runs at the 2010 edition no batsman had scored over 150 runs.

At one stage he looked set to put on a big stand for the third wicket with Vimath Dinsara as Royal took lunch at 94 for two wickets. But Dinsara ruined a golden opportunity when he offered an easy catch off the bowling of Jaden Amaraweera to be out for 25 runs. The partnership was worth 91 runs.

Thewindu Wewalwala perished on 48 runs caught and bowled by part time bowler Dineth Goonewardene. When Royal decided to declare their innings Yasindu Dissanayake was unbeaten on 25 runs.

Thomian openers Avinash Fernando and Jaden Amaraweera negotiated ten overs without being parted.