Sports
Royal start favourites in historic Battle of the Blues
The stage is set for another chapter of the historic Battle of the Blues when traditional rivals Royal College Colombo and S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia clash in their annual Big Match which begins at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Thursday.
Royal enter the encounter as favourites once again with a formidable batting line-up and a well-balanced bowling attack. The Reid Avenue boys will also be determined to avenge their defeat at the hands of their arch rivals in last year’s edition when the Thomians produced a stunning turnaround to pull off a surprise victory despite Royal starting the match as favourites.
However, Big Match cricket has always been known for producing new heroes and unexpected twists. With several players who featured in last year’s encounter returning to the field, both teams are well aware that predictions and form books can often count for little in this prestigious contest.
The Thomians, led by Avinash Fernando, will start with the odds stacked heavily against them. To successfully defend the shield, they will need strong batting performances from the likes of Reson Soloman, Jaden Amaraweera, Lugeesha Nimsara, Aaron Kodituwakku and skipper Avinash Fernando.
Soloman has been among the most consistent performers this season, amassing close to 800 runs with centuries against St. Anthony’s College Katugastota and Mahinda College Galle. Amaraweera too has enjoyed a productive season, scoring more than 750 runs with centuries against Maris Stella College Negombo and Wesley College Colombo.
Kodituwakku has contributed over 650 runs including a century against St. Servatius’ College Matara, while both Nimsara and Fernando have crossed the 500-run mark during the season. Despite their impressive aggregates, none of the Thomian batsmen have maintained an average above 40, which could make their task challenging against a disciplined Royal bowling unit.
Much responsibility will also rest on spinner Abheeth Paranawidana, who has captured over 40 wickets this season and will be expected to produce a special performance if the Thomians are to keep Royal’s strong batting order under control.
Royal’s batting unit, however, appears stronger on paper. Captain Rehan Peiris has enjoyed an outstanding season, accumulating more than 900 runs at an average close to 50 — one of the most impressive batting performances in the school cricket season.
He has received excellent support from Hirun Liyanarachchi, who has scored over 800 runs, and Ramiru Perera, who has accumulated more than 700 runs. Significantly, all three of Royal’s leading batsmen have maintained averages above 40, providing the team with a solid top order.
Royal also boast strong leadership experience within the side, with three captains in the playing squad — Sri Lanka Under-19 captain Vimath Dinsara, former Royal skipper Ramiru Perera, and current captain Rehan Peiris.
In the bowling department, former Holy Cross College Kalutara spinner Himaru Deshan is expected to play a key role alongside Dushen Udawela, Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi, and Ramiru Perera in what appears to be a well-balanced attack.
With Royal seeking revenge and the Thomians determined to prove last year’s victory was no fluke, another thrilling encounter is on the cards when the two proud schools renew their rivalry at the SSC. The Battle of the Blues, as always, promises drama, passion, and perhaps the emergence of new heroes in Sri Lanka’s most celebrated school cricket contest.
Teams
S. Thomas’
(from): Avinash Fernando (Captain), Jaden Amaraweera, Aaron Kodituwakku, Methuka Gunarathne, Stevon Peiris, Ludeesha Matharage, Reshon Soloman, Gimhan Mendis, Abheeth Paranawidana, Raphael Hettige, Shanil Perera, Nethun Withanage, Aaron De Silva, Nethuka Ometh, Vihanga Mathagaweera, Minon Warnasuriya, Sineru Thanthiriwatte.
S. Thomas’ College Team
Officials: Nilanka Peiris (Head Coach)
Royal (from): Rehan Pieris (Captain), Vimath Dinsara, Yasindu Dissanayake, Ramiru Perera, Himaru de Silva, Manuth Dassanayake, Gagan Gamage, Sehandu Sooriyarachchi, Hirun Matheesha, Chanithu Kankanamge, Sandul Abeywardena, Mudith Gunasekara, Thevindu Wewalwala, Udantha Gangewatta, Mahiru Kodithuwakku.
Officials: Gamini Perera (Head Coach)
by Reemus Fernando
Brazil are the unlikely candidates to have claimed two cricket records as one of their bowlers took a record nine wickets – including five in a row – in their 189-run T20 Women’s International victory against Lesotho in Botswana.
Having won the toss on Thursday, at the BCA Kalahari Women’s T20 International Tournament, Brazil posted a daunting 202-8 with wicketkeeper Monnike Machado hitting 69 off 41.
The fun, for the Brazilians, was only just beginning, though, as Laura Cardoso claimed a hat-trick with the last three deliveries of her first over – the second of the Lesotho innings – to set in motion the incredible feat that eventually saw the Africans bowled out for 13.
The 21-year-old then continued her wicket-taking achievement with a Women’s T20 International first of five dismissals in a row as she struck with the first two balls of her second over. This was all part of claiming the first nine Lesotho wickets to fall, but being denied the chance to take all 10 after a change of bowling following her third over. Her final wicket was Ret’sepile Limema, who fell to the fifth ball of the fifth over, with Cardoso replaced for the following over at that end. Her nine wickets, nevertheless, is the best return in either men’s or women’s T20 internationals.
The right-arm seamer did, indeed, come close to another hat-trick, when she claimed wickets with the last two balls of her second over, which itself totalled four victims.
Cardoso, who has has taken 55 wickets in 48 T20 matches for Brazil, replaces Indonesia’s Rohmalia Rohmalia at the top of the Women’s T20 best bowling rankings, as she finished with figures of 3-2-4-9.
Rohmalia had claimed seven wickets in 2024 in a match against Mongolia in Bali. Only three other women have claimed seven in a T20 international.
The men’s record, and the overall in the format, had been held by Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey after he took eight wickets for seven runs against Myanmar last year.
The previous record for the number of wickets in consecutive deliveries was four, and was jointly held with the most prominent occasion in women’s cricket being when Shakera Selman pulled off the feat for the West Indies against Pakistan in 2018. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga are among the most notable bowlers from the men’s game to have claimed four consecutively in the format.
Although a huge winning margin, Brazil’s overall win does not compare with Argentina’s record after they beat Chile by 364 runs in 2023. The Argentinians had struck 427-1 to set up their victory.
Lesotho’s part in the record extends to no further than Cardoso’s haul, with the record-lowest total belonging to Mali, who were bowled out for 6 in 2019 by Rwanda.
Brazil, who lead the six-team tournament with five straight wins, play Mozambique on Friday.
[Aljazeera]
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| May 3 | 1st ODI |
| May 6 | 2nd ODI |
| May 9 | 3rd ODI |
| May 12 | 1st T20I |
| May 14 | 2nd T20I |
| May 15 | 3rd T20I |
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