The second-longest uninterrupted cricket series in the world, played between Royal College, Colombo, and S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, will be fought in its full glory for the 144th time for the prestigious D.S. Senanayake Memorial Shield from today at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC).
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all Big Matches had to be played behind closed doors for the safety of players and the massive crowd that usually turns up. However, with Covid-19 almost out of the equation, restrictions are no more as crowds are now allowed to fill the stands and enjoy three days of exciting cricket.
As the 144th Battle of the Blues is scheduled to take place next week, the limited-over Mustangs Trophy match will be played on 24 March at the same venue.
Boys from Mt. Lavinia
In this year’s encounter, the boys from Mt. Lavinia will be led by third-year colorsman Romesh Mendis. The skipper has led from the front with the bat, scoring 776 runs – the highest number of runs for his team this season. His deputy Mahith Perera has amassed 542 runs while Opening batter Thisen Eheliyagoda had scored 597 runs.
In the bowling department, third-year colorsman and right-arm seamer Nathan Caldera is the highest wicket-taker with 60 wickets. Akash Fernando has taken 49 wickets while Charuka Peiris has 55 scalps under his name.
Lads from Reid Avenue
The lads from Reid Avenue will play under the captaincy of all-rounder Dasis Manchanayake. The skipper has been in prime form, scoring 1,059 runs including a double century. Rehan Peiris is the second highest runs scorer with 604 runs and while Uvindu Weerasekara is next in line with 558 runs under his belt.
With the ball for the Royalists, Nethwin Dharmadasa is the highest wicket-taker with 31 wickets. Skipper Manchanayake and Ramiru Perera have each taken 27 and 29 wickets respectively.
Rich history
The Royal-Thomian has a rich and colourful history spanning across 143 years and is also the second-longest uninterrupted cricket series played in the world, second only to the annual encounter played between St. Peter’s College, Adelaide and Prince Alfred College in Australia that began just a year earlier.
The tally between the two schools at present stands at 35-all, but the shield at present is at S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, after winning it in 2019 under the captaincy of Sithara Hapuhinna. The Royalists last won the coveted shield under Geeshanth Panditharatne in 2016.