Thread: Royal Vs S.Thomas-131st Battle of the Blues

It is around this time of year that excitement overwhelms Royalists and Thomians all around the world, as the eagerly anticipated ‘Battle of The Blues’ takes Colombo by storm. Now in its 131st year, the annual Royal Thomian cricket encounter, the oldest school encounter in the world will be played on March 11, 12 and 13 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Grounds.
This most looked forward to sporting and social event is a day reserved and revered by present and past students of two of the most prestigious schools in Sri Lanka; Royal College and S. Thomas’ College. It is a fast, fierce and furious encounter of the world’s second oldest game – but always engaged in with the true spirit of gentleman-ship. It is in this spirit that international telecom giant Etisalat, now in Sri Lanka, has come forward to be the exclusive sponsor of this legendry event.
The announcement of Etisalat’s inaugural sports sponsorship in Sri Lanka was made at a press conference last week, where the much looked-forward-to cricket event will take off with all the traditional fanfare.
Royalists and Thomians young and old will stand together and sing their school anthems at the opening ceremony of the 131st extravaganza at SSC Grounds on Thursday March 11.
Fourth year coloursman and all rounder Bhanuka Rajapaksa will lead the Royalists while fourth year coloursman Dinesh Walpita captains the Thomian outfit. Both institutions which have brilliant players among the first XI pool are yet to select their final squad.
Etisalat Lanka CEO, Dumindra Ratnayaka said, “We are proud to be part of the oldest uninterrupted inter school cricket encounter played in the world. It is not simply a cricket match but a coming together of two great institutions which has nourished the culture and traditions of a generation. We at Etisalat believe in team sprit egged on by healthy competition and this encounter epitomizes the culture we endorse.”
Chairman of the Royal Thomian Match Organizing Committee 2010, Akmal Sathuk while thanking Etisalat, said, “We are happy to have obtained this sponsorship which will contribute enormously to the development of sports at both schools while enabling the usual traditions and camaraderie that goes with the match and which makes it legendary.”
Principal of Royal College, Upali Gunasekera while expressing his appreciation, added that this was a special year for Royal College as it celebrates its 175th anniversary, “The 131st three day ‘Battle of the Blues’ for the D.S. Senanayake Challenge Shield and the 35th One day ‘Mustangs Trophy’ encounters this year are also of special significance as it is in the 175th year. We are expecting many old boys coming down from overseas to witness these matches. We are also happy to welcome our new partner – Etisalat as the Principal Sponsor of both matches.”
Warden S. Thomas’ College, Rev. John C. Puddefoot endorsed the sentiments expressed. “It is a great pleasure to be embarking on a new partnership with Etisalat as principal sponsor of the Royal-Thomian matches for 2010 to 2012. These are the most eagerly-awaited cricket matches in the calendar which attract worldwide interest and huge local support. We look forward to a keenly-fought contest which will show off the best aspects of both schools and provide Etisalat with a worthy showcase for its presence in the communications market.”
Two fierce teams, a crowd of cheering fans, a gentleman’s game of cricket and a charged atmosphere; all the right ingredients to make the 131st Battle of the Blues an event to remember.

131st Battle Of The Blues | The Sunday Leader

One of these days I'll go home in March just to be at the big match........ Good luck Thora... lets have fun.........

http://www.nation.lk/2010/03/07/B_match_royal.pdf

Good analysis of teams.From Nation

Originally Posted by haishan

One of these days I'll go home in March just to be at the big match........ Good luck Thora... lets have fun.........

Yeah man! i want to do that as well!!

Go Royal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Royal!!!!

131st annual ‘Battle of the Blues’ - Royal College Colombo v St Thomas College

VS


Royal have edge over S. Thomas’
by Leslie Fernando

Cricket: Two well balanced teams - traditional rivals Royal and S. Thomas’ will clash in their 131st annual ‘Battle of the Blues’ cricket encounter on March 11, 12 and 13 at the SSC grounds, Maitland Place.

New sponsors
New sponsors Etisalat will be in attendance at the three-day match.

Of the two schools, Royal have good reasons to be happy with their performances this season as they have recorded four wins - against Maliyadeva, Wesley, St. Joseph’s and St. Benedict’s in the 18 matches that they played. Royal, however, lost to Trinity and Prince of Wales and the rest of the games ended in draws.

Royal will be led by that experienced 4th year coloursman Banuka Rajapakse - the Sri Lanka Schools cricketer. He missed many matches as he was on national duty. Rajapakse hit a fine 132 against St. Sebastian’s College in the big-match warm up game last week (March 1 and 2). He also bowls medium-pace. He has a total of 378 runs and in bowling he has taken 20 wickets.


Royal College: Standing (Last Row: from left): Chirath Devasurendra, Lakshitha Landewela, Garuv Deva, Prabath Sampath, Waruna Dissanayake, Shavindra Edirisuriya. Middle Row: (Standing from left - Imal Liyanage, Dhanika Rajakaruna, Tharindu Abeysekera, Madusha Rajarathne, Milan Abeysekera, Imran Khan, Maushan Gunarathne, Devin Pathmanathan.
Seated from left: M.T.A. Rauff (Senior Games Master), Ramith Rambukwella, Chalaka Bogoda, Bhanuka Rajapakse, (Captain), Upali Gunasekera (Principal), Maneesha Tantrigoda, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Charitha Rajarathne, E.G.M. Rajakaruna (Master-in-Charge), G. Perera (Coach).


S. Thomas’ College: Seated from left: Lakmaal de Zoysa (Master-in-Charge). Vijitha de Silva (Prefect of Games), Lalindra Peiris, Ashane Fernando, Rev. John C. Puddefoot (Warden), Dinesh Walpita (Captain), Chamodh Pathirana, Sachin Peiris, Barney Reid (coach). Standing from left: Pasan Wijewardena, Brian Dharmasena, Kavindu Perera, Sachinda Liyanarachchi, Yasas Nanayakkara, Nilaksha Fernando, Dimitri Dolapihilla, Malinda Jayasinghe, Nuwan Kavinda, Neomal Wickremasekera, Madushan Ravichandrakumar, Umesh Fernando, Prabath Ariyaratne.

Royal with six coloursmen have quite a formidable batting side and in the team are three centurians - Charutha Rajaratne, Ramith Rambukwella and Waruna Dissanayake. Charutha Rajaratne has an aggregate of 556 runs with a score of 127 against St. Joseph’s as his highest, R. Rambukwella’s aggregate of 686 with 110 against St. Joseph’s as his top score while Waruna Dissanayake has a top score of 119 against St. Benedict’s in his total of 386 runs this season.

There is variety in the Royal bowling and this is something that will make them somewhat happy. The key bowler is left-arm leg-spinner Maneesha Tantrigoda who has an unique achievement - capturing 103 wickets for the season. He has five-wicket hauls eleven times. Best was 8 for 48 against Dharmaraja.

The Royal bowlers have delivered the goods and that is reflected in their four wins this season. S. Thomas’ will have their hands full in tackling the Royal attack in making something worthwhile when they take their turn in batting. Royal’s attack will comprise Imran Khan (right-arm medium-pace) 26 wickets, Charutha Rajaratne (right-arm leg-spin) 25 wickets, Ramith Rambukwella (right-arm leg-spin) 24 wickets.

Thomians behind
S. Thomas’ in their turn, is somewhat behind. The Thomians have been able to win only two matches this season - against Richmond College and newcomers - Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa. The Thomians have played 18 matches (inclusive of the third-term matches). The Thomian lost to Trinity like the Royalists. The other games that the Thomians ended in draws.

However, S. thomas’ can take some consolation in the fact that the team showed a marked improvement in their performances in the latter part of the season. Nuwan Kavinda - a fresher and a middle-order batsman has the satisfaction of scoring over 1,000 runs (1,089 runs) with his highest being 121 against Richmond.

He is quite a useful allrounder and has taken 13 wickets with his right-arm off-spin bowling. The Thomians will depend heavily on their five senior players all allrounders - skipper Dinesh Walpita, Ashane Fernando, Chamodh Pathirana, Lalindra Peiris and Sachin Peries to guide them through in this match.

Fourth year coloursman Dinesh Walpita leads the Thomians. He has scored 254 runs for the season and taken 18 wickets with his medium-pacers. The other key batsmen are: Chamodh Pathirana (451 runs), Ashen Fernando (571 runs), Lalindra Peiris (404 runs), Kavindu Perera (459 runs) together with Sachin Peiris (368 runs). These batsmen are capable of big things and this match may well be their day.

In bowling, fresher Noemal Wickremesekera - a left-arm leg-spinner has been the most impressive bowler in the Thomian side with a haul of 41 wickets.

The other bowlers who have performed effectively this season - Chamodh Pathirana second year coloursman - a right-arm medium-pace bowler with a haul of 32 wickets, Madushan Ravichandrakumar - a leg-spinner with 28 wickets and Laindra Peiris has taken 20 wickets with his right-arm off-spin.

Royal College: Banuka Rajapakse (captain), Ramith Rambukwella, Chalaka Bogoda, Maneesha Tantrigoda, Kithruwan Vithanage, Charutha Rajaratne, Imal Liyanage, Dhanika Rajakaruna, Tharindu Abeysekera, Madusha Rajaratne, Milan Abeysekera, Imran Khan, Manushan Gunarathne, Devin Pathmanathan, Chirath Devasurendra, Lakshitha Landewela, Garuv Deva, Prabath Sampath, Waruna Dissanayake, Shavindra Edirisuriya.

S. thomas’ College: Dinesh Walpita (captain), Lalindra Peiris, Ashane Fernando, Chamodh Pathirana, Sachin Peiris, Pasan Wijewardena, Brian Dharmasena, Kavindu Perera, Sachinda Liyanarachchi, Yasas Nanayakkara, Nilaksha Fernando, Dimitri Dolapihilla, Malinda Jayasinghe, Nuwan Kavinda, Neomal Wickemasekera, Madushan Ravichandrakumar, Umesh Fernando, Prabath Ariyaratne.

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2010/03/07/spo01.asp

Royal confident of victory
DINESH WEERAWANSA

Royal College, Colombo are confident of holding the upper hand and pressing for a win when they meet their traditional rivals S.Thomas’ College, Mt.Lavinia in their 131st Battle of the Blues three-day cricket encounter which starts at SSC grounds, Colombo on Thursday.

The Reid Avenue boys have been shaping well this season with four wins against Wesley, St. Benedict’s, Maliyadeva and St. Joseph’s. But they suffered a set back in the final lap that leads to the big ‘un, going down to Trinity. That was their second defeat for the season, having lost to Prince of Wales earlier.

Even then, the shock defeat at the hands of Trinity should not bother them too much as the hill capital school also humbled S.Thomas’ a few weeks ago.

Royal team is a blend of experience and youth. They have the services of six coloursmen, including skipper Bhanuka Rajapakse, who has turned out to be a vital cog in the Sri Lanka youth team.

Fourth-year coloursman Rajapakse who leads Royal this season, missed a few games as he was on national duty with the youth teams. He has represented Sri Lanka at Under-17 and 19 levels, showing his talent as a reliable top order batsman. The left hander was the vice captain of the Sri Lanka Under-19 team’s recent tour of South Africa.

He proved his credentials as a future national star, winning two man of the match awards in the ICC Under 19 World Cup played in New Zealand earlier this year. In seven matches this season, Rajapakse has scored 540 runs with top score of 132 against St. Sebastian’s last week.

Fourth year coloursman Maneesha Thantirigoda is the vice captain of the side. Besides his useful contributions as a left hand middle order batsman, Thanthirigoda has shown greater success as a left arm leg spinner.

He has shown no mercy to batsmen with his deadly leg breaks, becoming the first Royalist to reach that magical 100-wicket mark in a 1st XI season. On ten occasions, he has innings analysis of five wickets or more and match bags of ten wickets and over six times.

Besides skipper Rajapakse and Thanthirigoda, the other star player in the team is third year coloursman Kithruwan Vithanage. He is an aggressive left hand top order batsman and a useful right arm leg spinner. Vithanage served as the Vice Captain of the Sri Lanka Youth World Cup squad. Vithanage also won man of the match awards on two occasions at the Youth World Cup in New Zealand.

Opening batting for the Reid Avenue boys will be third-year coloursman Chalaka Bogoda who has scored nearly 500 runs this season. His partner in the top order - Ramith Rambukwella, son of Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, has shown great form this season, scoring over 900 runs this season with an impressive average of 50.55.

The much looked forward to ‘big match’ could well give an opportunity to the seasoned campaigner and second-year coloursman Ramith Rambukwella to complete that memorable 1,000-run milestone. He has scored centuries against St.Joseph’s (110), St.Peter’s (103) and Maliyadeva (100).

Undoubtedly, skipper Rajapakse will be the ‘king’ of the galaxy of stroke makers in the Royal batting line-up, which includes Bogoda, Rambukwella, Vithanage, Charutha Rajarathna and Madushan Gunaratne - the stumper of the side.

Rajarathna, a second year coloursman and left hand middle order batsman, has aggregated over 600 runs this season with a top score of 127 against St.Joseph’s.

Among the others who are capable of keeping the scoreboard moving are Madusha Rajaratne Devind Pathmanathan, Shavinda Edirisuriya, Imal Liyanage and Waruna Dissanayake, who has a top score of 119 against St. Benedict’s in a season’s aggregate of over 400 runs.

Sharing the new ball attack are freshers Imran Khan and Guarav Deva Khan, who has the identical name of legendary Pakistani quick bowler, has captured nearly 30 wickets at an average of 18.38, unique by any standard.

But the deadliest weapons in the Royal bowling armory are the leg breaks of Thanthirigoda, who has captured a century of wickets. He has produced a season’s best innings analysis of 8 for 48 against Dharmaraja.

None of the other Royal bowlers has captured even one third of Thanthirigoda’s ‘harvest’, which speaks volumes of control the left-armer has had during the season.

True that Royal will be over dependent on Thanthirigoda but there are few others who could pose a serious threat to Thomian batting. Right arm off spinner Dhanika Rajakaruna is one such bowler who could add variety to Royal attack.

This is the 17th consecutive year that the Mecca of Sri Lanka cricket - the SSC grounds, will be hosting the Royal-Thomian cricket encounter. Since switching back to the SSC in 1994, all matches of the series have been played at Maitland Place. However, the Royal-Thomian was first played at the SSC grounds way back in 1975. Overall, the SSC has hosted 24 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.

Of the 130 encounters played, S.Thomas’ takes a lead with 34 wins to Royal’s 33 with the rest drawn.

The Royal-Thomian series has maintained its rich traditions for 13 decades, making an immense contribution to Sri Lanka cricket, producing some of the brilliant cricketers that the country has ever produced.

Heading that proud list of national stars are two former Sri Lanka captains Ranjan Madugalle (Royal), the current ICC Chief Match Referee, and Duleep Mendis (S.Thomas’), now a veteran cricket administrator.

The Royal-Thomian is not just another inter-school cricket match and it has turned out to be the prime event of their social calendar for both Royalists and Thomians young and old, as well as for their supporters. It would provide ideal atmosphere for them to recall past memories and share their experience.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/03/09/spo01.asp

Royal-Thomian encounter online

The Royal ‘Thomian Cricket Match which is the second oldest un-interrupted cricket match in the world (131 years) is a Social event that is eagerly looked forward to by many, primarily by the alumni of the two schools but the extended family of parents, sisters, girlfriends, politicians, diplomats and other followers make this a sought after event in the sporting and social calendar of Sri Lanka.

The organizers have this year introduced a new system for the tickets ‘Buy one and get one free’ which are available with the respective schools, online at www.royalthomian.info and to the member only tents. Also the according to the new system when you ‘buy your three day ticket and get the one day match entry free!’

Thereby the spectators will only make one purchase and be entitled for both events; this is to give added value, encourage increased participation at both events, and to provide convenience to all. Spectators will be assured of a seat in the same block for the 4 days of fun, renewing old acquaintances, a journey down a lane filled with nostalgia and happy memories.

The matches will be held on March 11, 12 and 13 with the 50 overs Mustangs Trophy encounter on March 20, beginning at 10:00 am each day.

Security
Due to the prevailing conditions certain security measures are planned in the interest of all, spectators are subject to body checks on entry. For the convenience of all we are also making arrangements for parking of vehicles and a special free shuttle service operating to transport spectators from the designated car parks to the match and back.

In keeping with security advice, any spectator found misbehaving, being unruly, or a nuisance for the comfort and safety of others will be evicted from the grounds and his or her ticket confiscated.

Glass bottles and other possible dangerous items will not be permitted into the grounds. We encourage you to get most of your requirements from the concession stands and support sponsors. Spectators are encouraged to remain in their tents to ensure their sears stay reserves as seats are on a first come first served basis.

If you are not at the Match you will have the opportunity to have the details of the match on the following web site www.royalthomian.info which will update scores and possibly provide a link to commentaries for those interested persons overseas. The SLBC sports frequency would also relay live radio commentaries daily from the grounds.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/03/09/spo03.asp

Oh not that horrible Radio commentory with grandpas making 18th century jokes for god's sake!!!

A good balance Royal side against against an average Thora side.
Royal so far has been batting steady but slow.

Go Royal we need 400today.