S. Thomas’ College were bowled out for 302 in their first innings, while Royal College reached 175 for 4 when bad light brought an early end to play, with seven overs remaining, on the second day of the 147th Battle of the Blues played at the SSC Grounds yesterday.
Royal skipper Rehan Peiris once again rose to the occasion with a fluent 63 off 110 balls, striking six boundaries. The stylish right-handed opener also reached a significant milestone during his innings, completing 1,000 runs.
Peiris needed 54 runs to reach the landmark, which he achieved in his 14th match of the season, recording back-to-back 1,000-run aggregates in consecutive seasons.
Royal began their reply after lunch but suffered an early setback when opener Hirun Liyanarachchi was dismissed for a duck, falling to left-arm paceman Gimhan Mendis in the third ball of the innings.
Captain Peiris steadied the innings, joining Udantha Gangewatta to add 41 runs for the second wicket in 15.3 overs before Gangewatta was stumped for 18 by wicketkeeper Stevon Peiris off the bowling of Abheeth Paranawidana, who operated from the Tennis Court End.
At tea, Royal were 60 for 2, with Peiris on 39 and Vimath Dinsara on 2. However, the Sri Lanka Under-19 captain did not last long after the interval, trapped LBW for 11 by Gimhan Mendis in the 25th over.
Peiris then found solid support in Ramiru Perera as the pair built a valuable 78-run stand for the fourth wicket, Royal’s highest partnership of the innings.
Peiris brought up his half-century in 81 balls but was eventually dismissed for 63, caught by substitute fielder Nethuka Ometh off Ludeesha Nimsara.
Former Royal skipper Ramiru Perera held firm to remain unbeaten on 70 from 126 balls, striking 10 boundaries, while vice-captain Yasindu Dissanayake was not out on 2 at stumps.
For S. Thomas’, Gimhan Mendis was the most successful bowler with 2 for 44, while Abheeth Paranawidana and Ludeesha Nimsara chipped in with a wicket each.
Earlier in the day, S. Thomas’ resumed from their overnight 203 for 4 and were eventually dismissed for 302 in 124.1 overs.
Sixteen-year-old all-rounder Reshon Solomons top-scored with a composed 66 off 146 balls, including nine fours, while Ludeesha Nimsara contributed 23.
The Thomians added 99 runs for their last six wickets during the morning session.
Royal’s young left-arm paceman Gagan Gamage was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of 4 for 49 in 23.1 overs.
He was well supported by Sehandu Sooriyarachchi (3 for 64) and leg-spinner Himaru de Silva (2 for 43). With one day remaining, Royal are 175 for 4, still 127 runs behind S. Thomas’ first-innings total, leaving the final day finely poised if Royal can build on their overnight position.