142nd Roy-Tho: Royal dominate as Thomians struggle at 87-9 on Day 2

Royal College dominated over S. Thomas' College on the second day of the 142nd Battle of the Blues big match cricket encounter, which got underway today (29) at the SSC ground in Colombo. 

At stumps, S. Thomas' were struggling at 87 for the loss of 9 wickets after the match started today at 12.59pm, with the first day being fully washed out due to rain. 

Putting the Thomians into bat, Royal were in a much stronger position at the beginning, sending four of their opposition batsmen back into the pavilion when the total was merely at 9.

Right-arm fast bowler Sonal Amarasekara caused the early damage capturing the first three of the Thomian wickets in the first three overs of his first spell, to end the day with impressive figures of 3 for 6 after bowling five overs.

He claimed the wickets of Romesh Mendis (0), skipper Shanil de Mel (1) and Ryan Fernando (0).

Right-arm fast bowler Kavindu Pathirathna took his share of bowling honours claiming the fourth Thomian wicket, Senesh Hettiarachchi (1) at 9, conceding 17 runs after bowling nine overs. 

Right-arm fast bowler Dan Poddiwela put the Thomians in further disarray when he claimed their fifth batsman at 21, sending back opener Anuk Palihawadena (7) as the fifth Royal victim.     

The Thomians were never given the chance to breath freely by the Royalists, who applied pressure on every opportunity possible as left-arm leg spinner Gishan Balasooriya came from behind to capture the remaining four wickets to fall during the day's play. 

Balasooriya ended the day with figures of 4 for 39 in 16 overs, and claimed the wickets of Caniston Gunaratnam (12), Nathan Caldera (9), Thenuka Liyanage (0) and Mahith Perera (22), before stumps were drawn at 5.00pm on the second day of the three-day match.
 
The first day's play of the 142nd Battle of the Blues was called off without a ball being bowled on Thursday (28).

The toss of the match was made at 12.30pm on the second day, today, after overnight rain prevented any possible play during the first session of the second day. 

The Royal team wore black arm bands in respect of Zulki Hamid, a former Royal skipper and an active member of the Joint Match Organising Committee, who passed away during August this year due to COVID-19.

The match ends on Saturday (30). 

S. Thomas' 87 for 9 (47) at stumps (Yasiru Rodrigo 30n.o., Mahith Perera 22, Caniston Gunaratnam 12, Gishan Balasooriya 4/39, Sonal Amarasekara 3/6) vs Royal