146th Battle of the Blues (Day 3)
By Marlon Dale Ferreira
S. Thomas’ College pulled off a stunning and unexpected victory, toppling Royal College in an audacious run chase on the third and final day of the 146th Battle of the Blues at the SSC ground in Colombo on Saturday. Defying expectations, the Thomians chased down a target of 233 in 42 overs, securing the DS Senanayake Shield after two years in what will go down as one of the most thrilling finishes in the history of this prestigious school cricket encounter.
Royal’s Declaration Gamble Backfires
Royal College, seemingly underestimating their opponents, made a bold yet costly decision by declaring their second innings at 215 for 8, leaving 42 overs for the Thomians to chase 233. The Royal camp, prioritizing sportsmanship over strategy, banked on skipper and leg-spinner Ramiru Perera and speedster Ranuka Malaviarachchi to either bundle their opponenets within 42 overs or at least curtail their run making in securing a draw.
Their declaration gamble seemed justified when the Thomians started cautiously, managing just eight runs in the first five overs, signaling that the match was heading toward an expected draw. At tea the Thomians had mustered just 18 runs for the loss of 1 wicket off 12 overs bowled and the target of reaching 233 in the balance 30 overs seemed a distant dream. However, what followed after tea was a dramatic shift in momentum as the Thomian batters launched an aggressive counterattack, virtually turning the game on its head.
Diego’s Hat-Trick Sparks a Royal Collapse
Before the Thomian batters had their say, off-spinner Darian Diego provided a game-changing moment for S. Thomas’, single-handedly dismantling Royal’s middle order with a stunning hat-trick. His brilliant spell reduced Royal from a comfortable 201 for 5 to a shaky 201 for 8, giving his team a fighting chance.
Diego’s feat made him only the fourth bowler in the history of the Battle of the Blues to claim a hat-trick, joining an exclusive club that includes Royal’s GP Keuneman (1901) and Thomians E. Elapata (1945) and R. Mapatuna (1997).
Soysa’s Blitzkrieg Sets Up the Chase
With the game delicately poised, Sadev Soysa who came in at the fall of Mithila Charles’ wicket then stepped up in emphatic fashion, smashing a game-changing 52 off just 32 balls which included 4 fours and 3 sixes. His fearless hitting injected new energy into the Thomian innings, putting the Royalists on the back foot and setting the stage for an unlikely but sensational victory.
Soysa’s aggressive intent swung the momentum in the Thomians’ favor, leaving them well within reach of the target with enough time to complete the chase.
15-Year-Old Solomons Seals the Win in Style
Just when Royal hoped to make a comeback, the youngest player on the field, 15-year-old Reshon Solomons, played like a seasoned veteran, guiding the Thomians home with a composed unbeaten 50 off 47 balls.
With seven balls to spare, Solomons struck the winning run, etching his name in history as the match-winner for S. Thomas’. His innings overshadowed that of his senior teammate Dineth Goonewardena, who followed up his first-innings century with another solid half-century, facing the same number of deliveries as Solomons. Whilst Solomons tonked four sweetly timed hits to the ropes Goonewardena read the game to perfection, controlling proceedings in the middle and also shepherding his young warrior in Solomons who demonstrated class with every stroke he played. Goonewardena incidentally hit just one single boundary in his innings of fifty also etching his name into the history books just like Royalist batter Rehan Peiris had done earlier for Royal to have scored a century and a fifty in the same game.
Royal’s Missed Opportunities and Thomian Glory
Royal’s fielding woes and ineffective bowling attack, aside from Ramiru Perera’s three-wicket haul proved costly as the Thomians seized every opportunity that came their way.
The final moments of the match saw Solomons and Goonewardena confidently taking on a deflated Royal bowling unit, ensuring that S. Thomas’ completed a chase that had initially seemed improbable.
A Historic Win for the Thomians
The 146th Battle of the Blues will be remembered for Royal’s risky declaration, Diego’s hat-trick, Soysa’s explosive innings, and the composed brilliance of young Solomons.
In the end, S. Thomas’ College emerged victorious, reclaiming the DS Senanayake Shield in dramatic fashion, proving once again that cricket is a game of uncertainty, nerve, and resilience.
PHOTOS CREDIT :- PULSE
