By Marlon Dale Ferreira
Cricket was the ultimate winner as the much-anticipated Royal-Thomian Old Boys Big Match in Los Angeles wrapped up with thrilling contests, unforgettable camaraderie, and a celebration of tradition that united two proud alumni communities.
Despite a weather-induced delay and a reduced overs format, the main event saw the Royal College Old Boys Association of North America (RCOBANA) lift the coveted Teachers’ Trophy with a 22-run win over their arch-rivals, the Thomian Alumni of California (TAC). Originally scheduled as a 30-over game, persistent rains in the days leading up forced the game to be curtailed to 18 overs per side, but the shortened format only added to the excitement.
Royalists Hold Their Nerve in Rain-Shortened Thriller
After losing the toss, a blessing in disguise, the Royalists were sent in to bat on a drying pitch. Early nerves were evident when last year’s centurion, Malintha Thotuwilage, fell for just 5, skying a catch to deep square leg off Channa Karunaratne.
But the innings stabilized with a key partnership between Peshan Wedanarachchi (22) and Sanjiv Fernando (41), pushing the score to 83 before Aruk Suraweera added a valuable late cameo of 15 runs. Capitalizing on wayward Thomian bowling, which included 15 wides and a no-ball, Royal ended their innings at a competitive 106 for 6 in 18 overs.
Thomians Falter in the Chase Despite Late Surge
Chasing 107, TAC’s innings got off to a shaky start. The father-son duo of Shammika and Chethaka Rodrigo opened, but soon, along with Naveen Peiris, found themselves back in the pavilion as uneven bounce and sticky conditions troubled the top order. Struggling at 10 for 3, wickets continued to tumble regularly.
Skipper Vishan De Mel tried to anchor the innings but fell for 12, edging behind. With the scoreboard reading 58 for 9, the Thomians looked down and out until Newton Weerasinghe stepped in with fireworks, smashing two sixes and a boundary in a spirited unbeaten 30, partnered by Ryan Jayatillake (4 not out), adding 26 unbeaten runs for the final wicket. Despite their efforts, the Thomians closed on 84 for 9, 22 runs short.
The Royalist bowlers were clinical, with Arosha Mataraarachchi, Dasith Warawita, and Harshana Rajakaruna taking two wickets apiece in a superb team effort.
Thomians Strike Back in Soft Ball Encounter
Though RCOBANA took the main prize, TAC had their moment of triumph in the annual 5-over soft ball match, a crowd-favorite played to ensure broader participation and continued fun.
Led amiably by Dr. Amila Silva, the Thomians chased down their target of 45 runs with ease, claiming a 9-wicket win and reclaiming the soft ball trophy having previously won it in 2022 and 2023, after narrowly losing in 2024.
A Day to Remember: Friendship, Family & Cricket
Beyond the results, the event stood out for its community spirit. A healthy crowd of alumni, families, and friends filled Woodley Park, sharing stories, cheering from the sidelines, and enjoying the signature warmth of Royal-Thomian camaraderie.
A special mention goes to groundsman Rodney, whose hard work ensured play could even begin after days of rain and who also celebrated his birthday on match day, earning cheers from both camps.
The matches were graced by both alumni presidents Prof. Richard Shobhana Gunasekera (RCOBANA) and Akila Jayawardena (TAC) and longtime supporter Yuvaraj Sivalingam, a Thomian who played in the very first Royal-Thomian LA encounter back in 1989. Incidentally Ryan Jayatillake and Ranesh Peiris were Yuvaraj Sivalingam’s team mates in that inaugural encounter.
Legacy Over Outcome: Royal-Thomian LA Encounter Celebrates Spirit Over Score
With every swing of the bat, every ball bowled, and every shared laugh on and off the field, the Royal-Thomian Old Boys encounter in Los Angeles once again proved that beyond victory or defeat, it’s the legacy, sportsmanship, and enduring brotherhood that define this beloved annual tradition.
Despite challenging conditions, with one end of the pitch completely waterlogged and play restricted to a single bowling end, both teams showed immense commitment and heart by agreeing to play on, honoring the spirit of the fixture and the bond between two great institutions.
RCOBANA President Dr. Richard Shobhana Gunasekara captured the moment perfectly during the awards ceremony. Drawing on his unique connection to both schools, having started his education at S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia before moving to Royal College, where he excelled academically and earned colours in water polo, he praised the players for their unwavering camaraderie and sportsmanship, beautifully tying in the mottos of both colleges in his message.
He concluded his message with a quote that once hung on the wall of his father Rev. Richard Gunasekara (JP) the First’s office, a timeless reminder from legendary American sportswriter and poet Grantland Rice, capturing the essence of true sportsmanship:
“For when the One Great Scorer comes,
To mark against your name,
He writes, not that you won or lost
But how you played the game.”
And indeed, both teams played it in the finest spirit, with passion, grace, and mutual respect.
Editor’s note: 26/11/2025
Much credit must go to the ever-reliable Royal-Thomian duo, Manju Warawitage and Ranesh Peiris, whose unwavering commitment and behind-the-scenes efforts have been instrumental in bringing the Battle of the Blues in Los Angeles to life year after year. With remarkable consistency and dedication, they have led the organizing committee with passion and precision, ensuring every detail is in place, from pitch to program. Their leadership isn’t just impressive; it’s the heartbeat of this overseas tradition, and it’s thanks to individuals like them that this iconic encounter continues to thrive thousands of miles away from home.
