- 145th Battle of the Blues (Lunch Day 2) – Live from Brumbies Tent
Royal skipper Sineth Jayawardena came to his team’s rescue by scoring a half century and also putting on an invaluable unbroken 78 run partnership with Ovina Ambanpola ensuring that Royal lost no further wickets, as they went to lunch at 79 for 2 on day two in the 145th Battle of the Blues at the SSC Grounds.
The Thomians were cock a hoop after their two pacemen Akash Fernando and Ashen Perera sent both the Royal openers back to the pavilion by the third over after play began with Perera trapping Isula Geenage LBW for a duck and Fernando the left armer bringing one into the right hander Rehan Peiris to have him castled over.
That was the only bit of joy the Thomians had as the Royal skipper Jayawardena took firm control and bided his time at the middle whilst dispatching the loose deliveries to the fence. Jayawardena brought up his first fifty of this big match series by guiding paceman Dias to the third man boundary.
Ambanpola on the other hand dropped anchor and currently is occupying one end and providing that much needed support to his skipper preventing the Thomian bowlers from making any further inroads.
The wicket at present as described by former Royalist Gamini Perera prior to the start of play is a belter of wicket to bat on, offering absolutely no assistance to the bowlers.
Yesterday, the Thomians batting virtually the entire day were dismissed for 297 runs.
This report is brought to you from the Brumbies Tent where much action is currently taking place beyond the boundary lines at the SSC Grounds.