How Sanga inspired Royal to conquer what seemed insurmountable
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Pasindu Sooriyabandara
A week prior to the 137th Battle of the Blues, former Sri Lanka captain and cricketing great Kumar Sangakkara had a morale boosting chat with the Royal College First XI squad, which contributed to their stunning 4-wicket win against traditional rivals S. Thomas’ College. Sangakkara, now a national selector, had met the Royal cricketers, who were tagged underdogs prior to the big game, at the Royal College Auditorium in Colombo 7, for an almost 45-minute chat. During his inspiring speech in Sinhala, Sangakkara spoke of how he managed himself physically as well as mentally before a game, which he thought stood him well in his glittering career. He told the Royal cricketers on how important it is to be self-motivated and go out with only one aim – to win.
Sangakkara’s chat eventually, seemed to have carved deep into the hearts of the Royalists, who went out and stunned their erstwhile rivals, S. Thomas’, who had more accolades showered upon them, than Royal did. Sangakkara had reminded the Geeshath Panditharatne-led Royal unit that they were a not a meek side and had two batsmen who had totalled over 1000 runs each, and a bowler who had over 100 wickets. “The boys received Sangakkara’s inspiring and motivating examples, most of them related to his career. They were happy to have someone like him come before an important game, which is the second oldest in the world,” stated Royal College Head Coach, Suranga Wijenayake.
Eventually, after being totally dominated by the Thomians on the first day, a more resolute Royal team took the fight to their opponents and won the game, with debutant 16-year-old top-order batsman Pasindu Sooriyabandara stealing the show.
S. Thomas’ batted the whole of the first day before declaring at 350 for the loss of 5 wickets, with opener Rashmika Opatha weighing in an enterprising knock of 124. Royal were less regal in their reply and were on the ropes at lunch on the second day at 122 for 5, with its top order back in the pavilion and no stomach for lunch. Post-lunch, in walks Sooriyabandara and plays a gem of an innings.
Displaying maturity far beyond his 16-years, he stood tall and showed what grit really is. That it was not just a slogan. Ably supported by a fighting 78 from Malith Kariyawasam, which was no less important, the duo ensured a spirited Royal fight back of 328 for the loss of 9 wickets declared. In the Thomian second essay, Royal bowlers spearheaded by Himesh Ramanayake, shot them out for a paltry 127, leaving Royal a not-so-daunting target of 150 runs with ample time left. The rest is history according to Dinal Phillips, a member of the advisory committee for Royal College Cricket. “We had lost outright to Trinity College and the team was down after some bad games earlier, playing in a horrendously busy schedule.
We knew we had to do something to lift their spirits before the big match, which is the most important cricket match for any Royalist. Though we had not done that well as a unit, Royal had two batsmen who had scored over 1000 runs each, a bowler who had over 100 wickets in his tally and some excellent batsmen and bowlers. But what had occurred during the 21 games before the big match was not an excuse. We had to do something to get the boys into shape,” Phillips explained.
“One of my closes friends suggested we get someone like Kumara Sangakkara to meet the boys. Despite his busy schedule, he obliged and made a wonderful speech, had a healthy conversation with the boys and got them together.
It was inspiring and the boys loved it, it undoubtedly lifted their spirits. For an international icon like Kumar Sangakkara to come and spend some time with a bunch of exhausted schoolboys, we have no words to thank him. He keenly followed the game and sent the boys some hints which eventually made Royal top dogs,” Phillips stressed. Kumar Sangakkara, alumni of Trinity College, the school which gave Royal a battering before the big match, has played in 134 Tests, 404 ODIs and 56 Twenty20s. He has scored 12,400 Test runs, 14,234 ODI runs, 1,382 Twenty20 runs, and a legend in his own right.