Royal grit prevails
15-year-old Dasis Manchanayake turned out as the hero for Royal with an unbeaten knock of 53 - Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
A defiant unbeaten half century by 15-year-old Dasis Manchanayake enabled Royal College avert the ignominy of a follow-on as the 141st Battle of the Blues encounter against S. Thomas’ College ended in a tame draw at SSC grounds yesterday.
The diminutive left-hander endured a baptism of fire to hit a memorable half century to join the list of Royal freshers who have achieved this feat on their debut in the big match.
Having walked into the middle in the third morning when Royal were in a spot of bother having lost two wickets in quick succession, including skipper Thevindu Senarathna, Manchanayake dug himself in to steer his side to safety as the game meandered into an inevitable draw.
Given a life on 9 by Ryan Fernando at short-leg off Caniston, Manchanayake weathered a bouncer barrage unleashed by the Thomians to remain unbeaten on 53 off 103 balls reaching the milestone by standing on his toes and smashing Thevin Eriyagama over two fielders in the cover region for his sixth boundary. Requiring treatment after being knocked down by a bouncer from Caniston, he continued batting unfazed with a maturity which belied his young age and small frame.
Manchanayake’s batting blossomed during the post-lunch session during a 67-run partnership for the eighth wicket with all-rounder Lahiru Madusanka which produced the most decisive phase of the game as Royal made 75 runs in 22.3 overs enabling a token declaration half an hour before the scheduled tea break despite having a deficit of 87 runs.
With the three-day encounter dead as a dodo after S. Thomas’ put into bat first, grinded out to make 369 in one and half days while Royal followed suit with a cautious approach, there were few sparks on the final day though there was some drama in the final session where only 45 overs were possible.
S. Thomas’ ended the day on 127 for 5 in their second innings after being three down for 31 at one stage. Ryan Fernando stroked a fluent 34 off 66 balls cracking five boundaries to steady the innings with a 45-run stand for the fourth wicket with Gavin Botheju who remained unbeaten on 36 facing 77 balls. Balasuriya finished with excellent figures of 17-5-42-4.
After a brisk opening stand of 26, Shalin de Mel holed out to Madusanka off Mishara who opened the attack with Pathirathna. Left-arm spinner Balasuriya struck in successive overs as Dilmin (22) who hit two boundaries and a six was stumped after dancing down the track while Sri Lanka Youth Cap Ravindu de Silva was trapped leg before.
Resuming from their overnight position of 127 for four, the only interest that remained in the game was whether Royal could pass the follow-on mark of 220. Royal’s overnight pair of Isiwara Dissanayake and Kavindu Pathirathna batted resolutely during the morning session which produced 80 runs for the loss of three wickets in 30 overs.
The Thomians attacked relentlessly with pace and spin with off spinner Umayanga Suwaris who claimed two for 35 striking in quick succession. Pathirathna was bowled around his legs attempting to sweep ending a vigil which saw him add 46 runs for the fifth wicket with Dissanayake. Royal skipper Thevindu Senarathna perished trying to bludgeon Suwaris with Caniston taking a superb overhead catch on the long on fence.
Dialog Axiata PLC’s Group CEO Supun Weerasinghe and Royal Principal B.A. Abeyratne hand over the D.S. Senanayake Memorial Shield to Thevindu Senaratne (Royal skipper) and Thevin Eriyagama (S. Thomas’ skipper), watched by S. Thomas’ Warden Rev. Marc Billimoria
With Royal tottering at 177/6, the Thomians attacked with renewed vigour as they sniffed a chance of forcing their rivals to bat again. Sri Lanka Youth cap Rasiru Rodrigo sent down five consecutive overs during a menacing spell. But Manchanayake held the fort for Royal during a torrid half hour before lunch and after the departure of Dissanayake who contributed an invaluable 42 off 118 balls with the help of four boundaries, including two off consecutive balls from Suwaris through the offside cordon.
S. Thomas’ took the second new ball when play began after lunch but the Royal batsmen were equal to the task with Manchanayake cracking Caniston through the covers for a boundary while Madusanka punched Rodrigo in similar manner for another boundary on the off to force Thomian skipper Eriyagama to bring on spinner Suwaris in the third over after the interval.
Having averted the danger of following on, Royal showed more positive intent with Madusanka playing the first confident looking shot of the day lofting Rodrigo to the long off fence. Manchanayake showed his class by punching Eriyagama through mid off with a sweetly timed push. The eighth wicket pair added 67 in 130 balls before a rush of blood saw Madusanka perishing, slashing at a delivery from Rodrigo only to find a thick outside edge through to the keeper.
Manchanayake completed his half century by slamming Eriyagama over the point fielders for his sixth boundary enabling Royal to make a surprise declaration at 282 for eight. It was Royal’s most productive session making 75 for the loss of one wicket in 22.3 overs.
It was a battle for survival in the morning session for Royal who scored 80 for the loss of three wickets in 30 overs going in for lunch at 207 for seven, still 13 runs shy of averting the follow on.
Resuming from their overnight total of 127 for four, the Royal pair of Dissanayake and Pathirathna dug anchor as the Thomians adopted an attacking field opening with the gentle pace of Shalin de Mel and Eriyagama.
The first boundary of the day came in the second over when Dissanayake drove Eriyagama to the fence resulting in spin being introduced in the form of Suwaris in the sixth over of the morning with Royal having progressed to 141 for 4.
Dissanayake survived a sharp chance on 20 at short leg after left arm pacer Rodrigo came into the attack. The elegant Royal left hander hit the second boundary of the morning caressing spinner Suwaris through mid off as drinks were taken for the first time with Royal having prospered to 168 for 4 in 67 overs.
The Thomians finally got a breakthrough soon after resumption when Pathirathna who was more circumspect of two, attempted to sweep Suwaris only to find his stumps castled after being bowled around his legs having shared in a crucial 46-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Royal skipper Senarathna edged the first ball from Suwaris to the third man fence and was intent on opening his broad shoulders but he did not last long falling to the guiles of the off spinner. With the runs drying out as Rodrigo sent down consecutive maiden overs from the Vidya end, Senarathna attempted to break the shackles by heaving Suwaris to long on, only for Caniston to pocket the skier taking a well judged catch over his head just inside the boundary against the backdrop of the sun shining brightly.
The introduction of Caniston saw Thomians attacking with all out pace and diminutive Manchanayake who square drove Suwaris through point for a delightful boundary, being shaken by a bouncer from the gangly paceman resulting in the second drinks interval being taken early with Royal 193 for 6 in 77.4 overs.
To Caniston’s dismay, Manchanayake was given a life a couple of overs later by Ryan Fernando at short leg with the ball popping in and out of his hands, just half an hour before lunch. However, there was no respite for Royal who had their backs to the wall when Rodrigo captured the prized wicket of Dissanayake. The switch from the Vidya end from where he sent down five consecutive maiden overs did the trick for Rodrigo, trapping Dissanayake plumb in front with his fourth delivery from the Tennis court end as the left hander missed the line complete after casually attempting to put him away on the leg side.
New batsman Lahiru Madusanka survived a few scares before lunch flashing at a delivery from Rodrigo outside the off while beaten by sheer pace from a Caniston delivery with the ball going through almost grazing his shirt.
| SCOREBOARD | |
| S. Thomas’ College 1st innings 369 all out (128.2) (Shalin de Mel 85, Ryan Fernando 70, Gavin Botheju 54, Gishan Balasuriya 2/68) Royal College 1st innings (127/4 in 55 overs overnight) Isiwara Dissanayake lbw b Rodrigo 42 (80.4: Left-arm pacer Rodrigo struck with his fourth delivery after switching ends trapping plumb in front as the left hander attempted to casually stroke him to the legside but missing the line completely) Kavindu Pathirathna b Suwaris 8 (68.5: The left-hander attempts to sweep a delivery pitched on middle and leg and misses) Thevindu Senarathna c Caniston b Suwaris 8 (72.2: A well judged overhead catch on the long on boundary as the batsman attempts to heave him out of the ground) Dasis Manchanayake not out 53 Lahiru Madusanka c Botheju b Rodrigo 29 (102: Attempts to slash a delivery on the off, only succeeds in getting a thick outside edge which was pocketed by the keeper) Prashan Kalhara not out 5 Extras (b10, w4, nb8, pen5) 27 Total (8 wickets; 104.3 overs) declared 282 Fall of wickets: 5-169 (68.5, Pathirathna), 6-177 (72.2, Senarathna), 7-201 (80.4, Dissanayake) 8-268 (102, Madusanka) Did not bat: Gishan Balasuriya Bowling: Yasiru Rodrigo 26-8-52-2 (3w), Gunaratnam Caniston 15-3-35-1 (2nb, 1w), Thevin Eriyagama 38.3-4-44-1, Kishan Munasinghe 19-6-38-2 (5nb), Dilmin Rathnayake 9-0-32-0, Umayanga Suwaris 18-4-55-2 (1nb), Shalin de Mel 4-0-11-0 S. Thomas’ College 2nd innings Dilmin Rathnayake st Kavindu Madarasinghe b Balasuriya 22 (10.4: The left-hander tries to dance down the wicket and slam out of the park, only to be beaten by the spin and stumped) Shalin de Mel c Madusanka b Mishara 5 (9.1: Stepped out to loft over long on but only found the bottom edge of bat for Madusanka running from mid-on to take the catch) Ravindu de Silva lbw b Balasuriya 4 (12.3: Left arm spinner struck in successive overs, adjudged leg before, comprehensively beaten by a delivery which spun sharply and rapped him on the back pad as he crouched forward to play defensively) Ryan Fernando c Madusanka b Balasuriya 34 (28.2: Attempts to hit Balasuriya inside out over mid off, sliced to Madusanka who caught it on the second attempt) Gavin Botheju not out 36 Umayanga Suwaris c Kalhara b Balasuriya 5 (32.5: Attempts to pull into the stands, Kalhara scoops the skier at deep midwicket) Kishan Munasinghe not out 16 Extras (b2, lb2, nb1) 5 Total (5 wickets; 48 overs) 127 Fall of wickets: 1-26 (9.1, Shalin), 2-30 (10.4, Dilmin), 3-31 (12.3, Ravindu), 4-76 (28.2, Ryan), 5-83 (32.5, Umayanga) Bowling: Kavinda Pathirathna 6-0-22-0, Kamil Mishara 12-2-23-1, Gishan Balasuriya 17-5-42-4, Prashan Kalhara 3-0-7-0, Lahiru Madusanka 3-1-6-0 (nb1), Dasis Manchanayake 4-1-11-0, Thevindu Senarathna 1-0-4-0 |