Left hander Uvindu Weerasekera made an unbeaten 62 in 95 balls with nine fours as Royal College made a bold reply of 136 for 4 against S. Thomas’ College when bad light stopped play on the second day of the 143rd Battle of the Blues at the SSC ground yesterday.
It was gloomy weather on the second day while rain interrupted play at the beginning. The Thomians continuing from 207 for 6 overnight were all out for 242 after overnight batter Charuka Pieris was out leg-before to young Sandesh Ramanayake in the second over of the day.
The number eight batter Mahith Perera succeeded in making 33 in 83 balls with two fours while the Mount Lavinia lads were added just 35 runs to their overnight total.
Gishan Balasooriya the skipper was the most successful bowler for Royal capturing 3 for 56 while the promising paceman Sandesh Ramanayake the youngest son of the former National fast bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake finished with impressive figures of 2 for 16 in his 12 overs with five maidens.
Royal’s openers Sineth Jayawardena and Savindu Seneratharachchi were unable to make a good start producing only three runs before Seneratharachchi was out leg-before to Kavindu Dias in the second over for one run.
Jayawardena the experienced left hander who is in the Under 19 National squad played with more confidence scoring 32 in 38 balls with six fours while Sri Lanka Under-19 allrounder Sadeesha Rajapaksa lasted just 12 balls batting at number three to make just five runs.
He was picked up by Janindu Abeygunawardena in the sixth over of the innings.
But Uvindu Weerasekera and Sineth Jayawardena put on a partnership of 58 runs for the third wicket as Weerasekara anchored the innings to finish the day on an unbeaten 62.
With him was Ramiru Perera unbeaten on nine runs at the wicket when bad light stopped play at 4.26 pm. Royal trail by 106 runs with six wickets in hand and are expected to make a substantial total today the third and final day on the SSC wicket.
Chief scores
S. Thomas’ College 242 (Senesh Hettiarachchi 55, Charuka Pieris 51, Mahith Perera 33, Sandesh Ramanayake 2/16 , Gishan Balasooriya 3/56, Ramiru Perera 2/36, Bulan Weeratunga 1/29, Dasis Manchanayake 1/22)
Royal College 136 for 4 (Sineth Jayawardena 32, Uvindu Weerasekera 62 not out, Dasis Manchanayake 17, Caniston Gunaratnam 1/43, Kavindu Dias 2/38, Janidu Abeygunawardena 1/6)