146th Battle of the Blues: Rehan’s 158 lifts Royal

By M. Shamil Amit  

Rehan Peiris joined a select band of players as he struck a magnificent 158 to lift Royal to a commanding 319 for seven in their first innings on the opening day of the 146th battle of the Blues Inter-School Big Match against the traditional rivals S. Thomas’ College which commenced at the SSC Grounds in Maitland Place yesterday.   

In reply, the Thomian openers Avinash Fernando and Jaden Amaraweera negotiated the last 10 overs of the day as they finished on a promising 32 for no loss.   

However, the day belonged to Peiris, the stylish Royal opening batsman, who played the sheet anchor role during a marathon innings after the Thomians had won the toss and elected to field.  

His innings lasted for more than five hours, faced 221 deliveries while stroking 21 boundaries and three sixes during a spectacular combination of caution and aggression.   

Peiris took the Royal team to a solid start while reaching his fifty in 77 balls with one six and eight boundaries as the side from Reid Avenue reached 94 for 2 at lunch.  

He maintained the momentum after the resumption and completed the three-figure mark in 140 balls with the aid of two sixes and 16 boundaries.  

Peiris kept his end occupied and was sixth out with the Royal score at 301 after having figured in three splendid partnerships. He added 91 for the third wicket with Vimath Dinsara (25), 66 for the fourth wicket with Ramiru Perera (15) and 95 for the fifth wicket with Thevindu Wewalwala (48).