147th Battle of the Blues Thomians bat all day for 203

Jaden Amaraweera (left) and Avinash Fernando complement each other

By M. Shamil Amit

Openers Jaden Amaraweera and skipper Avinash Fernando cracked half tons but S. Thomas’ College invited to take first lease of the wicket plodded the whole of the first day to end with a score of 203 for 4 against Royal College in their 147th Battle of the Blues encounter at the SSC ground yesterday.

Jaden made 52 which took him 177 balls that included seven boundaries while skipper Avinash hit 50 in 196 balls with five boundaries and the pair associated in an opening wicket stand of 110 runs that came off 241 balls.

The separation of the pair saw the Thomians falling back further as they lost their second wicket for the addition of seven runs.

They went into the tea break with the score on 125 for 2 and on resumption it was no different with their 150 runs on the board taking as much as 414 balls.

Apart from the opening wicket stand there were two brief but slow partnerships of 37 runs in 167 balls between Methuka Gunaratne and Aron Kodituwakku and 27 runs in 71 balls for the fourth wicket between Methuka and Reshon Solomons and the 90 overs bowled for the day saw it ending with 22 maidens.