126th Battle of the Blues Ruhuna World Cup stars glitter as St. Servatius end 55-year wait

Former St. Servatius College and Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya (left) presents the trophy to captain of the winning St. Servatius College team Chamarindu Nethsara (right) in the presence of the school principal HKLS Virajith and Sri Lanka fast bowler Kasun Rajitha 

Text and pictures by P. D.  DE SILVA

A seven wicket haul by Lasindu Ramanayake and batting knocks from Nethmal Bandara and Sri Lanka Under-19 caps Viran Chamuditha and Chamarindu Nethsara helped St Servatius College Matara turn the 126th Battle of the Blues against St. Thomas’ College on its head to register a long awaited win on Sunday.

The Servatians won the match after a 55-year wait having moved into this year’s contest as favorites with the two Youth World Cup exponents in Chamarindu Nethsara and Viran Chamuditha in the ranks.

But having restricted the Thomians to a first innings total of 158, the Servatians were bowled out for 118 to trail by 40 runs which put them into a dicey situation. 

But the Servatians got their act together in the second innings as Lasindu Ramanayake with figures of 7/47 and Chamuditha with 3/59 curtailed the Thomian second essay to 137 giving them a victory target of 178 with over four sessions of play left in the three-day match.

However the pathway to the win was not all that rosy for the Servatians as they ended up at a shaky 73 for 4 and it was left to the Youth World Cup star Viran Chamuditha to take them to a well-deserved victory.

Chamuditha was dismissed for 81, but his skipper and fellow Youth World Cup batter Chamarindu Nethsara stood his ground never to disappoint as he hit the required winning runs to remain unbeaten on 34 while Nethmal Bandara with 42 not out assured their supporters of the win.  

Scores:

St Thomas 1st innings 158 (Thatsara Dewmith 56, Kumesh Nuwanjana 32; Muhammadu Sadhik 4-37, Samiru Gimhan 3-26) and 2nd innings 137 (Abdul Majeed 40, Kumesh Nuwanjana 37; Viran Chamuditha 3-59, Lasindu Ramanayake 7-47)

St Servatius 1st innings 118 (Heshan Madushanka 31, Chamod Mihiranga 41; Punal Pamuditha 3-16, Vindila Chanuth 3-26) and 2nd innings 180/5 (Viran Chamuditha 81, Nethmal  Bandara 42 not out, Chamarindu Nethsara 34 not out; Thathsara Dewmith 2-25)