Royal triumphs despite Jaden heroics

Royal College retained the Mustangs Trophy when they defeated traditional rivals S. Thomas’ College by 16 runs on the DLS method in the 49th annual limited overs cricket encounter played at the SSC Grounds in Maitland Place yesterday.

Chasing a massive 313 runs for victory, Royal put up an equally brilliant batting display to reach 291 for six wickets in 46 overs when the match was called off due to fading light.

The match winner for Royal was middle order batsman Wimath Dinsara, who smashed an unbeaten 109 from 124 deliveries inclusive of six boundaries.

Earlier, opener Jaden Amaraweera hit a landmark unbeaten century to steer S. Thomas’ College to a commanding position.

Jaden hammered an unbeaten 184 from 148 deliveries – the highest individual score in the series – as the Thomians amassed a formidable 313 for four after electing to bat first.

His performance had a great amount of significance as this was the first occasion that a batsman had scored a century in the Battle of the Blues Big Match and in the Mustangs Trophy encounter in the same year.

Jaden made his intentions clear from the start and decided to play the sheet anchor role as he raced to a 47-ball half century with the help of one six and six boundaries and put on an opening stand of 95 with Methuka Gunaratne.

Source - Sunday Observer