In a thrilling encounter at the Hectorville Cricket Grounds in Adelaide, South Australia, young cricket sensation Uvindu Weerasekara showcased his talent, guiding Royal College to a remarkable six-wicket victory over St. Thomas’ College in the 9th Battle of the Blues – Royal Thomian Adelaide Cricket Encounter on March 3rd.
Royal skipper Tharindu Manchanayake’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss proved fruitful as the Royalists managed to restrict St. Thomas’ College to a total of 131 runs in 35 overs. Pinindu Weerasekara led the bowling attack, scalping three crucial wickets, supported by disciplined bowling performances from Tharindu Manchanayake and Buddhika Arsecularatne.
In response, Royal College faced early setbacks losing their opening duo Shanil Samarasinghe and Joel Ariyadorai within the first five overs. However, a resilient 68-run partnership between Dhan Uswatte and Uvindu Weerasekara reignited the Royalists’ hopes. Weerasekara’s magnificent innings, comprising of seven boundaries and two sixes, propelled Royal College closer to victory.
Despite a minor hiccup with Uswatte’s dismissal for a commendable 38 runs, Uvindu Weerasekara continued to anchor the innings, eventually scoring a well-deserved half-century. With just one run away from the target, Weerasekara was caught, but his contribution had already set the stage for victory. Sachinda Fernando sealed the win for Royal College with a decisive stroke.
The match witnessed outstanding performances from both teams, with Rohan Joshna being the top scorer for St. Thomas’ College with 32 runs, and Kasun Silva and Esala De Livera leading the bowling attack with two wickets each.
Uvindu Weerasekara’s exceptional display with both bat and ball earned him the prestigious ‘Man of the Match’ and ‘Best Batsman’ titles, while his brother Pinindu Weerasekara was recognized as the ‘Best Bowler’. Shanil Samarasinghe’s exemplary fielding efforts earned him the ‘Best Fielder’ award.
With this victory, Royal College now leads the tally of the Battle of the Blues – Royal Thomian Adelaide Cricket Encounter by six wins to three.
The 9th Battle of the Blues – Royal Thomian Adelaide Cricket Encounter was organized by the Joint Committee of Royal College and St. Thomas’ College Old Boys Associations in Adelaide, South Australia, providing a platform for budding cricketers to showcase their skills and uphold the spirit of sportsmanship.
In summary, Uvindu Weerasekara’s stellar performance played a pivotal role in Royal College’s triumph, highlighting the essence of talent and teamwork in the game of cricket.
