S. Thomas' College Bandarawela - Cricket

May this holy day of Vesak shine clarity, love, and peace over your heart. Happy Vesak!

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May this Eid bring you closer to your loved ones and fill your life with joy. Eid Mubarak!

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Thomian were on top today in a low scoring thriller at Pelwatta Sugar Cooperation Ground.

Thomian captain Tharun won the toss and elected to bat first. Skipper himself and Chamika put a superb opening stand by adding 54 runs for the first wicket. Soon after the first wicket, Thomains lost wickets in a cluster and was 90 for 7 in 32 overs. Left Arm spinner Shashadra picked six of the seven wickets to fell. Low order batters batted rest of the overs and manage to put 124 after 50 overs.
S. Thomas' - 124/9 (50) Chamika Jayathilaka 30, Tharun Wanasinghe 24, Shashadra Ravish 6/18

In reply, Thomain seamer Hameesh did early damage and Aloysius was 40 for 4. For the 5th wicket Sasindu and Hansira added 59 runs to gain some momentum. Soon after Sasindu's wicket, Thomian spinners continued to pick wickets in quick sessions and bowled Aloysius out for 115 in the 35th over.
S. Aloysius - 115/10 (34.2) Sasindu Dilaksh*tha 46, Hansira Chandralal 25, Tharun Wanasinghe 4/20, Perenbanadhan Hameesh 3/20

S. Thomas' College won by 9 runs.

Tharun Wanasinghe's allround performance and excellent leadership won Player's Player of the Match.

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Thomains started tournament with a win over Ananda Maithreeya Natinal School Balangoda. 

Thomian captain won the toss and elected to bat first. Thomians lost early wickets to some good bowlng and poor situation haddling. Thomains were 45 for 5 when Bimsara and Adeesh put important 93 runs for the 6th wicket. After the wicket of Bimsara, Adeesh had good support from the low order batters to move up the score. Soon after Adeesh got out for 93, Thomians bowled out for 193. 
S. Thomas' - 193/10 (43.5) Adeesh Rathnayake 93, Bimsara Hapuhinna 31, Chamuditha Arunasiri 4/22, Usira Achintha 2/0, Denidu Gatheesha 2/24 

In reply, Ananda Maithreeya openers got to a good start by putting 50 runs for the 1st wicket. Thomain spinners picked 3 wickets in quick session. For the forth wicket Ananda Maithreeya batters added 42 runs. Yet it was a slow partnership to some good bowling. Thomian bowlers picked rest of the wickets by only giving batters 21 runs to the total. Ananda Maithreeya bowled out for 135 runs. 
Ananda Maithreeya - 135/10 (45.4) Vihanga Senaratna 29, Chamuditha Arunasiri 24, Usira Achintha 23, Tharun Wanasinghe 4/18, Rehan De Silva 2/25 

S. Thomas' College won by 58 runs. 

Adeesh Rathnayake won Players Player of the Match for his outstanding inning under pressure with 5 wickets down when he went to the middle.

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St. Xavier's advanced to the semi final after a trilling low scoring game that dominated by bowlers. Rain during both days lost 116 overs of cricket. It would have been a diffrent senario if it would have been full game. 

St. Xavier's captain won the toss and invited Thomians to bat first. Fast bowler Nathsara Fernando continued his superb bowling in the Pre-Quarter and picked early wickets and Thomians were 6 down for 36 runs on the board. Bimsara and Shimalka put the biggest partnership for the inning with 25 runs. Thomains bowled out for 81 just before lunch. Nethsara picked 6 wickets in the inning. 
S. Thomas' - 81/10 (34.5) Shimalka Kanchana 18, Nethsara Fernando 6/23, Yan Awishka 3/25 

Rain came down during the lunch break. Players from both team along with groundsman put covers and soon after the rain stop, players took the covers away. Covers had some wholes and water has gone underneath the covers. Ground was not even near good enugh to continue play. Game called off at 3.50pm. 

On day 2 game started at 10 after getting it to playable condition. Thomains picked 3 wicket for 28 runs on the board. Small partnership from St. Xavier's batters got to 57 for 6. With small mistakes from Thomains, St. Xavier's got close to the Thomian 1st inning score. Tharun picked his 4th and team 7th wicket at 80. St. Xavier's went pass the Thomian first inning and lost the 8th wicket a stroke of lunch. After lunch break Tharun picked last 2 wickets and St. Xavier's bowled out for 92. 
St. Xavier's - 92/10 (38.5) Chalana Madushan 21, Tharun Wanasingbe 6/17, Sasith Dissanayake 2/17 

When Thomians getting prepared to bat few lighting strikes in distance. Officials asked captains to wait until lighting stops. In just few minutes, heavy rain went above the ground which led to a close of play. 

Match ended as a draw and St. Xavier's advanced to the semi final wth the 1st inning win. 

During the match captain Samod admitted to hospital to high fever. He was not in the field on day 2. We wish him speedy recovery.

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Thomians are through to the Quarter final after a first inning win over De La Salle College Colombo. 

De La Salle captain won the toss and invited Thomians to bat first. Thomians were 17 for 2 after 10 overs. Sasith and Chiran added 45 runs for the 3rd wicket and Sasith and Rehan put another 45 for the 4th wicket. Wickets felt regularly with small partnerships and Thomians were 155 for 8. Rehan was supported by Thenuja and Tharun for 9th and 10th wicket. For the 9th wicket 30 runs and 49 runs for the 10th wicket and score moved to 230. Rehan played and superb 100 with excellent help from last 2 batters. 
S. Thomas' 230/10 (75.4) Rehan De Silva 101, Sasith Dissanayake 36, Chiran Mahakumarage 30, Nilanka Perera 3/75, Heshan Vihanga 2/48, Nithindu Sankalpa 2/49 

In reply, De La Salle got to a super start with 65 for 2 end of day 1. On day 2, Poor running between wcket and excellent stumping got control back to the Thomians. Economical bowling from spinners kept batters away from scoring freely. Batters tried hard to gain cotrol yet wth no luck due to all round performace in the field. De La Salle bowled out for 162 in 64.4 overs. 
De La Salle - 162/10 (64.4) Jerome Perera 51, Heshan Vihanga 38, Tharun Wanasinghe 4/39, Shimalka Kanchana 2/43 

With 68 run advantage Thomians batted for the 2nd time and showed pure dominance in the game by batting throught the day with good partnerships along the way. Game stopped at last hour with both teams agreement. 
S. Thomas' 172/7 (47.5) Shimalka Kanchana 37, Sasith Dissanayake 36, Chiran Mahakumarage 30, Inosh Maduwantha 4/73 

S. Thomas' College throught to the Quarter final with a first inning win. 

Fantastic 100 under preasure and batting with the tail from Rehan De Slive won Players Player of the Match. 

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Thenuja Dharmasena made 1stXI debut yesterday against De La Salle College, Colombo. We wish Thenuja all the very best for the season and for his school cricket career.

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May Lord give you the strength to overcome all of your challenges and further climb the ladder of success. Happy Sinhala New Year.

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All round performance with both ball and bat got Thomains over the line in the Pre-Quarter final Playoff match against Ananda Sastralaya College Kotte. 

After wining the toss Ananda Sastralaya captain elected to bat first. Thomian bowlers striked early in the match by picking 3 for 18. Thomians continued to ball better and bowled Ananda Sastralaya out for 85 in the stroke of lunch. Sasith Dissanayake bowled an aggressive new ball spell restrict Ananda Sastralaya for 85. 
Ananda Sastralaya - 85/10 (33.2), Posh*tha Madanayake 13, Tharun Wanasinghe 4/24, Sasith Dissanayake 3/28, Shimalka Kanchana 2/13

In reply, Thomain opening pair got a superb start by putting 72 runs. That gave a good momentum for batters to keep the score board moving. Important contributions throughout the game and Thomians manage to reach 230 runs with 145 runs lead. 
S. Thomas' - 230/10 (54), Kethaka Kodithuwakku 51, Shimalka Kanchana 40, Pansilu Rathnayake 25, Samod Kethaka 24, Chiran Mahakumarage 23, Chathur Ama 4/45, Nadil Perera 2/32, Chenuka Dodangoda 2/55

On day 2 Ananda Sastralaya came to bat with clear plan of playing aggressive cricket in a do or die situation. Opening pair gave that start by putting 75 runs. That gave the momentum and Anada Sastralaya was 200 for 4 with a superb innings from Chenuka Dodangoda and Nadil Perera. Shimalka Kanchana had other idea by picking all the other batters and bowled Ananda Sastralaya out for 268.
Ananda Sastralaya - 268/10 (43.5), Chenuka Dodangoda 88, Nadil Perera 68, Theekshana Ushara 29, Shimalka Kanchana 8/74

With 124 to win Thomains were in trouble 35 for 4 before Rehan and Samod put 40 runs for the 5th wicket. When score was 83 for 7, Adeesh and Rehan added 34 before Rehan got out to a Manked with 9 runs to win. Thomians went over the line with 2 wickets in hand. 
S. Thomas' - 126/8 (44), Adeesh Rathnayake 31*, Samod Kethaka 28, Posh*tha Madanayake 6/45

S. Thomas' College won by 2 wickets and advanced to the Pre-Quarter final round. 

All-round performance from Shimalka Kanchana and important anchor role to chase the target from Rehan De Silva won Players Player of the Match.

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