All in the Toss!

Classical Right Royal Battle of the Blues2021

On the 10th of April 2021, after much deliberation due to COVID19, the joint committee managed to arrange the much awaited 26th annual Royal Thomian NSW-ACT fixture at the Memorial Oval in Ingleburn. The event was 30 days past the due date on Australia Day which has now become contentiously tagged Invasion Day. So, we all ventured down South in the cool of early Autumn to Ingleburn for the scheduled 8.30am start for the Classics, wishing it were Hambanthota instead.

Janaka Subasinghe, my erstwhile opposite number ambled up with the umpires in tow and a 50ct coin, which he flicked up and I said tails. The coin dropped and promptly rolled on to the grass. I need to mention here that the Opens got the choice Oval wicket whereas the Masters and the Classics were allocated a side wicket which happened to be a junior’s synthetic pitch. So, landing a 50ct coin required degree of aeronautical skill. The coin had landed askew with the Tails side up in the grass. Janaka decided he could do better and said he will toss again. I agreed, he tossed, and I said tails again and the Coin did the same trick, heading for the grass. This time it was showing the shapely head of our dearly beloved Queen Liz in the grass. The precedent having been set on the first toss and Janaka being the sport that he is, he could not very well say “We’ll bat” which I am sure he dearly wanted to do, either under instructions from the master tactician Prasanna Kari sitting on the side-line, or due to the tardiness of his team not being fully present! Instead, he pressed on undaunted and got down on his haunches and gave the coin the teeniest flick, I said tails again. Third time lucky I thought! Not so, as dear Lizzy turned up in all her glory! The look of relief on Janaka’s face was palpable. He said, “We will bat!”

This they attempted to do quite recklessly! The plan appeared to be to get quick runs, perhaps aiming at a target of 5 runs an over with a hit out or get out approach, with the better bats to come later in the innings. The rule was that the final pair could bat out past the allotted 20 runs per player till the 20 overs were completed. I started the bowling with a no ball which missed the landing strip by a foot! I managed to land a few on the pitch and unfortunately for Pillai Prabha (0), he managed to connect with the ball on the 4th delivery and hit it just short of the square leg boundary into the waiting hands of Mahinda Seneviratne. The urgency of the run chase was evident when in the second over Ramanan took off for a run that was just not there and Karu (1) was run out with a brilliant bit of fielding by Nihal and Randy. The score at 2 for 8 when Ranjan Siva came in to join Ramanan. The pair was settling down when Ramanan (6) in his haste thumped one down Jerome Gasperson’s throat at long on, off the bowling of Stanley Jayanthakumar. Ranjan Siva meanwhile had amassed 17 runs with 3 fours and well on his way to retiring at 20. Not being satisfied with that, he hopped out of his crease to slam another 4 off the bowling of Chitral Perera and missed it completely and Randolph Morell quite nimbly whipped off the bails. I missed welcoming Royal skipper Janaka Subasinghe to the crease and just managed to get my welcome in before Janaka (1) ran himself out. Again, some quick work from Randy behind the stumps. Randy was looking like a serious contender for the fielding award! In Chitral’s next over he had Janar (1) caught in the covers by Eksath Perera. Royal was reeling at 6 for 47 of 10 overs when we stopped for drinks.

Thomian bowling had been fair with not as many wides as I expected on the narrow strip. Our fielding had been exceptional with everyone keeping their cool and taking the catches that were on offer. The ground was still wet, and the ball was not travelling quickly on the ground. This worked against Royal in the 2nd half as they were trying to make quick singles. The hard hitters were brought into play as planned with overs to spare but were starved of the ball coming on to the bat by STC spinners Nihal Ramanayake, Somesh Somasunderam and Jerome Gassy. Running between the wickets had become suicidal with the next 3 wickets falling by run outs to some sharp fielding, Shanthi (8) and Channa (1). Even Nads (11) could not find a ball to despatch to cow corner where Eksath was waiting patiently and got run out instead! Mahen (3) was LBW to Nihal Rama. Kesara remained not out hammering a six in the last over with Gane on 1. The Royal innings ended at 79. Even though Somesh and Gassy were wicketless, their bowling in the final overs were crucial in keeping the Royal scoring down. The last 5 overs conceded only 16 runs!

Bowling

Lasa 2 overs 1 for 5

Stanley 4 overs 1 for 12

Chitral 2 overs 2 for 5 (Best Bowler)

Nihal 3 overs 1 for 11

Somesh 3 Overs none for 11

Gassy 3 Overs none for 11

The Thomian innings got off to a flying start on a much drier ground after an innings of the Masters was completed. Nihal R stuck to the plan of 4 runs an over by clinically collecting 5 runs in the first over including a 4 and me pitching in with 1. I messed up the second over by either getting 18 or 20 runs not sure which, as I had lost count and so had the scorer! Anyway, I was sent off the pitch for unconscionable behaviour and was told I had scored 21. Stanley joined Rama at the crease and made 5 runs including a 4. STC had amassed 51 in by the sixth over when Stan got out caught Prabha off the bowling of Kesara. Gassy went in next and joined Rama who had to retire having made a measured 20 runs including two 4’s and a 6. Chitral joined Gassy and made 14 runs before falling to a brilliant catch on the boundary by Nad off the bowling of Janar. Gassy and Kamal brought it home by the 12th over Gassy scoring 12 not out and Kamal on 1 not out. STC was 81 for 2 off 11 overs. A solid win! I wish I could give more details of our super batting performances, but I was otherwise distracted by Sanjay a Royalist mate who invited me to his cooler under a eucalyptus. Thus ended another memorable Battle of the Blues! Till we meet again under the Cooler-Bar Tree!

Batting

Nihal 20 Not Out (Best Batsman)

Lasa 21 Not Out (Man of the Match)

Gassy 12

Chitral 13