Peiris rips through Royal College

Royal College 94 (Peiris 3-16) v St Thomas College 152 for 2 (Peiris 64*, Silva 35*)
Scorecard

On the day that England A wrapped up a comprehensive 197-run victory over their Sri Lankan counterparts at the Colombo Cricket Club, not many of the city's cricket fans were paying attention. They were instead gathered half-a-mile down the road at the Sinhalese Sports Club, where Royal College and St Thomas's - two of Sri Lanka's most illustrious schools - were engaged in their annual "Battle of the Blues".

This was the 126th meeting between the two school teams whose annual fixture puts even Eton and Harrow to shame. And, judging by the first day's events, it was shaping up as one of the most one-sided as well, as St Thomas's took the game by the throat, bowling Royal College out for 94 after winning the toss, and then easing to 152 for 2 in reply.

St Thomas's hero was their opening bowler and No. 3 batsman, A Peiris. He rocked Royal College back on their heels in his very first over, by trapping their opener, S Senaratne, lbw for a second-ball duck, and later returned to sweep up the tail, for figures of 3 for 16 from 11.4 overs. None of the Royal batsmen could come to terms with the probing St Thomas attack, and only two batsmen made it into double figures.

St Thomas had a moment of anxiety when N Perera was removed for 4 in the third over of their reply, but Peiris returned to the fray to calm the nerves. By the close, he was unbeaten on 64, with the wicketkeeper, K Silva, alongside him on 35, and with a lead already standing at 58, the stage was set for a day of dominance when play resumes tomorrow.