The Annual Royal-Thomian Cricket Encounter played for the Honourable D.S. Senanayake Shield was held on the 12th, 13th and 14th of March 2026 at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Grounds. This year marked the 147th edition of this prestigious encounter having being renowned as the Second Longest Uninterrupted Cricket Series played in the world, second only to the annual encounter played between St. Peter’s College – Adelaide and Prince Alfred College – Adelaide, Australia, that began just a year earlier.
Leading upto the Royal-Thomian, the Thomian side led by Avinash Fernando performed exceptionally well during the 1st XI Season of 2025/26 with one outright win and 7 first innings wins. On the other hand, the Royal team led by Rehan Peiris ended up with one outright win and 12 first innings wins during their 1st XI Season of 2025/26.
The Toss went in the favour of the Royalists and the Royal Captain opted to have a bowl first under warm and dry conditions on Day 1. The Thomian line up for the encounter featured Avinash Fernando (Captain), Jaden Amaraweera (Secretary), Abeeth Paranawidana, Reshon Solomons, Shanil Perera, Aaron Kodithuwakku, Gimhan Mendis, Raphael Hettige, Ludeesha Matarage, Methuka Gunarathne and Stevon Peiris.
The Thomian 1st Innings kick started with the formidable opening pair of Captain Avinash Fernando and Jaden Amaraweera with a 110 run stand for the opening partnership with both the players scoring half centuries. With the fall of Jaden Amaraweera for 52 runs and shortly after the fall of the skipper Avinash Fernando for 50 runs, the flow of runs deterred under the partnership of the two
freshers Methuka Gunerathne and Aaron Kodithuwakku. Thereafter, following the fall of 2 more wickets there was a scintillating Big Match debut of 44 runs by Methuka Gunerathne. Day 1 concluded with the Thomain side scoring 203 runs for the loss of 4 with Reshon Solomons and Raphael Hettige remaining not out.
Day 2 began with Reshon Solomons taking charge for the Thomain side scoring his 2nd half century in the big match. With dismissal Reshon Solomons for 66 runs, the Thomain 1st innings came close with a low order collapse by lunch on day 2. Gagan Gamage was the pick of the bowlers for the Royalists
with figures of 4 wickets for 49. The Royal 1st innings commenced in the most hysterical fashion as their first wicket fell with no runs on the board through Gimhan Mendis’ remarkable opening spell with the new ball. Accordingly, Day 2 came to a close early due to bad light with the Royalists stitching up 175 runs for the loss of 4 wickets with their skipper Rehan Peiris scoring an exceptional
innings with 63 runs and former skipper Ramiru Perera being the top scorer with an unbeaten 70 runs to his name.
Day 3 began with the fall of two wickets including the priced scalp of Ramiru Perera for 82 runs at the hands of Gimhan Mendis’ continued dominance with the ball. Thereafter, following the fall of several consecutive wickets, the Royalists declared their first innings at 261 runs for 9 wickets with Gimhan Mendis leading the Thomian attack having picked up 4 wickets for 60 runs and handing the Thomians a first innings lead of 41 runs.
Following the lunch break the Thomians walked out to bat in the 2nd
Innings having to face a race against time on the final day of the encounter. The Thomain openers once again gave a good start with an accelerated partnership. Thereafter, Jaden Amaraweera anchored the innings by scoring his maiden century at the Battle of the Blues showing immense grit and perseverance, and remained unbeaten at the end of the day’s play. The match ended in a draw with the Thomians batting in their second innings at 176 runs for 6 wickets. The Thomain batter Jaden Amaraweera was adjudged the Batsmen and the Player of the Match for his unbeaten century in the second innings of the 147th
Battle of the Blues.
