Given a target of 258 to win in 62 overs, S. Thomas’ College were wobbling at 194 for seven wickets when bad light forced an early end to the 131st Battle of the Blues which was decorated by a mammoth 165 runs from left-hander Ramith Rambukwella in the morning session for Royal to even honours on the final day at SSC Ground yesterday.

Chasing the target or rather trying to survive more than 60 overs, half- centuries from Dinesh Walpita and Ashane Fernando helped the Thomians starve off a possible defeat as rest of the batting line up tumbled against the Royal spin squadron and the medium pace of Bhanuka Rajapakse. They were 194 for seven with four mandatory overs still remaining when umpires called off the match for bad light.

That late drama could hardly take the gloss off from the huge knock by left-hander Rambukwella, who turned the tone of the match with a run a ball century (170 minutes 15x4s, 2x6s) before extending it to 165 from 148 balls.

Commencing the day still needing 11 runs to close the first innings deficit, Rambukwella put on a first wicket stand of 81 runs with overnight batsman Kithruwan Vithanage (45) before adding 89 runs for the third wicket with Waruna Dissanayake(22).

With Rambukwella punishing their bowlers, the Thomians were made to repent on a missed opportunity of getting him out cheaply when he was on 16. He was dropped at slips by Ashane Fernando off the bowling of Walpita in the fifth over of the day.

The day’s most entertaining partnership came after the lunch session when he combined with skipper Rajapakse to take the score from 184 for three to 288 runs in just 12 overs.

Together the left-handers took the Thomian bowlers to the task pouring boundaries and massive sixes to give life to an encounter which was otherwise heading for a dull end.

Rambukwella cracked 21 fours and five sixes in his knock which came to an end when he was caught by Nilaksha Fernando off the bowling of Umesh Fernando who picked up three wickets.

With the two going great guns, Walpita called Lalindra Peiris as his sixth bowler but in vain as he suffered heavily. One of Peiris’ four overs conceded 22 runs as Rambukwella took him to task hammering two fours and one six in consecutive balls.

Rambukwella received a second life when Brian Dharmasena dropped a skier at deep fine leg off the bowling of Chamod Pathirana when the batsman was on 136.

Later Rambukwella passed the 150 mark in 140 balls (19x4s, 4x6s) to be mobbed by a host of jubilant prefects who invaded the pitch to congratulate him. He faced this unavoidable complements on four occasions in his innings when he crossed 50,100,150 and 1000 runs for the season. He came to the match needing 90 runs to reach 1000 runs for the season. The boys who probably forgot his first innings 27 runs mobbed to congratulate him when he reached 90 runs in the second innings.

The second year coloursman who commenced his innings on the second day evening had remained at the crease for 229 minutes when he departed 12 overs after lunch. Rajapakse who was unbeaten on 40 (in 28 balls) made a bold declaration with Rambukwella’s departure.

K. Vithanage c N. Fernando b U. Fernando 45

R. Rambukwella c N. Fernando b U. Fernando 165

I. Liyanage run out (A. Fernando/ S. Peiris) 02

W. Dissanayake b U. Fernando 22

B. Rajapaksa not out 40

Extras: (1b, 7lb,6w) 14

Overs: 50.1 in 229 minutes

Did not bat: C. Bogoda, M. Tantrigoda, G. Deva, Imran Khan, M. Gunaratne, D. Pathmanathan

Fall of wickets: 1-81, 2-95, 3-184, 4-288

Bowling: Pathirana 17-1-85-0(1w), Walpita 5-0-33-0(3w), U. Fernando 16.1-2-74-3(1w), Kavinda 1-0-12-0(1w), L. Peiris 4-0-38-0

B. Dharmasena lbw Deva 10

D. Walpita c Gunaratne b Rajapaksa 51

P. Wijewardene lbw Thantrigoda 04

N. Kavinda c & b Pathmanathan 15

A. Fernando c Rajapaksa b Dissanayake 55

S. Peiris c Deva b Rajapaksa 00

C. Pathirana not out 27

L. Peiris b Dissanayake 04

N. Wickramasekera not out 13

Extras: (8b, 1lb,6w) 15

Overs: 57.4 in 222 minutes

Did not bat: U Fernando

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-28, 3-53, 4-122, 5-123, 6-151, 7-167.

Bowling: Rajapaksa 8-0-27-2(1w), Imran Khan 6-3-15-0, Deva 4-0-14-1(1w), Tantrigoda 10-3-34-1, Pathmanathan 10-2-29-1, Dissanayake 10-5-27-2, Rambukwella 6-1-27-0, Vithanage 3.4-0-12-0

Umpires: R. Martinesz, R. Palliyaguruge

Reserve Umpire: K. Jayaweera