Back home, while Royalists and the Thomians together with the Sri Lanka’s School cricket fans were bracing to watch & celebrate the 125 Th encounter of their prestigious BIGMATCH; their brethren residing in the UAE with their rivals Old Thomians staged the 5 th encounter in Dubai, in grand scale on 20 th of February.2004.
The Roy-Tho Joint organizing committee came up with some bright ideas to `spice up’ the 5 Th edition of ROY-THO event in UAE. A band of `live papare’ players from Sri Lanka; were especially flown to entertain & create the `real’ BIGMATCH atmosphere which was truly reminiscence of the real thing back home. In addition to the PAPARE, a three man western band alternatively contributed the music & songs to keep up the momentum.
Another unprecedented event of the 5 Th ROY-THO in the UAE was the launch of a joint Roy-Tho commemorative souvenir. `HATS OFF’ to the Royal Editor; Hemakeerthi `Ambey’ De Silva who did an outstanding job of taking the helm of the project which made the souvenir possible.
The event worked out on a lovely, mild winter morning at our traditional cricket grounds; Dubai Exiles RFC grounds which is synonymous to SSC in Colombo for us! Within minutes of the first delivery was bowled at the start of the 2 nd XI match; the paparé sounds came to life and boy! , Every one in the stands started to get in to the groove; tapping their toes; blue-gold-blue & blue-black-blue flags fluttering with `R-O-Y-A-L’ &` Hurrah-for –The Thomians’ -cheer coming aloud from the lusty throats…
The 10 over 2nd eleven match went to the wire when Thora’s who were at one stage struggling in desperate position became match winners; thanks to one over which yielded them 31 runs! Royalists had the first `bite in the dust’; nevertheless, the match will definitely go on records as one of the most interesting matches played during the 5-year history of Roy-tho in the UAE so far.
THE 1 ST ELEVEN `TROPHY’ match (15 over) was again turned the Royal way; for the 3 rd consecutive year, as THORA faulted yet again to our formidable pace attack and were bundled out for paltry 57 runs. Royal had a scare in the initial overs getting the runs, losing Keerthi in the first over for a `run out’ but Royalists consolidated the momentum by keeping wickets & going about the business within next 7 overs. Safraz Drahaman yet again add a double; 26 runs (2x6, 1x4) with a terrific bowling performance of 2.2 overs, 4 wkts for just 3 runs which earned him the Selvaratnam (Snr) Memorial Trophy for the Man of the match for the second successive year.
Amal Karunaratne captained the victories Royal team this year.
10 A-SIDE `TAP RUGBY’ WAS A SENASATION!! What a high-class rugby game witnessed by us! Royal showing of what stuff they were made of in Sri Lanka’s school rugby arena by notching up the record score of 22 points to 5. (You must read the exclusive report by a freelance reporter on this record-breaking match to be followed) Stocky Trevor Fernando led Royal. This marvelous achievement was purely a result of sheer hard work & practice by the team members under Trevor & the team coordinator Thaya.
Our smiles were short-lived yearning for a 3 victories in a row; when Thomians Ladies turned the tables on Royal ladies this year for the first time. Royal ladies put a solid 40 runs for zero wickets in their allocated 6 overs; but Thomian Ladies robbed the victory overtaking the score in 7 overs without dropping a wicket as well.
Therefore, Royal & Thomians shared winning 2 matches each this year, with Royalists gaining honors by winning the much important TROPHY CRICKET & RUGBY MATCHES with ease. |
