Royal-Thomian clash for Mustangs Trophy today

S Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia will go out favourites when they confront traditional rivals Royal College, Colombo in their 43rd limited over match for the Mustangs Trophy at the SSC grounds at 9.45 am today.

The Thomians who have retained the trophy for the last three years will go all out to make it four in a row as they boast of a strong batting line up and much better fielding side than their opponents.

Sithara Hapuhinna who made a blistering 65 not out in last year’s limited over match will lead the batting sparkle for the Thomians along with skipper Romesh Nallaperuma, Ravindu Kodituwakku, Ishen Perera, Manthila Wijeratne and Dellon Peiris.

The Royal pace duo of Himesh Ramanayake and Helitha Vithanage will be relied upon to contain the run hungry Thomian batsmen.

Last year’s big match hero Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Ronuka Jayawardena who failed to impress in the big match should make amends by making useful contributions in this game along with skipper Helitha Vithanage, hard hitting Himesh Ramanayake, Ganith Sandeepa and the two 15 year olds Thevindu Senaratne and Ahan Wickremasinghe who excelled in the second innings of the Royal Thomian.

Thomian pacemen Kalana Perera and Thevin Iriyagama are likely to trouble the Royal batsmen with their fiery pace bowling. Of the 42 encounters in the Mustangs Trophy series Royal have won 21 matches and the Thomians 20 with the trophy being shared in 2012 whey when they were adjudged joint champions while the 2002 game ended in a tie. The match was not played in 1984.

Past winners - 1975 (Royal), 1976 (S Thomas’), 1977 (Royal), 1978 (Royal), 1979 (Royal), 1980 (Royal), 1981 (Royal), 1982 (S Thomas’), 1983 (Royal), 1984 (no match), 1985 (Royal), 1986 (Royal), 1987 (S Thomas’), 1988 (S Thomas’), 1989 (S Thomas’), 1990 (Royal), 1991 (S Thomas’), 1992 (Royal), 1993 (S Thomas’), 1994 (S Thomas’), 1995 ( S Thomas’), 1996 (Royal), 1997 (S Thomas’), 1998 (S Thomas’), 1999 (Royal), 2000 (Royal), 2001 (S Thomas’), 2002 (Tie), 2003 (Royal), 2004 (Royal), 2005 ((S Thomas’), 2006 (S Thomas’), 2007 (S Thomas’), 2008 (S Thomas’), 2009 (Royal), 2010 (Royal), 2011 (Royal), 2012 (Joint Champion), 2013 (Royal), 2014 (S Thomas’), 2015 (S Thomas’), 2016 (S Thomas’)