Royal skipper Dasis Manchanyake put on a champagne performance to lead from the front in a record breaking performance as Royal beat arch rivals St.Thomas by a mammoth 180 runs. at the 144th Battle of the Blues in front of a capacity crowd at the SSC on the 18th of March. The full house, returning to after a lapse of 3 years due to the Covid pandemic were not left dissapointed. 

Coming in as underdogs, Royal were sent into bat and educed to 19-3 and later 64-4 to justify the Thomian skipper, Romesh Mendis' decision to field first. That joy however was shortlived, as the Dasis/Ramiru show was just getting sttarted. Dasis (137) and Ramiru Perera (128), put on a record 229 runs for the 5th wicket and from then on the Thomians never really recovered. Royal declared overnight at 326/8 and the Royal bowlers took over the following morning. The pace trio of Bulan Weeratunge, Sandesh Ramanayake and Ranuka Malaaviarachchi, and wickets from Ramiru Perera ensure St.Thomas were bowled out for 153. This is without Royal's wicket taker for the season, off spinning fresher, Nethwin Dharmaratne, bowling a single delivery.

Manchanayake pulled another masterstroke by not enforcing the follow on. Batting a 2nd time, Royal made 164/4 in the 2nd inning with the skipper again leading the way with 49 ball 57, thus becoming the first Royal skipper to score a century at the Roy Tho since 1996 and also the 1st captain to score a century and half century in the same game since 1938. Ramiru also contributed un unbeaten 46. Royal declared for a 2nd time overnight leaving the Thomians a mammoth 341 to get on Day 3. But lightning surely couldn't strike twice could it? That doubt was set to rest when the Thomians were reeling at 78/6 at lunch. Senesh Hettiarachchi delayed the inevitable with a defiant unbeaten 46. But it was all over by 3.30pm as every Royal bowler got on the wickets column and the Thomians folded up for 161. The Royal skipper also captured prize wicket of mahith Perera in the 2nd innings and fittingly took the final catch of the game to seal a wonderful all round performance. Royal win the Battle of the Blues after a lapse of 7 years and regain the prestigious D.S. Senanayake shield which they lost in 2019 with a truly memorable performance