Skipper Pasindu leads the Royal charge with 69
Half tons by Kamil Mishara and skipper Pasindu Sooriyabandara put Royal on top against Wesley in their annual Sir Frank Gunasekera Shield cricket encounter played at Campbell Park.
The duo’s knocks saw Royal going on to make a score of 231 for 6 declared in their second innings.
In the first inning Royal though being restricted to a score of 150 came back to bundle out Wesley for a paltry score of 104 runs and Wesley has been set with a formidable target of 278 runs.
The encounter which is the 125th between the two schools is deemed to be the second oldest inter- school cricket encounter following the Royal – Thomian encounter.
The Sir Frank Gunasekera Shield was introduced in 1969 with Wesley winning it under the leadership of Amaresh Rajaratnam. Royal are the current holders of the Shield having won it under the captaincy of Harith Samarasinghe.
Exchanges were even in the match between St. Benedict’s and St. Joseph’s in the match played at Kotahena with the latter taking a slender first innings lead.
The lad who made the difference for the Bens was Kaveesha Jayatilleke who scored an unbeaten half century.
For the Joes Miranga Wickramage had impressive figures of 4 for 42 while Dunith Wellage chipped in with 3 for 52.