The 147th edition of the historic Battle of the Blues between Royal College Colombo and S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia ended in a draw at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, but it was Thomian skipper Jaden Amaraweera who stole the spotlight with a commanding second-innings century.

After winning the toss, S. Thomas’ compiled a solid 302 in their first innings, built around several steady contributions from the top and middle order. Amaraweera struck a patient 52 while Avinash Fernando added 50 and Reshon Solomons top-scored with 66. Dulith Indira Gunaratne chipped in with a valuable 44 to push the Thomians past the 300 mark. Royal’s bowlers fought back well, with Sehadu Sooryaarachchi and Gegan Gamage sharing six wickets between them.

Royal responded with 261 for 9 in 86 overs. Ramiru Perera led the charge with a well-compiled 82, while Rehan Peirissupported with an attractive 63. Dushan Uduwala contributed 33 in a steady middle-order effort. For S. Thomas’, Gimhan Mendis impressed with four wickets, while Abheeth Paranawidana claimed two.

The final day, however, belonged to Amaraweera. The Thomian captain produced a composed 100 off 160 deliveries, striking eight boundaries in a technically sound innings that anchored his side’s second innings. He shared useful partnerships with Fernando (20) and Gunaratne (21) as S. Thomas’ reached 176 for 6 before the match was called off, bringing another chapter of the famous encounter to a stalemate.

Lahore Qalandars have strengthened their squad for PSL 11 with the signing of Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, as the defending champions finalize their overseas options before the tournament begins on 26 March. His arrival comes after West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie withdrew from the season, reportedly due to travel disruptions following the T20 World Cup.

At just 23, Wellalage is seen as a high-upside addition and a like-for-like replacement for Motie. He impressed at the World Cup with eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.22, while also showing promise as a lower-middle-order batter—an asset in the fast-paced format of T20 cricket.

The Qalandars, who have claimed three of the last four PSL titles, will open their campaign in the tournament’s first match against the newly introduced Hyderabad Kingsmen. Wellalage will also reunite with fellow Sri Lankan Dasun Shanaka, who was secured earlier in the auction, giving Lahore a strong Sri Lankan presence in their lineup.

Elsewhere, overseas reshuffles continue to affect other franchises. Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani has withdrawn from PSL 11 after signing with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, leaving Islamabad United to adjust their plans. With PSL and IPL schedules overlapping once again, teams across both leagues are bracing for further last-minute changes to their squads.

India’s cricket calendar could become even busier this summer, with discussions underway to add extra T20 Internationals in both Sri Lanka and Ireland. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering proposals that would see the world champions squeeze in additional fixtures before their scheduled tours of England and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Cricket has reportedly requested India to play three T20Is in July-August as part of a fundraising initiative for flood relief, following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah last November. If approved, the matches would precede the two World Test Championship fixtures already planned between the two nations. India’s T20I side, led by Suryakumar Yadav, would therefore begin the Sri Lanka tour with white-ball cricket before switching focus to the red-ball format.

Meanwhile, talks are also progressing between the BCCI and Cricket Ireland over a three-match T20I series in Dublin in late June. The games would likely take place en route to England, where India are scheduled for a white-ball series featuring three ODIs and five T20Is from July 1 to 19. India has a history of playing short bilateral series in Ireland, having toured Dublin in 2018, 2022, and 2023 to support the growth of cricket in the region.

These potential additions come on the heels of India’s home series against Afghanistan, which runs from June 6 to 20 and includes one Test and three ODIs. If the Ireland and Sri Lanka proposals are finalized, India’s players will face a relentless stretch of matches across formats and continents, underscoring the demands of modern international cricket.