The much-anticipated 146th Battle of the Blues between Royal College and S. Thomas’ College kicked off in thrilling fashion, with Royal College asserting dominance on Day 1.

Royal College Takes Control with a Strong Batting Display

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Royal College posted an imposing 319/7 before declaring their innings. The star of the show was Rehan Peiris, who played a majestic knock of 158 runs, anchoring the innings with composure and flair. He was well supported by T. Wewalwala, who contributed 48 runs.

S. Thomas’ College bowlers struggled to contain the Royalists, with Darien Diego (2/43) and Kavindu Dias (2/71) being the only notable wicket-takers.

S. Thomas’ College Steady at Stumps

In response, S. Thomas’ College ended Day 1 at 32/0 after 10 overs, with A. Fernando (18)* and J. Amaraweera (14)* holding firm. They will look to build a solid foundation on Day 2 to counter Royal’s first-innings dominance.

Head-to-Head Stats – A Rivalry of Legends

With a rich history spanning 145 matches, the Battle of the Blues remains one of Sri Lanka’s most prestigious school cricket encounters. Both teams have won 36 matches each, with the rest ending in draws.

• Highest Team Score: Royal College holds the edge with 432, while S. Thomas’ best is 411.
• Centurions: Both teams boast 29 century-makers in the history of this fixture.
• Recent Form: Royal last won in 2023, while S. Thomas’ College’s last victory was in 2019.

As the match heads into Day 2, all eyes will be on S. Thomas’ College’s batting lineup and whether they can match Royal’s first-innings dominance. Can they turn the tide, or will Royal tighten their grip on the game?

Stay tuned for more updates from the 146th Battle of the Blues!

FIFA has officially ruled out three nations from participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to different reasons, with Russia, Congo, and Pakistan all facing suspensions from international football.

Russia’s Continued Ban

The Russian Football Union (RFU) remains banned from both FIFA and UEFA competitions, a sanction that has been in place since the country’s military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite ongoing appeals, FIFA and UEFA reaffirmed their stance last year, ensuring Russia’s exclusion from all global and European competitions, including the upcoming World Cup. Russian club teams are also barred from competing in UEFA tournaments.

Congo’s Suspension

The Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) has been suspended by FIFA due to what has been described as “undue third-party interference” in its operations. FIFA, in coordination with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), conducted investigations in Brazzaville before making the decision. The suspension will only be lifted if several conditions are met, including restoring full control of FECOFOOT’s headquarters to the federation, stopping external interference in financial matters, and allowing independent governance.

Pakistan Also Barred

Pakistan’s national football team will also miss the World Cup after FIFA suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) due to governance issues. The primary reason behind the suspension is the federation’s failure to implement a revised constitution that would ensure transparent and democratic elections. FIFA has made it clear that Pakistan can only be reinstated once the PFF Congress approves the proposed constitutional amendments.

Impact on Qualification

With these suspensions, Congo, which was struggling in Group E of the CAF qualification section, and Pakistan, which had already finished last in Group G of the AFC qualifiers, are now officially ruled out of the tournament.

2026 World Cup Overview

The next FIFA World Cup is set to take place in North America, with the United States hosting the majority of the matches across 11 cities, while Mexico and Canada will each have multiple venues. Defending champions Argentina, who triumphed in Qatar 2022 after a thrilling final against France, will aim to retain their title.

For more updates on global football and Sri Lankan sports, stay tuned to Sri Lankan Sports TV.

Dubai: India continued its dominant run in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, securing a spot in the final with a thrilling four-wicket victory over Australia in the first semi-final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. With this win, the Men in Blue have set their sights on the ultimate prize as they await the winner of the second semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa.

India Overcomes Australian Challenge

Chasing a target of 265, India displayed resilience, with key contributions from the middle order guiding them to victory in 48.1 overs. Despite early setbacks, a composed knock from captain Rohit Sharma (68) and a crucial 74-run partnership between Virat Kohli (54) and KL Rahul (45) steadied the chase. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (38*) ensured India crossed the finish line with 11 balls to spare.

Earlier, Australia posted a competitive 264, thanks to a well-crafted 89 from Travis Head and contributions from Steve Smith (47) and Marcus Stoinis (35). India’s bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah (3/42) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/48), kept the Aussies in check, preventing a late flourish.

New Zealand vs. South Africa: Second Semi-Final Showdown

The second semi-final will see an exciting battle between New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday. Both teams have shown exceptional form in the tournament, with New Zealand remaining unbeaten in the group stage and South Africa dominating their encounters.

The Kiwis, led by Kane Williamson, will look to rely on their strong batting lineup featuring Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips, while their pace attack, spearheaded by Trent Boult, will aim to restrict the Proteas. On the other hand, South Africa’s Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, and Kagiso Rabada will be crucial in their bid to reach the final.

Final Showdown on March 9

The grand finale is set for March 9 in Dubai, where India will face the winner of the second semi-final. Having won all their matches in the tournament so far, India will enter the final with high confidence, aiming to reclaim the prestigious trophy.

Cricket fans worldwide eagerly await the thrilling conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with the stage set for an electrifying finish to one of the most prestigious tournaments in international cricket.