60th Anniversary of the 1966 STC Cricket Season – The Two Architects of STC’s Remarkable Campaign Skipper Anura Tennekoon & Deputy, Sriantha Rajapakse – compiled by Ravi Rudra
60th Anniversary of the 1966 STC Cricket Season
Source:Thuppahis
The Two Architects of STC’s Remarkable Campaign
Skipper Anura Tennekoon & Deputy, Sriantha Rajapakse
(compiled by Ravi Rudra)
WINNERS OF THE ‘LIFE BUOY SHIELD’
FOR THE BEST SCHOOLBOY TEAM
Source:Stcobasydney
Standing (L-R): N.M. Wijesooriya, A.T. Baines, P.L.D. Kariyawasam, A.M. Perera, J.H. Reid, M.D.C.W. Jayasekera, S.S. Condegama, D.R. Chanmugam, V.L. Weerakoon (Scorer).
Seated (L-R): R.F. Mendis, T.M. de Silva, A.P.B. Tennekoon (Capt.), Warden (Rev. A.J.C. Selvaratnam), Mr. O.A. Abeynaike (Coach & Master-in-Charge), S.J. Rajapakse (Vice-captain), J.D. Bandaranayake.
Absent: D.A. Ponniah, P. Schoorman.
Master-in-Charge: Mr. O.A. Abeynaike Captain: A.P.B. Tennekoon
Vice-Captain: S.J. Rajapakse
“Considering the fact that our team this season had only two Coloursmen from the previous year, we did exceptionally well to win Ten of the games played, the other Four matches being left drawn.
In the Times of Ceylon Competition, we were given Four awards – Anura Tennekoon was selected as the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year (1966) and Best Batsman; Sriantha Rajapakse was selected Best Fielder and the Thomian XI was voted Best Team and awarded the ‘Life Buoy Shield’.
This is the second successive year that STC has won Four awards.
Source:Battleofthemaroons
* [In 1965, Barney Reid was voted Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year & Best Bowler; Sarath Seneviratne – Best Fielder; and STC – The Best School Team. Anura Tennekoon also won the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award & Best Batsman awards in 1964, most likely the first schoolboy to achieve this unique
accomplishments twice – RR].
Earlier in the season, Sriantha Rajapakse was appointed Captain of the Ceylon Schools’ Cricket Eleven (Under 19) which met the London Schools’ XI and an Australian Schools’ XI. Tilak (‘TM’) de
Silva too found a place in the Ceylon Schools side.
Anura Tennekoon was appointed Captain of the Combined Schools XI for the Cricket Pentangular Tournament; he was also included in the C.C.A. President’s XI for the Gopalan Trophy match, and in the All-Ceylon Team for the match against the MCC team in November 1965.
Sriantha Rajapakse too played for the Combined Schools, and was 12th Man of the
C.C.A. President’s XI.
The following represented Colombo South in the Zonal Tournament:- UNDER 20 UNDER 18
A.P.B. Tennekoon P.L.D. Kariyawasam
S.J. Rajapakse D.R. Chanmugam
M.D.C.W. Jayasekera D.A. Ponniah
J.D. Bandaranayake
At the end of the season, Colours were re-awarded to A.P.B. Tennekoon and S.J. Rajapakse; the new Coloursmen were T.M. de Silva, J.D. Bandaranayake, R.F. Mendis, M.D.C.W. Jayasekera, D.R. Chanmugam, P.L.D. Kariyawasam, A.M. Perera,
A.T. Baines and S.S. Condegama.
The Senior Inter-House tournament was conducted on a similar lines to the ‘Observer Cup Tourney’ as this system proved a success last year. This year, bonus points too were introduced and Miller-Chapman emerged Winners.”
– Tilak De Silva (Secretary)
- Zahira
Results of the Season Matches 3rd Term 1965 Fixtures
STC: 174 (A. Tennekoon 48, P. Kariyawasam 24) & 83 for 2 dec. (A.M. Perera 23*, A. Tennekoon 38).
Zahira: 80 (J.H. Reid 2 for 3, A. Tennekoon 3 for 11) & 88 (D.R.
Chanmugam 3 for 6, J.D. Bandaranayake 4 for 13).
STC won by 89 runs
- St. Sebastian’s
STC: 239 for 5 dec. (A. Tennekoon 82, T.M. de Silva 42*, P. Kariyawasam 38*, S.J. Rajapakse 28, A.T. Baines 25).
St. Sebastian’s: 59 (D.R. Chanmugam 4 for 23, T.M. de Silva 3 for
13) & 78 (A. Tennekoon 5 for 7).
STC won by an Innings and 102 runs
- Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales: 133 (A. Tennekoon 5 for 32, J.D. Bandaranayake 2 for 21) & 129 (S.J. Rajapakse 3 for 28, J.D. Bandaranayake 3 for
10).
STC: 137 (M. Jayasekera 27, A.T. Baines 24, A. Tennekoon 22, D.A. Ponniah 18) & 127 for 4 dec. (A. Tennekoon 66*).
STC won by 06 wickets
THOMIAN Captain Anura Tennekoon swivelled that ball with pestering
accuracy. Dizzy by the spin, Prince of Wales stumbled along crazily, striving to show decency on the scoreboard. But Tennekoon’s spinners, with five wickets, left them in destruction that seemed beyond repair. The scoreboard read 67
for 8. And when tiny, 14-year-old fresher, RAY FERNANDO made his entry, he did not look the exact man for the job. But he proved wrong.
The “little one” battled on for 90 long minutes to keep his end intact. Stroking the ball with assurance, he had the Thomian attack fidgeting impatiently, waiting for that breakthrough.
Heroic role
While Ray Fernando blunted the edge of the Thomian attack with his prim and proper stroke play, at the other end another FERNANDO (P.R.) fanned a
happy willow. Stealthily, the Prince of Wales total ballooned from 67 for 8 to a tidy 133. Such a total, built from ruins, was satisfying indeed before P.R. Fernando’s willow went to extreme exuberance. He waltzed out of the crease to drive, but failed to get hold of the ball from leg-spinner JD Bandaranayake, and gave a catch to Chanmugam at cover point. He scored 41 valuable runs, that had four fours and took him 93 minutes.
Ray Fernando continued to play with responsibility, but ran out of partners. He remained unbeaten with 19 runs, playing a heroic role. The two Fernandos were associated in 66-run partnership that lasted 90 minutes for the ninth
wicket – a feat that helped Prince of Wales share the honours on the first day with S. Thomas’ at Mt. Lavinia.
Prince of Wales lost their first two wickets for just 6 runs, till opener Srinath
Silva waded into the bowling with gusto and lashed a brisk 27. He was bowled by Tennekoon. And once Srinath was out the collapse occurred and eight
wickets were down for 67 with Tennekoon’s left arm spinners causing the rot. Tennekoon was unlucky to miss his hat-trick and finished with five for 32.
Mohan Jayasekera (27) and David Ponniah (18) gave the Thomians a fine start by putting on 41 for the first wicket.
An Old Thomian travelled 72 miles to see Anura Tennekoon, the Thomian
skipper, in action. Although Tennekoon didn’t strike a good patch, his 22 runs were enough for this old boy. He enthused over the stroke play and a wide smile stretched across his face every time Tennekoon stroked the ball and
contributed to tot his runs on elegance alone. His brief, but bright innings, included three classic boundaries. However, he fell when he walked up to drive, failed to gauge the pitch of the ball – and spooned a catch back to the bowler.
However, it was not “all-Tennekoon’ in this Thomian innings. Watch out for that BAINES boy! Powerfully built, he strokes the ball with surety and power. Technically sound, Trevor Baines (left) plays his stroke in front of the
wicket, thus eliminating the risks that comes off hooks and cuts. It took him almost three full
overs to scamper off the mark, and when he did, he produced stroke play of rich variety. He scored 24, of which 20 were boundaries, mostly off sparkling cover drives.
Baines, who had showed good temperament, played one fault stroke and that proved to be his undoing. He attempted to play across the line of a ball that came shin-high, missed, and was ruled out leg before. Tennakoon and Baines put on 35 runs for the fourth wicket in 30 minutes.
No patience
- Thomas’ had to fight hard to get their runs in reply and at close they were 129 for 8 with all the best batsmen back in the dressing room.
It was leg spinner, Lloyd Patternot, that contributed to the Thomian torment too and they were trailing 4 runs behind with just two wickets intact at stumps. Patternot bowled with nagging persistency, dead on the stumps and tampered with the Thomian batmen’s patience. Four batsmen lost their patience and
their wickets to Patternot who had claimed 4 for 23 at the close and should be the Thomians’ ‘bug-bear’ when the match continues today at 12 noon. Skipper
H.L. de Silva had taken 2 for 60.
- Dharmarajah
STC: 226 for 6 dec. (A. Tennekoon 69, M. Jayasekera 44, S.J. Rajapakse 38*).
Dharmarajah: 103 (S.J. Rajapakse 5 for 25) & 51 (S.J. Rajapakse 4
for 13).
STC won by an Innings and 72 runs
- Dharmapala
STC: 227 for 4 dec. (A. Tennekoon 42, D.A. Ponniah 41, P.L.D. Kariyawasam 48*, S.J. Rajapakse 40*).
Dharmapala: 115 (K.G. Perera 5 for 30) & 98 (A. Tennekoon 3 for
11, P. Kariyawasam 2 for 6).
STC won by an Innings and 14 runs
1st Term 1966 Fixtures
- Mahinda (Jan 7th & 8th at Mt. Lavinia)
STC: 262 (A. Tennekoon 88, D.A. Ponniah 39, T.M. de Silva 38, P.
Kariyawasam 28, M. Jayasekera 24).
Mahinda: 63 (T.M. de Silva 3 for 19, A. Tennekoon 3 for 10, S.J.
Rajapakse 2 for 4) & 20 (A. Tennekoon 6 for 5, T.M. de Silva 2 for
8).
STC won by an Innings and 179 runs
- Nalanda (Jan 21st & 22nd at Mt. Lavinia)
Nalanda: 139 (S.J. Rajapakse 5 for 31, J.D. Bandaranayake 3 for 21)
& 102 (J.H. Reid 2 for 06, A. Tennekoon 2 for 16, P. Kariyawasam
2 for 24).
STC: 187 for 7 dec.(R.F. Mendis 64*, A.M. Perera 24, A. Tennekoon 19, P. Kariyawasam 16, J.D. Bandaranayake 16*) & 58 for 7 (M. Jayasekera 33).
STC won by 03 wickets
- Ananda (Jan 28th & 29th at Vihara Maha Devi Park)
Ananda: 81 (S.J. Rajapakse 3 for 10, D.R. Chanmugam 3 for 14) &
198 for 9 (A. Tennekoon 3 for 46, P. Kariyawasam 3 for 53).
STC: 228 for 7 dec.( S.J. Rajapakse 102*, A. Tennekoon 27, T.M. de Silva 19, J.D. Bandaranayake 19*, R.F. Mendis 16).
Drawn
“Ananda had a powerful side that had Sunil Wettimuny, Lalith Gunaratne, AG Perera among a host of other good players in their team. They normally played their matches at Nalanda grounds on the mat. The ground was not available and therefore they played at the Nomads grounds. College missed winning that game, after routing them for a low score in their first innings,
which would have made it the 8th consecutive win for the season. That is how good Anura’s team was.” – Ajit Jayasekera
- Wesley (4th & 5th Feb at Campbell Park)
Wesley: 81 (A. Tennekoon 4 for 02, P.L.D. Kariyawasam 3 for 17,
D.R. Chanmugam 2 for 9) & 156 (P.L.D. Kariyawasam 4 for 16, J.D.
Bandaranayake 2 for 24, A. Tennekoon 2 for 28, D.R. Chanmugam
2 for 29).
STC: 267 for 5 dec. (A. Tennekoon 110, A.M. Perera 35, M.
Jayasekera 30, R.F. Mendis 21, P.L.D. Kariyawasam 21).
STC won by an Innings and 30 runs
- St. Joseph’s (Feb 11Th& 12th at Mt. Lavinia)
STC: 212 (A. Tennekoon 58, R.F. Mendis 49, D.R. Chanmugam 38,
J.D. Bandaranayake 31*, P. Kariyawasam 15; P. Wijesekera 3 for 51,
- Rodrigo 3 for 28, P. Samarasinghe 2 for 36) & 56 for 2 dec. (A. Tennekoon 27*, M. Jayasekera 20).
St. Joseph’s: 106 (P. Wijesekera 43, N. de Alwis 16, L. de S.
Wijeratne 14, L. Rodrigo 12*, A. Tennekoon 3 for 17, S.J. Rajapakse 5 for 17) & 159 (P. Wijesekera 26, K. Johnpillai 12, S. Wanigasekera
60, L. de S. Wijeratne 37, A. Tennekoon 3 for 29, S.J. Rajapakse 4
for 34, S.S. Condegama 2 for 33).
STC won by 08 wickets
- THOMAS’ COLLEGE, MT. LAVINIA were in a very sound position at the close of first day’s play in their inter-school cricket match against St. Joseph’s on their turf wicket. After scoring 212 in the first innings they had captured seven Josephine wickets for 75 runs.
Both teams suffered sensational batting collapses; S. Thomas’ batting first, lost half the side for just 32 runs. And St. Joseph’s after having 60 for NO loss at the beginning of their innings, lost five wickets in the sixties for 9 runs and the score slumped to 69 for 5.
Captain’s innings
Tennekoon again played a captain’s innings for s. Thomas’ and what is more, when St. Joseph’s batted, and the runs came very fast off the pace bowlers, he brought on Sriantha Rajapakse at the scoreboard end to capture two wickets in the first over while he bowled at the pavilion end with similar effect. They have captured three wickets each.
The Josephians were unfortunate that opener Polycarp Wijesekera had to
retire with cramp when his score was 43, and the total 60. The Josephians 50 came in only 34 minutes. They now face the grim ordeal of collecting 35 runs to avert the follow on.
The start of play was sensational. The first ball sent down by L. Rodrigo gave the show away. There was moisture in the wicket. And until it dried out the Josephian seamers made the most of it. Rodrigo, Wijesekera and Samarasinghe proving most difficult.
Tennekoon weathered this storm, using sound methods, and when the pitch eased up, he used some delightful strokes to score 58 in which he had nine boundaries. Rabin Mendis attacked for his 49 which included five fours and Dennis Chanmugam had four 4’s in his aggressive innings of 38.
The Thomians were all out at 4.25 p.m., and from the first ball Wijesekera treated the Thomian attack with scant respect. He hit five fours in his 43 not out. The fielding from both teams was not as good as it is normally.
STC BY EIGHT WICKETS
(Sunday Mirror)
- Thomas’s beat St. Joseph’s by eight wickets in there inter-school encounter which ended at Mt. Lavinia. The Thomians owe their victory to skipper Anura Tennekoon and vice-captain Sriantha Rajapakse. Tennekoon followed up his
fine first innings knock of 58 to remain unbeaten with 27 when victory was achieved. In addition to his success with the bat, he bowled well to collect a match bag of six wickets for 46 runs. Rajapakse was virtually unplayable and had a match bag of nine wickets for 51 runs.
The Josephians were saved from an innings defeat by a fighting seventh wicket stand of 78 runs in 60 minutes by S. Wanigasekera and L. de S. Wijeratne.
Coming together with the Josephians total at 66 runs for 6 wickets in their follow-on, both Wanigasekera and Wijeratne played the bowling with
confidence and helped to save St. Joseph’s from an innings defeat.
Wijeratne was the first to go at 144 when he failed to get over a drive, and
was bowled by Rajapakse for 37. He had two fours in his knock. Wanigasekera followed a few runs later, when he failed to connect with an intended pull to
leg and was out lbw off Tennekoon. The Josephians finally folded up for 159 leaving the Thomians to get 54 for victory. The Thomians lost two wickets in their bid to victory. This was their fourth outright win in five games played so far this season.
Earlier the Josephians failed to avert the follow-on, being dismissed for 106
runs in the first innings, after resuming at 77 runs for seven wickets. Opener P. Wijesekera, who had retired the previous day after a breezy 43, came in at the fall of the ninth wicket at 106, but soon fell – caught by R. Mendis off Rajapakse without adding to his tally.
- St. Benedict’s (Feb 18th& 19th at Kotahena)
STC: 223 for 6 dec. (A. Tennekoon 63, M. Jayasekera 47, A.M. Perera 38, A.T. Baines 37*, T.M. de Silva 14*).
St. Benedict’s: 89 (A. Tennekoon 2 for 02, D.R. Chanmugam 2 for
14, S.J. Rajapakse 2 for 15, S.S. Condegama 2 for 16) & 78 (S.J.
Rajapakse 4 for 22, P. Kariyawasam 3 for 3, J.D. Bandaranayake 2
for 12).
STC won by an Innings and 56 runs
A RUN-OUT decision by the bowler’s end umpire, D.W. Tissaarachchy in which he ruled Benedictine skipper Felix Dias run out, before he could score a run, sparked off ugly scenes at the end of the first day’s play between S. Thomas’ and St. Benedict’s at Kotahena.
Immediately the day’s play was over and while the umpires were strolling back to the pavilion a few unruly elements from the crowd stoned the umpire and one miscreant added comic relief by bolting away with umpire Tissaarachchy’s hat. Both umpires were hurt in the head by stones thrown from a distance. Umpire Tissaarachchy told that he has umpired for the last eight years and it is the first time he was involved in an incident of this nature. “As far as I am concerned Felix Dias was out! His bat was in the air while the wicket was broken.” The umpire had to be escorted out of the grounds.
Sparkling innings
A sparkling innings of 63 by Thomian captain Anura Tennekoon was the main bright spot when S. Thomas’ declared their innings with the score at 223 for six and
consolidated their position by capturing two good Benedictine wickets for 26 at stumps. Tennekoon, who had a close call when he was four at leg slip, showed his delightful touch as he went on to stroke nine boundaries in his 63. He deftly flicked
the first ball he faced to the mid-wicket fence and thereafter began to settle down to business.
- Thomas’ received a fine start of 61 runs for the first wicket by Mohan Jayasekera
(47) and A. Mohan Perera (38). Jayasekera was the more aggressive of the two. Then
A.M. Perera and Tennekoon added 79 runs for the second wicket before Perera’s painstaking innings was wrecked by Brian Pereira.
Best figures
Fresher A.T. Baines, who came in to bat when Sriantha Rajapakse was run out
without scoring, was all nerves at the outset but got a steady 37 not out. His best strokes were two drives off A. Withanachi to the ropes – both past the bowler.
Brian Pereira two for 42 and Tony Appadurai, who bowled his leg-breaks effectively, with two for 48 had the best figures. Withanachi toiled hard right through the day
without luck.
The Bens fielding was shoddy. St. Benedict’s with Kumar Ramanthan bowled by Condegama for 8 and Felix Dias run out for 0, are 26 for the loss of two wickets at stumps on day one, Appadurai being 12 not out.
Thomians Win By An Innings
Umpires fail to turn up!
SRIYANTHA RAJAPAKSE, the eighteen-year old Thomian off-spinner, spun S.
Thomas’ to a convincing innings and 56 runs triumph over the hitherto unbeaten Benedictines on the Kotahena turf with 15 minutes to spare.
The Thomian keeper Mohan Jaysekera appeals for a catch behind off Benedictine batsman Brian Perera, but the appeal was disallowed. An incident in the Benedictine-Thomian clash which ended in an innings victory for the Thomians.
After the first day’s incidents in which the umpires D.W. Tissaarachchy and G.J.
Hamer were injured by stones hurled at them by unruly mob, they refused to stand yesterday. The gaps were filled by R. Bertie Wijesinha and Orville Abeynaike, the coaches of the two teams, and the match proceeded without any of the first day’s eruptions.
The Benedictines nose-dived to paltry totals of 89 and 78 and found Rajapakse’s
heady bowling a problem to cope with. Rajapakse finished up with a match bag of six wickets for 41 runs – two for 19 in the first innings after sending down 20 overs, 11 of which were maidens. In the second innings he bagged four for 22 in 15.3 overs.
The Benedictines first innings lasted 182 minutes and the second just 146 minutes. Continuing their first innings from 26 for two they were bundled out for 89.
Tony Appadurai top scored with 25 while fresher Wickremasinghe remained unbeaten with 13. Bowling honours were shared by Dennis Cghanmugam two for 14,
S.J. Rajapakse two for 19, Anura Tennekoon two for two and S.S. Condegama two for 36.
Top Scored
With Appadurai’s stumps being disturbed by a beauty from paceman Dennis Chanmugam for 0 and the total at 4, the Benedictines began their follow-on in dismal fashion. The only modicum of resistance came from Kumar Ramanathan. He scored
30 and added 30 runs for the third wicket with B. Pereira. The third wicket fell at 50 and the next seven wickets for just 28 runs!
Rajapakse flighted his off spin well and varied his pace to tie down the Benedictine batsman while Prabodha Kariyawasam, the young off-spinner, helped in with three for three in ten overs with seven maidens and leg-spinner J.D. Bandaranayake
captured two for 12 off his ten overs.
The Thomians were on their toes right through the day. It was team spirit and team work, superbly led by skipper Tennekoon, that really pulled them on to this splendid win and that too with nine freshers in the side.
“It was a wonderful season and our victory by an innings against St Benedict’s was the highlight as everyone in our team contributed to our win against a strong Benedictine team captained by Felix Dias and had Tony Appadurai and Kumar Ramanathan, as well as two very good opening bowlers who had already played for Ceylon Schools by then. This was an outstanding performance by this whole Thomian team.” – Mohan Jayasekera.
“College played a powerful St Benedicts team led by Felix Dias at Kotahena. Late on the first day, their star bat Felix Dias was given out and the crowd rioted. They refused to stand on the following day. So, the solution was for the two team coaches to stand as Umpires – Orville Abeynaike (STC coach) and Bertie Wijesinha (SBC coach). Both Thomians as you know. They did a great job. We won by innings. No, Not because of the Umpires!!” – Ajit Jayasekera
- Trinity (Feb 25th & 26th at Mt Lavinia)
Trinity: 198 (A. Tennekoon 4 for 27, P. Kariyawasam 3 for 35, S.J.
Rajapakse 2 for 54) & 153 for 2 dec.
STC: 134 (A. Tennekoon 39, T.M. de Silva 16, R.F. Mendis 11) & 112 for 7 (M. Jayasekera 22, S.J. Rajapakse 24, P. Kariyawasam 21*).
Drawn
- St. Peter’s (March 4th & 5th at Mt. Lavinia)
STC: 250 for 8 dec. (A. Tennekoon 66, S.J. Rajapakse 99, P. Kariyawasam 24*).
St. Peter’s: 108 (S.S. Condegama 4 for 16, T.M. de Silva 3 for 14, A.
Tennekoon 2 for 14) & 267 (S.S. Condegama 2 for 50, S.J. Rajapakse 4
for 53).
* Peter de Niese, an hard-hitting left hand batsman, counter-attacked brilliantly to score a classy century for SPC in the second innings to
thwart any chances the Thomians may have had of securing another victory – RR
Drawn
THOMIANS STAGE ‘DRESS REHEARSAL’
IN what was actually a ‘Past-vs-Present’ affair S. Thomas’ nosed to a 26-run win over the SSC in a ‘friendly’ played at Maitland Place on Monday, 7th March 1966. Though the result was immaterial, the match being envisaged as a final outing for the
Thomians before the ‘Big Match’, valuable experience accrued from the encounter.
- Thomas’s taking first lease of the wicket had a shock start when both openers were sent back with only 4 on the board. Anura Tennekoon coming in one down could not play the usual role of redeemer. He was well fixed by erstwhile teammate H.S.M. Pieris who sent him a well-pitched delivery on his leg stump, which Anura obligingly scooped up to Welgama at leg-slip for no score. Total 12 for 3 wickets.
A stout-hearted partnership between middle-order batsmen Trevor Baines, Sriantha Rajapakse and Prabodha Kariyawasam stemmed a total collapse. Baines top scored
with 63. He produced a variety of elegant strokes all around the wicket and collected 8 fours in the process.
Tail-ender Dennis Chanmugam did his bit by adding 30 into the kitty to make up a total collection for the schoolboys of 187 runs. (*coincidentally 187 would be the exact total STC would make, four days later, in their first innings against Royal after winning the toss and batting – RR).
Thomians had their fill of a pace attack from N. Welgama, P.I. Pieris and H.S.M. Pieris. R.B. ‘Bertie’ Wijesinghe provided the variety, while Ceylon off-spinner Neil Chanmugam bowled best with figures of 4 for 40.
Source:En.wikipedia
The Thomians fought back gallantly and had driven the wedge fairly in when they had nabbed four SSC wickets for 49.
But, Bertie Wijesinha (left) and Ian (PI) Pieris in an unbroken stand of 101 runs gave the boys the best pre- match coaching they could get with an immaculate
exhibition of copy book batting. These two Alumni sportingly retired when in their sixties, and made it possible for the youngsters to steal a narrow win!
STC: 187 – A.T. Baines 63, S.J. Rajapakse 23, P.L.D. Kariyawasam 30, J.R.D. Bandaranayake 14, D.R.
Chanmugam 30; N. Welgama 01 for 20; H.S.M. Pieris 2
for 45; N. Chanmugam 4 for 40, P.I. Pieris 2 for 20, P. Schoorman 01 for 11.
S.S.C: 161 – R.B. Wijesinha 60 (*retired), P.I. Pieris 64 (*retired), R.P. Samarasinghe 16 (run out); S.S. Condegama 3 for 40, D.R. Chanmugam 01 for 19, J.R.D. Bandaranayke 3 for 20 (*In the ‘Battle of the Brothers’ – Neil Chanmugam b Dennis Chanmugam 03).
1966 RT Souvenir – Thomian 1st XI Team Photo
Standing (L-R): N.M. Wijesooriya, A.T. Baines, S.S. Condegama, A.M. Perera, J.H. Reid,
P.L.D. Kariyawasam, V.L. Weerakoon. (scorer).
Seated (L-R): M.D.C.W. Jayasekera, J.D. Bandaranayake, S.J. Rajapakse, A.P.B. Tennekoon (Capt.), T.M. de Silva, R.F. Mendis, D.R. Chanmugam.
Absent: D.A. Ponniah, P. Schoorman.
1966 Thomian Souvenir
87th BATTLE OF THE BLUES
SKIPPERS PROMISE FIGHTING CRICKET AT THE OVAL
By T.M. Hannan
THE QUORUM BELL WILL RING INSISTENTLY, YET HOPELESSLY, IN FACT IT MIGHT BE BETTER FOR THE PARIAMENT TO MEET AT THE OVAL TODAY.
It is that bad penny farming up once again – the battle of the Blues – to bewitch
citizens and statemen, young and old, with its gay and high adventure. The match, like the bad penny is autobiographical.
Not only what happens today but what happened yesteryear and years before is the fascinating story. It’s funky how even those who do not belong go to see it and feel they are for this day its part. That is the essence of cricket and its spirit as the top two schools are billed to demonstrate today and tomorrow. One can speak of the two
teams through their captains.
IN NUMBERS
A.P.B. Tennekoon, of S. Thomas’, is Anura Tennekoon to the thousands of fans and readers who will turn up in their numbers to see this much spoken of schoolboy
cricketer of our time in action, when the 87th Battle of the Blues gets under way.
Tennekoon today enjoys a reputation seldom held by a school cricketer. He will lead the Thomians with two proud achievements before him. He became the first player to reach five hundred runs this season* maintaining his consistency with a solid
century.
(*only from the first term matches, as Tennekoon scored over 900 runs for the 65/66 season including the 3rd term fixtures -RR),
Tennekoon’s next distinction is that he is the only schoolboy cricketer this season to have represented Ceylon against a foreign team when he played in the MCC v Ceylon match. This season he has also shot into fame as an all-rounder. He is one of those heading the bowling averages.
Both skippers – Tennekoon (STC) and Thalayasingam (Royal) have promised bright cricket and to go for a decision rather than dig in to save a reputation. If this is so the fans are no doubt in for two days’ rich cricket with some of the cream of schoolboy cricketers in action.
Another factor common to the two skippers is that their surnames begin with the
letter “T”. Both are capable of handling their teams to the satisfaction of their coaches and there will be little to choose as far as captaincy is concerned.
On paper the Thomians appear to be possessing an all-round side but the Royalists could boast of nearly an invincible batting line up which only a penetrating attack could pierce.
The Thomians will naturally depend a lot on their skipper and vice-captain, Sriantha Rajapakse who have been their main run-getters and wicket-takers this season.
Both teams are unbeaten this season.
Fielding can be the decisive factor
As teams are evenly matched
The Two Skippers – Lakshman Thalayasingam (Royal) & Anural Tennekoon (STC)
The 87th Royal-Thomian match takes place at the Oval today and tomorrow (11th & 12th March 1966), play commencing at 11.00 am each day. Of these Royal have won 28, S. Thomas’ 29 and 29 have been drawn. L. Thalayasingham captains Royan and Ceylon ‘Cap’ A.P.B. Tennekoon leads S. Thomas’s.
Rich in tradition
This is the oldest inter-school cricket fixture in the Island, and the local version of the English classic – the annual cricket match between Eton vs. Harrow, first played in
1805 being the oldest sporting rivalry in the world.
The ‘Battle of the Blue’ series is steeped in tradition and both Royal and S. Thomas’ have made tremendous contributions to the progress of the game in Ceylon.
Not so long ago, names like Gunasekera, de Krester, Saravanamuttu and de Saram were synonymous with all that was best in Ceylon cricket.
To Royalists and Thomians have fallen the major honours of the game, and the present Ceylon captain is an Old Thomian captain, Michael Tissera, while the Cricket Board of Control President is another Old Thomian captain, Robert Senanayake.
Both the Prime Minister, Mr. Dudley Senanayake and his deputy, Mr. J.R. Jayawardene played in the Royal-Thomian match, Mr. Senanayake for S. Thomas’ and Jayawardene for Royal.
The coveted honour of winning a ‘Blue’ at Oxford or Cambridge has fallen to the lot of four Ceylon cricketers, two from Royal and two from S. Thomas’.
First ‘Blue’
F.C. de Saram (left) The first cricket ‘Blue’ from
Ceylon was Royal’s F.C. de Saram who represented Oxford. The other Oxford ‘Blue’ is Dan Piachaud of
- Thomas’.
The two Cambridge ‘Blues’ are Gamini Goonesena of Royal, who captained Cambridge and scored a
double century against Oxford and P.I. Pieris of S. Thomas’. All four have the distinction of captaining their alma mater too,
(L-R): Gamini Goonesena, P.I. ‘Ian’ Pieris, J.D. ‘Dan’ Piachaud.
Last year’s Royal-Thomian was drawn after S. Thomas’ enforced the follow-on. This year, too, it looks as if the game will end in similar manner, unless the weather takes a hand a wicket helpful to the bowlers is the result.
Major honours
It is true that the Thomian team is composed of nine freshman, only Tennekoon and Rajapakse having played last year or more. On the other hand, Royal’s XI is just the opposite being made of nine Coloursman and two freshers.
But the results achieved this term shows nothing in Royal’s favour on the score of
experience. They have played nine matches this term and have won only one against Ananda, whereas the Thomians have won five – against Nalanda, Mahinda, Wesley, St. Joseph’s, St. Benedict’s, and have drawn their matches against Ananda, Trinity and St. Peter’s. This is an impressive record, and one of which Tennekoon has every
reason to be proud.
It is true that Royal did well against Trinity, the only team to almost beat S. Thomas’ this season. But much of Royal’s work this season has not looked of match-winning variety. This has been particularly noticeable with the bowling where it has not been unknown for Thalayasingham to use seven, eight or even nine bowlers without a
result.
Limited resources
On the contrary, Tennekoon with very limited resources has achieved splendid results. He has confined the main bowling to himself, S.J. Rajapakse and P.L.D. Kariyawasam. Tennekoon has 36 wickets, Rajapakse 34 and Kariyawasam 22. (*1st term stats). The other bowlers in the Thomian team are S.S. Condegama and D.R. Chanmugam, pace, and T.M. de Silva and J.D. Bandaranayake, spin.
Perhaps Thalayasingham’s injury and his inability to bowl flat out in any match to date has upset the team’s bowling. If he is completely recovered and able to bowl at full speed, he could trouble the Thomians including Tennekoon himself.
Royal’s most dangerous bowler in the event of Thalayasingham being able to operate only at half-pace, will be Nissanka Wadugodapitiya, one of the finest left-armers in the schools. In support there are Samarajeewa and Liyanage for pace, Wimaladharma, Sirisena and Skandakumar, the spinners.
The batting
The batting is about even, with the balance being tilted by Tennekoon’s success or
failure. If he succeeds the Thomians are capable of more runs, if he fails the Royalists should make more. In support the Thomians have Rajapakse, M. Jayasekera, A.M. Perera, A.T. Baines, Kariyawasam, R.F. Mendis, T.M. de Silva and Bandaranayke.
And the Royalists, in addition to Wadugodapitiya, have Skandakumar, L.A.D. Sirisena,
- J. De Silva, J. Kudahetty, and R.P. Liyanage, as well as R. Wijetilleke, A.R. Gunasekera, A. Samarajeewa and L. Thalayasingham, who can all bat.
The fielding of both teams should be good and might well prove to be the decisive factor. In this respect, the more experienced Royalists should have an advantage as the majority of them have played in this match before and should not suffer from nerves.
INTRODUCING THE TEAMS
ROYAL
1.Lakshman T. Thalayasingham (Captain), 2.Asoka. M. Samarajeewa (Vice-captain), 3.Rohan
- Liyanage, 4.Nissanka Wadugodapitiya, 5.L.A.D. Sirisena, 6.S. Skandakumar, 7.S. J. de Silva,
8.R.L. Wijetilleke, 9.W.A.J. Wimaladharma, 10.A. Ranjit Gunasekera, 11.Jayantha Kudahetty,
- J. Wickremasooriya (12thman), 13.Brian Lieversz (reserve).
S. THOMAS
- Anura Tennekoon (Captain), 2.Sriantha Rajapakse, 3.Tilak M. de Silva, 4.Rabin Mendis, 5. Jayampathi D. Bandaranayake, 6.Dennis R. Chanmugam, 7.A. Trevor Baines, 8.A.M. ‘Tony’ Perera, 9.S. Senarath Condegama, 10.N.Manilka Wijesooriya (12thman), 11.Johann H. Reid (reserve), 12.Mohan D.C.W. Jayasekera, 13. Prabodha L.D. Kariyawasam.
