THE BATTLE FOR THE KARI-LAWTON TROPHY 2023 match report written – by “PSNK & ECLL“
After a brief hiatus, the “Mate versus Mate” cricket match for “The Kari-Lawton Trophy “ was resumed on Saturday, the 28th of January 2023, at South Maroota Reserve in NSW. The trophy symbolises a friendly cricketing rivalry between old boys of Royal College, Colombo, where those based in Victoria and those based in NSW/ACT take turns in hosting the game and trying their best to outplay the other.
This match was eagerly anticipated due to a long postponement. Some came to observe a cameo performance by Kari whom some believed was retiring this year from all forms of over sixties cricket.
The game was played under the usual “special” rules which limits each player to 6 overs and 30 scored runs. It appears that these rules were devised to enable every player to have a bat and bowl, and a chance to be involved, irrespective of form.
The players
The chief guest was Eardley Lieversz (Royal’s winning captain of 1969). The two teams that took to the field were –
For Victoria – The Full Team
1. Malique Dean (Captain)
2. Lalin De Silva
3. Ransi Fernando
4. Sunil De Silva
5. Alfie Lawton
6. Sumedha Ranasinghe
7. Sarj Mendis
8. Raj Kumar Yoga
9. Ramesh Nadarajah
10. Nimalan Karthikeyan (from the ACT)
11. Rad Balgunan (from NSW)
Scorer: Samuel Lawton (1974 Royal cricket captain)
It is also notable that six wife’s came along to support the men with two Nadarajah boys (Sons of Ramesh)
For NSW
Aruna Wickramasinghe (captain),
Prasanna Kariyawasam (1975 RC cricket captain), Mahen Selvarajah, Janaka Subasinghe,
Kanda Gunaratnam, Radesh Chanmugam, Kesara De Costa, Suren Salgado,
Jerome Gasperson, Chanaka Gunasekera and Ranjan Sivagnanasunderam
NSW rally
NSW won the toss and opted to bat. They started off badly by losing 5 early wickets for the loss of 38 runs under some very tight new ball bowling by Ramesh, Alfie and Maliq.
At this stage 100 was the projected total score. Some looked forward to an early lunch and departure. There were others who wished for more runs on the board to allow the game to linger until the planned afternoon tea arrival of the special “Kari-Lawton chocolate cake”.
However, the NSW middle order had other plans and commenced the resurrection of the innings. Mahen and Suren started the ball rolling until the latter walked on a low catch taken by Ransi before the umpire had even made up his decision. Then it was the turn of Janaka and Radesh who took the score to 112 with a partnership of 35 before Radesh was compelled to retire on 33 as per rules. NSW still had a few wickets in hand and the skipper Aruna partnered Ranjan in a 21 run partnership when Ranjan was run-out by a direct hit to the wickets by Ramesh. The last pair of Kari and captain Aruna used the four remaining overs to take the score to respectable 151 in the 36 overs allotted overs. The number eleven batsman protected his overall batting average with a planned not out.
The main contributors to the score for NSW were Radesh (33 not out), Mahen (22), Janaka (16), and Aruna (18 not out). The main wicket takers for Victoria were Ramesh (2/11), Alfie (1/18), Maliq (1/18), Lalin (1/9) and Sunil (2/10).
A spirited reply by Victoria
Victoria in reply started off very well, thanks to their openers Ransi and Sunil who put on 30 runs in 6 overs.
Then, Kanda got Ransi caught by Suren at short fine leg. Interestingly, former classmates took the catches of each other. (Suren was caught by Ransi & in return Ransi was caught by Suren.) Deja vu!
Shortly after, Ranjan held a brilliant catch at short mid-wicket to dismiss Sunil. The break-up of this partnership resulted in NSW bowling a stricter line which was accompanied by some lucky breaks. NSW began to slowly get back into the game by taking vital wickets.
A sporting gesture
At this juncture a gesture was made which was in the true spirit of the game. The batsman Alfie walked out without any hesitation, although given the benefit of the doubt by the umpire who was unable to hear or see a snick, agreeing that he was indeed caught off the glove down the leg side by wicket keeper Kesara off the bowling of Kari.
Victoria poised for victory
When Ramesh joined Sajith it was anticipated on past exploits that they would easily see Victoria past NSW’s total of 151. That was until Ramesh straight drove Gassy so hard that the ball deflected off Gassy’s hands and hit the stumps at the non-strikers end with Sajith out of his crease, not having faced a ball.
The thirty-run rule comes to NSW’s rescue
Ramesh nevertheless kept the Victorian’s hopes alive by smashing the ball all around the park, in one instance losing a ball into the nearby creek and, in another instance nearly losing the replacement which cleared the Community Centre Hall and made it to Wisemans Ferry Road. Luckily for NSW, the retiring at 30 rule came to the rescue depriving Ramesh of a certain half century. With his departure NSW captured the remaining wickets easily to dismiss Victoria for 112 in 28.2 and romp to their second victory of the series.
The main contributors to the score for Victoria were Ramesh (34 not out), Ransi (17), Sunil (13) and Nimalan (11). The main wicket takers for NSW were Kanda (2/13), Gassy (1/18), Janaka (1/17), Radesh (1/12) and Kari (1/18).
Post-game pleasantries
The awards were given at the end of the game by Eardley Lieversz and were as follows:
- Best Batsman – Ramesh Nadarajah (34 Not out , 2 Sixes and 4 fours, Victoria )
- Best Bowler – Kanda Gunaratnam (2 for 13 off 5.2 overs, NSW )
- Man of the match – Radesh Chanmugam (33 not out and 1 wicket, NSW )
At the presentation after the game, David Selvan (OBA Cricket Coordinator) welcomed all.
This was followed by short speeches from Prasanna Kariyawasam and Sam Lawton former RC big match captains.
Then NSW captain (Aruna Wickramasinghe) & Victoria captain (Maliq Dean) thanked all for making the effort to make this game happen.
Finally, the chief guest dwelled on the significance of both the game and those involved in it.
The captain of the winning team, Aruna Wickramasinghe, accepted winning back the “Kari-Lawton Trophy” on behalf of his team. The three games played so far for the trophy are as follows –
Game 1 (2018 in Sydney) – Won by NSW
Game 2 (2019 in Melbourne) – Won by Victoria.
Game 3 (2023 in Sydney) – Won by NSW
Commendable organisation
It was very obvious that NSW/ACT OBA of Royal College, Colombo, left no stone unturned in ensuring that this much postponed game was revived in style. Not only was the game played in a very “friendly” albeit competitive atmosphere, the rituals and gastronomic delights took the game to another plane. The players from both sides were unanimous in the hope that the game become a permanent fixture with greater family participation.
It should be noted that the Victorian contingent consisted of seven ladies. It is to be hoped that the ladies connected to the NSW team will similarly make it to Melbourne in conjunction with the next game scheduled for 2024.
Sentiments expressed by the chief guest, Eardley Lieversz (but not necessarily in the manner in which he expressed them on the day)
Whether Royal are playing STC or amongst themselves, these old boys games draw from the Royal-Thomian tradition. The big match concept,
a Sri Lankan modification of an English tradition, is unique to the cricketing sporting world, if not to the sporting world. To the casual onlooker today’s game may have been just another friendly encounter of cricket, although some may have had their curiosity aroused by the colourful tops worn by the players.
Everyone involved today’s game, from players to those who organised the venue and food, need to be conscious of the fact that they are involved in something special. They celebrate a unique tradition in a far-flung corner of the cricketing world.
I owe a lot to the Royalists who were involved in today’s event at varying levels. With a few exceptions the majority of them did not receive school cricketing colours. But without them cricket at Royal would have lacked the excitement it had for me.
They participated in cricket at all levels. From lunch time games and attending house practice to waving the flag and reading the cricket souvenirs.
They were there to support us and make the noises that brought the best out of people like me.
On Saturday they continued that tradition. They do more for the Royal College cricket tradition and the wonderful memories that it generates, than that any of us who hogged the limelight. Their love for school and cricket is selfless and their actions is impelled by a desire to give to the game and the school that nurtured it, more than what they ever got out of it in terms of fame and reputation.
Congratulations and thanks to you all. You are truly the unsung heroes that every institution cannot do without.
