By Pulasthi Samaraweera
They learnt and made the Thoras depart…
Disce Aut Discede – Learn or Depart – The motto was first mentioned during the regime of Principal Todd (1871-1878) who constantly reminded the lads from Ried Avenue that they must learn or get out. But it took them 3 years to learn from their mistakes and finally depart a handsome bunch of gutsy 50 year old Thomians to lift the Morrell memorial shield for the first time in the series at the Fred Caterson Reserve in Castle Hill, this Sydney.
St Thomas College NSW OBA lost to Royal College NSW OBA in the “Sydney Royal-Thomian over 50s” annual cricket encounter by 15 runs on Sunday 21st March 2010
Royal skipper Prasanna Kariyawasam (famously known as “Kari” among the NSW Lankans) won the toss and thought the Thora’s should get the first use of the Sydney morning sun. While the Thomians were getting an uninvited tan, Kari decided to take an early shower letting P. Selvarajan (34 rtd) & Raj Karunairatnam (30 rtd) do the talking with the bat.
Although the Thomians managed to get Chitral Perera (2), Nad Balgunan (13) & Channa Atukorala (5) cheaply, Suren Chanmugam (32 rtd) & Mahen Selvarajah (30 rtd) steadied the Royal innings playing some shots that would make any Sri Lankan proud. Janaka Subasinghe chipped in with a quick 22 to make the final score 195/4 in the allocated 30 overs.
Mahesh, Vimal Jayanetti, Lal Wimalaratne & Prahalath captured a wicket each for the old Thomians while rest of the royal line up retired in order to give a bat to all team members.
After a well earned “maalu paan” & soft drink break, The Thomians got off to a flyer with openers Randy Morrel (33 rtd) and Jayantha scoring 11 runs in the first over. But Royal came back strongly in the very next over when Jayantha fell cheaply. The Thomian skipper Lasa Peris (31 rtd) joined Randy and took the royalists to the ropes.
Eksath Perera (4) & Vimal Jayanetti (0) fell almost immediately after both Randy & Lasa retired reaching 30+ runs. Rehan Abeykoon (17) Mahesh (20) & Prahalath (15) took on the strong Royal bowling attack led by Janaka Subasinghe (3/4) & Nad Balgunan (2/25).
Nimalan Karthikeyan, Raj Karunairatnam & Mahen Selvarajah took a wicket each to bowl the Thomians out for 166. A further 14 runs was awarded to the Thomians according to the “over 60s rule” making the final tally 180 all out in 29 overs.
A most enjoyable day filled with old jokes and stories that has lasted more than five decades was brought to an end with the presentation of the following awards.
Man of the Match: P.Selvarajan ( RC )
Best Batsman: Randy Morrel ( STC )
Best Bowler: Janaka Subasinghe ( RC )
Best Fielder: Mahesh ( STC )
Chief Scores
Royal College 195/4 in 30 overs.
Prasanna Kariyawasam 3, P. Selvarajan 34 rtd, Raj Karunairatnam 30 rtd, Chitral Perera 2, Nad Balgunan 13, Channa Atukorala 5, Suren Chanmugam 32 rtd, Deva Mylvaganam 11, Mahen Selvarajah 30 rtd, Janaka Subasinghe 22 rtd
Nimalan Karthikeyan 1 not out, Rohan Abeysekera 3 not out
Mahesh 1/14, Vimal 1/8, Lal 1/15, Prahalath 1/22
STC 166 + 14 bonus runs = 180 in 29 overs
Randy Morrel 33 rtd, Jayantha 5, Lasa Peris 31 rtd, Eksath Perera 4, Rehan Abeykoon 17, Vimal Jayanetti 0, Mahesh 20, Prahalath 15, Harry 10, Shaan Ching 5
Derek Bolling 0, Lal Wimalaratne 3
Janaka Subasinghe 3/4, Nimalan Karthikeyan 1/22, Raj Karunairatnam 1/12, Nad Balgunan 2/25, Mahen Selvarajah 1/13
Teams
STC:
Lasa Peris (Capt), Randy Morrel, Stanley Jayanthakumar, S Prahalath, Derek Bolling, Lal Wimalaratne, Harry Cumaraswamy, Eksath Perera, Shann Ching, Rehan Abeykoon, Vimal Jayanetti, Mahesh Naganathan
RC:
Prasanna Kariyawasam (Capt), P. Selvarajan, Raj Karunairatnam, Chitral Perera, Nad Balgunan, Channa Atukorala, Suren Chanmugam, Deva Mylvaganam, Mahen Selvarajah, Janaka Subasinghe, Nimalan Karthikeyan, Rohan Abeysekera
