HOW'S THAT? - A SYNOPSIS OF CRICKET AT the COLLEGE SPANNING A PERIOD OF ELEVEN YEARS

When I received a telephone call from Afzal, past president of the Old Anthonians Club, requesting me to write an article on Anthonian cricket for the souvenir to be published on the occasion of the centenary 'Big Match' between Trinity and St. Anthony's, I was filled with trepidation. Writing on a subject I am familiar with is as easy as dispatching a full toss over the boundary. But putting pen to paper on a subject I know little or nothing about is akin to facing a scorcher from Tom Deen! Consequently I have decided to confine this article to my memories of the gentleman's game as I remember it from my childhood at college when I joined in January 1951 until the day I left in February 1963. If I wander into forbidden fields and take liberties with my pen regarding the game per se, I take full responsibility for any errors, stand guilty of any charges and will accept the umpire's decision! To open the innings, the captains of the cricket team in my years at St.Anthony’s were:

1951 - 1952 Bernard Weerakoon

1953 Edmund Cooray

1954-1955 A.C.M.Lafir

1956 Wijeypala Premaratne

1957 Ranjit Doranegama

1958 S.W.Seneviratne

1959-1960 Charlie Joseph

1961 M.Muthalib

1962 Nissanka Dunuwille

My memories of cricket in my first year (1951) as a seven year old in "The Rainbow Cottages" of St. Anthony's are best forgotten ! In that year the authorities in their wisdom decided to try out a newly laid turf wicket at college as a "test run". Worse, the side against which the new turf wicket was tested was against a very strong Josephian team led by Kenneth Serpanchy. I recall watching in horror from the terraces as the strong Anthonian side captained by Edmund Cooray was skittled out for a very low score, and we lost by an innings. The Josephian bowlers who caused the damage were Ken Serpanchy and Roy Pereira who ran through our batsmen like the proverbial knife through butter. Only this time they did it with a leather ball ! Years later I met Roy Pereira in Colombo, and he recounted this match to me as if it was played yesterday !! Another match that is fresh in my memory is the encounter against Ananda college that year. I cannot recall the result, but to this day I can picture Bernard Weerakoon walking out to bat in the second innings with one arm in plaster of paris due to a fracture he sustained in the first innings ! Like a brave Roman Legionary he stepped out from the pavilion to volatile cheering from a very vocal crowd in the terraces. The pavilion at that time stood where the present club now stands towards the volley ball and "Mansion" end of the grounds. He lasted for two overs during which time he scored 12 runs - both sixes !! The roar of the crowd that applauded him on his walk back to the pavilion must have reverberated through the vicinity of Katugastota and to regions beyond ! The Trinity-Anthonian encounter in 1951 played at Asgiriya was one I prefer to forget ! We lost by an innings and were all out for 37 in the first innings. There was some fight back in the second innings with Lafir scoring a gallant 74, but this did not save the day for us Anthonians, and we were trounced!

Edmund Cooray captained the team in 1951 and 1952, and in 1953 Bernard Weerakoon succeeded him in that role. My recollections of cricket fixtures in 1952 are at best hazy, but it is a year this eight year old at the time remembers for three reasons. Ronnie Stephens, one of the best opening batsman in schools scored a superb 136 not out against St. Benedicts for which he was awarded the "Eagle". In the encounter with St.Peter's he scored 89 in the first innings and 79 in the second innings. Before the cricket season ended that year, Ronnie Stephens scored the "cricketing trifecta" with a well timed 100 against Trinity in the 'Big Match'.

I have no recollections of cricket in 1953, but 1954 was the year which took Anthonian cricket to the 'sunlit uplands' under the captaincy of A.C.M.Lafir. That year, college had one of the strongest teams, with Lafir and Ronnie Stephens reputed to be the finest opening pair in school cricket, and Sali Doranegama and Tom Deen the fastest opening bowlers, striking terror into the hearts of batsmen everywhere ! Add to this a wicket-keeper who with extraordinary skill stood up to Deen and Doranegama behind the stumps and did his job with gymnastic ability. He was Cuthbert Pereira who took the art of wicket-keeping to levels never seen before! As recently as two years ago, I met old boys from some leading Colombo colleges who fondly recollected their memories of having seen players of this calibre, at a period when most of the leading colleges had very strong teams. This year is also remembered for the classic six sixers which Tom Deen scored against St.Joseph's at Darley Road. These sixers were despatched to all parts of the ground, in his innings of 67, with one clearing the Bonjean Tower! It is an innings which old Josephians who witnessed this game still recollect fondly, as they almost won the match, and it was the last pair Cuthbert Pereira and "Bowler" Siva who saved the day for college, putting up a stubborn defence to the end.

The 'Big Match' of 1954 against Trinity will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. A.C.M. Lafir and Ronnie Stephens both scored centuries and the first wicket fell at 266, when Lafir was out for 176. Many articles have been written about this match before, so I wont go over old ground. Trinity were out for 220 in the first innings and collapsed for 104 in the second innings, with "Bowler" Siva doing the damage for college. I think facing Sivanandan in his prime was like watching a cobra, not knowing when it would strike!!!. With his unorthodox run up, "Bowler" Siva mesmerised the batsmen, and he struck with venom! Such was the reputation of Tom Deen as a hitter of the ball, that some old boys of Colombo schools made a special trip to Kandy to watch Deen bat. Sadly, he was out for zero, bowled by the first ball he faced! The "deafening silence" in the Anthonian camp when he got out was something that still clouds my memory. I remember sitting in the terraces as a ten year old with my school mates watching him walk back to the pavilion. That day our world came to an end!!

Now for a change of pace, it would be remiss of me if I do not mention the coaches of the teams from 1951 up to 1962. They were: Mr.John Halangoda (1951 and1952), Mr.Maurice Pereira (1953 to 1956), Mr. Robert Wright (1957 and 1961), Mr.Donald Fairweather (1958) Mr. T.M. Cooray (1959 and1960), Mr. T.K Hannan/Angelo Peries (1962).

The year 1956 saw Wijeypala Premaratne, a very stylish batsman captain college. The team he led was bursting with talent! Anton Rambukpotha, Ranjit Doranegama, S.W.Seneviratne, and Ranjit Samarasekera were the shining lights in this star studded team. In March 1956 an Industrial Exhibition was held in Colombo which ran for a week. This coincided with the Anthonian-Benedictine cricket fixture scheduled to be played at Kotahena that weekend. I was a boarder in the Junior Mansion. The college authorities decided to take the Mansioners (Senior and Junior) to witness the match, and then visit the exhibition in the evening before returning to college. St.Benedicts batted first and their captain Lovellyn Rayen scored a century. At the close of play that Friday, they were all out and we had started our first innings with Anton Rambukpotha and Ranjith Samarasekera opening the innings. On Saturday morning, three buses with enthusiastic Mansioners singing themselves hoarse, and clutching their college flags left Katugastota, Kotahena bound. We were eager to see Anton Rambukpotha in action. Watching Anton bat was akin to watching a ballet dancer on stage! He was graceful, stylish, and his timing and reflexes at the crease left spectators spellbound! When we finally reached the grounds at Kotahena, we were aghast to see that Anton had beaten us to it! He was back in the pavilion having scored a rapid fire century, which sports editors of the leading newspapers rated as, quote.........."The fastest century scored by a schoolboy cricketer that year ".

That same year, in our encounter against a strong Ananda team played at Katugastota, Ranjit Samarasekera dazzled the massive crowd present with a stylish century, and received the coveted "Eagle" for cricket.

1957: In the big match against Trinity, Srilal Seneviratne scored a century which was the highlight of the game which ended in a tame draw.

In 1958 a new chapter emblazoned in letters of gold was to be written in the book of Anthonian cricket. We had Jack Anderson in the 1920's, ACM Lafir in the early 50's, followed by W.Premaratne, Ranjit Doranegama, Srilal Seneviratne, and Anton Rambukpotha, and Ranjit Samarasekera. But there was one cricketer who, when he first wielded the willow for college enjoyed rock star status and set the ground alight due to his prowess with the bat. His name dwells in the realms of legend among other Anthonian cricketing giants - enter Charlie Joseph. Charlie made his debut in 1958 under the captaincy of Srilal Seneviratne. Here is a record of his achievements:

THE CHARLIE JOSEPH SCOREBOARD

1958 - 42 against St.Peters

75 against Dharmarajah

Charlie was also handy with the ball and in the game against St.Peters he took 5 for 52 and against

Dharmarajah he had a haul of 5 for 54. In the game against a strong Josephian side which scored 330 in the first innings Charlie bagged 5 for 77.

1959 - 101 against Kingswood

104 against Dharmarajah

123 not out against St.Benedicts

115 not out against St.Peters.

He scored 86 not out against Ananda and 95 not out against Trinity.

In 1959 Charlie was awarded the "Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year" .

1960 - 121 against Nalanda

115 against St.Benedicts

126 against Trinity

50 against Kingswood

74 versus St.Joseph's

70 versus Dharmarajah

55 versus Ananda

1961 - 113 against Dharmarajah

116 against St. Benedicts

1960. St. Anthony's this year fielded a formidable line-up and an unbeaten side under the captaincy of Charlie Joseph. We were victorious against Kingswood, Dharmarajah, St.Benedicts, and nearly beat a strong Josephian team at Darley Road. For the second year in succession, Charlie won the award for the "Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year". Those who witnessed the "Big Match" this year will never forget the blazing opening stand of 157 in the Anthonian second innings by M.Muthalib and Tilak Thalakada. It was a feast for the eyes, with both batsmen in full flight.

1961. My penultimate year in college is not a pleasant memory as far as cricket is concerned. Dark clouds loomed on the horizon by the threatened schools take over which ripped the heart out of the Anthonian spirit - and Anthonian cricket. Consequently cricket fixtures this year were limited, with games against St.Sylvesters, Kingswood, Dharmarajah and Trinity, and if memory serves me correct two games against Colombo colleges. The encounter with Dharmarajah was the thriller! T.B.Kehelgamuwa, the fastest opening bowler in schools that year skittled us out for a mere 86 in the first innings, and they went on to score 227. History was to repeat itself in the second innings when we were tottering on 70 for 5 wickets - and then the Joseph brothers, Charlie and Michael stepped in and used their bats like magic wands!

Our opponents upto then wereconfident of wrapping up the game early with an innings victory, but they had not reckoned with a giant of the game Charlie Joseph who stood his ground (or rather, his crease ! ) to tantalize the massive crowd with a carnival of class batting which saw him score 117. Following his elder brother's example, Michael cut loose with no quarter given, to overtake Charlie and notch up a well deserved 141. We declared at 323 for 6 wickets. At the end of play, it was time that saved Dharmarajah and we almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Sixteen years later on a visit to France, I met an old Rajan in Paris, and when he found out that I was an Anthonian, all he spoke about that Winter's night over dinner were the centuries scored by Charlie and Michael!! Memories are made of these........as the old song goes.........

I was privileged to have known Charlie closely, having been in class together in the Form 5 Arts A, and then in "The Journey's End" - the five star section of boarding life! Charlie was not only a super-talented cricketer who played the 'Gentleman's game'. He WAS a gentleman. Never have I come across a sportsman (he also represented college in soccer, basketball, and latterly Rugby) so humble, unassuming, and modest. Not for him was the glitz, glamour, and fame which came with sporting success. Even then I thought of him as "the reluctant hero'. Many of the sportsmen today who are labelled as "icons" "heroes" and "legends" (words which are loosely used) could take a leaf from his book. I am not averse to confessing that the thought that he is no longer with us still leaves me with a heartache, and I am sure I echo the sentiments of all who were privileged to have known Charlie - specially those of us who were with him in the boarding.

His image as a cricketer and a very decent human being is imprinted on the retina of everybody who watched him play the wider game of life.

1962 - My last year in college which was my second home ! The highlight to me was the victory against Trinity in the big match, thanks to a wily spin bowler K. Abeynaike, and a wicket keeper who delighted the crowd with his ability behind the stumps, Tutu Tenuwera . "Bowled Abeynaike, stumped Tenuwera" was the mantra on everybody's lips! I believe Tutu was responsible for six stumpings. Franco Burke thrilled the crowd with a dashing century which included three thundering sixers. (Three cricketers and I were in the same class from 1951, till 1962 .They were Franco Burke, Michael Landsberger, and Louis Macky). It was a victory celebrated long into the night. This year Franco Burke continued an Anthonian tradition and won the "Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year" award.

There are other protagonists worthy of mention. By the very nature of whom they were, they have to be woven into the fabric of this article.

CHARLIE THE GROUND BOY

Ground boy Charlie was a lovable character and part of the landscape! A larger than life figure during the cricket season hauling the matting and attending to all the groundwork, he performed a sterling task. Charlie smoked a foul smelling cigar and sometimes fortified himself with a kick starter of sorts called "Abin". As Franklyn Amerasinghe recalls, this gave him strength to carry the matting! His understudy was Piyasena who eventually succeeded him. I remember Charlie for the "trademark" phrase he always used - "Come my darling, come !!" which was a source of constant amusement to us.

MASTER CHEF JAMIS

St.Anthony's was famous for a standard of hospitality extended to visiting teams which became legendary. Our own "Master Chef" Jamis played a big part in sealing this reputation with his culinary fare whenever we hosted a visiting team. Franklyn Amerasinghe tantalises one's tastebuds when expressing his sentiments in an email to me....."I can still smell the freshly baked bread, and imagine the butter melting on it .......Jamis's steaks were out of this world! " I venture to add, Jamis turned out the best steaks this side of Texas !!!

MRS.PILLAI AND BANDA

When I joined college in 1951, a gentleman called "Tuck Joe" was responsible for running the tuck shop. After he left, Mrs.Pilai took over with an able assistant called Banda. Before this, Banda worked for sometime in the main refectory and kitchen. They were a formidable pair, and rendered yeoman service specially during the cricket season. While college or the opposing team were piling on the runs in the middle, Mrs.Pillai and Banda piled on the Breads, Vaddais, Plantains and Teas, keeping the hungry hordes at bay! If one remembers, the tea served in the tuck shop was the nectar of the Gods.

Tuck Shop Tea had a drop or two of vanilla added to it, which gave it a unique taste of the cordon bleu variety.

TREASURED MEMORIES OF AN INSPIRATIONAL ANTHONIAN - THE ANGUISH OF THE ANTHONIAN SOUL

I was about to conclude this article, when with incredible sadness I received the news that Ranjith Samarasekera's earthly journey was over. When I was a boarder in "The Mansion", Ranjith was in "The Journey's End". In my conversations with him, it was obvious that he had a warm and giving spirit always willing to listen and offer words of encouragement to those who needed it. I am confident the Anthonian brotherhood and everybody who knew Ranjith will confirm this. He also had a great sense of humour, and was fun to be with due to his endearing nature. He remained a committed Anthonian whom many looked up to as a leader in the Anthonian community because he had a positive influence on many. Long may his legacy continue.

Rest in peace Ranjith. Although nothing can fill the void created by your absence, our treasured and precious memories of you are locked in our hearts forever. The world has been a better place for your presence.

THE LAST OVER

This article would not have been possible without the unstinting assistance of Franklyn Amerasinghe and Michael Macky both ex cricketers, who provided me with valuable information. They have my sincere thanks, and they know how grateful I am to them. Any errors regarding dates, scores, names etc. are entirely mine for which I apologise profusely. Fifty five years after leaving my second home St.Anthony's college, the memory tends to bowl you a barrage of bouncers! I may stand guilty of having taken poetic licence in putting pen to paper. In my defence, I did this for maximum effect hoping to part the veil of time for readers and take them back to those happy schooldays....With the shadows lengthening across the ground and the fading light, I pull up stumps in the twilight of memory and walk back to the pavilion of my dreams.