events

A Royal-Thomian Aperitif (from The Island)

by Rohan Wijeyaratna
I am neither a Royalist, nor a Thomian and therefore eminently unsuited to
write on the ‘Royal - Thomian’. Yet when my long time friend Ajith Peiris who
eats, sleeps and breathes blue and gold from about December each year till
March the next, invited me to write on the subject, I felt it would be a
heartless act to refuse. Having got to know that another Peiris, Sunil by name,
was heading the organizing committee for the match, I felt absolutely no
qualms about recommending this game to those who haven’t seen it yet,
(particularly to the members of the ‘Barmy Army’ who seem to have invaded
our shores in their thousands from ‘Old Blighty’) for Sunil if nothing else is a
great organizer of events and whatever he touches is never short of ending up
being quite spectacular. I should know. He was Chairman of the Gymkhana
Club a few years ago and changed the place out of sight during his time, all to
the good.

Since I was woefully short of material to write, I approached one of Royal’s
proudest products and one of my boyhood heroes, Ievers Gunasekera (
better known as C.I.) to let me into a bit so that I could embellish the stuff and
get into print. He did not disappoint me, and the stories were as spectacular as
was his batting in his hey day. They didn’t need embellishment either, for
Ievers is a great storyteller when in the mood and an evening with him is as
enjoyable an event as any, particularly to those who can appreciate the spirit
and the humour. Both, are utterly English.

70 years back in time

The great man took me back in time over 70 years to recount the first Royal
Thomian match he ever saw; in March 1930. He being only four foot nothing
then, understandably saw everything in retrospect as huge and far away. I can
understand that rather well. When only a kid myself, my first sight of Ievers
Gunasekera as captain of All-Ceylon left me with the same impression. He
was of course a giant of a man then in every way, and had this thing called
‘presence’ written all over him. A late developer, C.I. had a rather
unspectacular cricketing career at school, only to blaze forth with a vengeance
as no doubt many of his hapless victims including Lindsay Kline and Ray
Illingworth and in one great match his partner at the other end-Keith Ross
Miller no less, would amply testify.

In those days, the umpires for the ‘Big match’ were old boys of both schools.
One such was D. L. de Saram, a giant of a man physically and intellectually;
who by reputation was the biggest hitter of all time. At the time of the 1930
match he was well past 50, having captained St. Thomas’, S.S.C, Ceylonese
and All-Ceylon in that order. It is said that he hit the biggest six ever seen at
the C.C.C. grounds on one occasion, when the ball ended up at the Cinnamon
Gardens Police Station. Ievers at this point hastily added of course that as
years roll by, the’ sixers’ go a bit further and tend to be more numerous too!

"You’re out; you’ve batted enough"

Royal began the proceedings with brothers Derrick (F.C.) and Robert de
Saram opening the batting. Both were nephews of the afore-mentioned umpire
D.I. de Saram. When Derrick got to 70, a loud bat-pad noise was heard all
over the ground. There was absolutely no appeal from any of the players but
the umpire’s hand went up nevertheless. Derrick de Saram was out, leg
before wicket! Recalling the event many years later, Derrick in his mirth said
that whilst passing the umpire (who was his uncle) on his way back to the
pavilion he was told in no uncertain terms "You’ve batted long enough, the
other chaps want a turn too". Such was the spirit with which the game was
played then. The game was the thing, regardless of who won or lost.

Levers distinctly remembers the umpires sitting on a shooting stick and when
the hourly drinks tray was brought out, the white coated men were served
separate drinks from the players! With a twinkle in his eye, he says "You can
just imagine what those drinks may have contained!"

A chat between F.C and D.B.

Later on in 1930, a Combined Schools team played an All Indian team
brought by the Maharajah of Viziniagram (Vizzy to his friends). This team
included on invitation, two of the world’s finest opening batsmen at the time;
Hobbs and Sutcliffe. Hobbs of course was a mercurial fielder at cover, and
Ievers recalls the occasion when F.C.de saram anxious to break his duck,
tapped the ball to cover and was hurrying down the wicket for a run. Midway,
F.C. heard a stern gruff voice saying "Get back young man" and on looking in
the direction of the command found the fleet footed Jack Hobbs with the ball
in hand and only a couple of yards away, urging the young schoolboy to begin
his innings all over again. A very generous and considerate man, was Sir Jack
Hobbs. Derrick went on to a big score, and of course Jack Hobbs scored his
customary hundred in reply. Barney Gunasekera, (better known as Dr. D.B.
Gunasekera in later years) another illustrious Royalist, also played in this
match and went on to play for All-Ceylon as a great all rounder who opened
bowling for the country. Ievers was there at hand to listen to a conversation
between these two great friends almost 50 years later. It went apparently,
something like this.

Derrick: Remember Barney, how I dropped a catch in your first over when
standing at second slip off Hobbs?" Barney: "Yes, but you were at first slip."
Derrick: Nonsense, I was fielding at second slip". Barney: "Ah! Then you must
have dropped two catches off Hobbs because I distinctly remember you
dropping him when standing at first slip’"

Mercurial Lucien de Zoyza

Another right Royal character was the effervescent Lucien de Zoyza, Ievers’
long time friend and a man of many parts. Lucien’s exploits be they within the
playing field or the more amorous ones are legion and will need reams to
chronicle in full. He was a leg spinner who spun himself more than he ever did
the ball! That was really the secret of his success, for he gave one the
impression of massive spin but strangely the ball never turned a hair, not on a
fast track anyway. When playing for All Ceylon in 1948, Lucien had the great
Everton Weekes plumb in front, playing for the spin that was never there. On
his way back to the pavilion Weekes muttered furiously as he passed the
bowler "Man, if there were five stumps that ball would not have hit any one of
them". Pat came Lucien in reply, " You read tomorrow’s newspapers and
check whether you were out or not’".

Lucien’s legendary spin or the lack of it was the butt end of many a joke
among his closest friends and the story goes that when Sargo Jayawickreme,
another great Royalist and a world class performer in the Wally Hammond
mould met F.C. one Sunday morning in the SSC dressing room, the skipper
(F.C.) remarked that it had rained the previous night and the wicket should
take spin. "Sure it will skipper" said Sargo tongue in cheek "But tell me, who
will impart it? Lucien, only an earshot away, pretended not to hear!

The old school tie

Royalists of course have a particular affinity towards each other, call it the old
school tie or what not, and would not hesitate to resort to leg pulling if
necessary to help support one of their own men. So it came as no surprise
when I heard this classic as related to me by Ievers Gunasekera, involving
once again those two great Royalists Lucien de Zoyza and Sargo
Jayawickreme.

Before the West Indians arrived in 1948, the Ceylon Cricket Association had
a practice match between ‘Probables’ and ‘Possibles’ to select the national
team. Sargo was captaining one side which was full of many a young aspirant
hoping to do well to catch the selectors eye. His friend Lucien was also
playing, but for the other team. In the dressing room before the game, there
were animated discussions on how best to play Lucien and his leg spin
bowling. Sargo’s advice to the youngsters in his team was, always play back
to Lucien; and coming from the great man himself it was considered nothing
short of the gospel itself and was strictly adhered to by all the aspirants
without question. This of course was fatal advice to follow as Lucien picked
up six wickets and firmly booked a berth in the national side!

Beats me, these Royalists. Talk about how resolutely they will back one of
their own kind!

The 122nd 'Battle of the Blues' ends in eventful draw:
Royalist Thotuwilage and Thomian Jeewan Mendis hit 'tons'
by LAL GUNESEKERA (from the Daily News)

Two batting "doubles" by Royalist Malintha Thotuwilage and Thomian Jeewan Mendis were the highlights of their drawn 122nd Battle of the Blues schools cricket match which ended in a draw on the SSC grounds, Maitland Place yesterday.
S. Thomas' made 312 for 9 declared in their first innings, while Royal replied with 237. The Thomians, in their second turn, declared at 189 for 9 leaving Royal to make 265 to win in 54 overs, but the Royalists were 193 for 5 at close in fading light off 50.1 overs.
Jeewan Mendis who made 111 for S. Thomas' in their first innings, batted with confidence in the second too until he was brilliantly caught by Abeygunawardene at square-leg off seamer Vidanapathirane. He made 54 with seven boundaries and a six and was out after 55 minuets after the luncheon break.
Royal's Malintha Thotuwilage thumped a superb century in their second innings. He failed by just five runs to reach his "ton" in the first innings, but in the second, went on to make 108 off 132 deliveries with 17 boundaries, before he was finally run out. Thotuwilage's knock was even more valuable, as the Royalists were reeling on 31 for 3, but together with Andrew Perera who made an unbeaten 51, put on 143 runs for the fourth wicket. Perera faced 112 balls and playing "second fiddle" to Thotuwilage, stroke five fours.
It was Thomian left-arm paceman Tharindu Fernando who ripped into Royal innings in their second turn. He claimed the wickets of Kanishka Edirisuriya and Safraz Saldin in successive deliveries in his third over. Both were caught behind by Kanake the Thomian skipper.
Earlier, the Thomians had to get quick runs make the declaration. They did so with the help of some sloppy fielding by the Royalists. Heshan Pieris (36) and skipper Zakir Kanake (42 with five fours) put on 74 runs for the second wicket, and then their first innings centurian Jeewan Mendis (54) and Aruna Bandaranayake (25 with three boundaries) made 58 runs for the sixth wicket. They declared one hour after the luncheon break.

S. THOMAS' - 2ND INNINGS

A. Rajawasam b Vidanapathirane   9
Heshan Pieris b Ratnayake   36
Zakir Kanake b Dinushan   42
Meshad Pieris c Saldin b Dinushan 13
Jeewan Mendis c Abeygunawardene
b Vidanapathirane   54
Dilshan Gunawardene run out   0
Aruna Bandaranayake b Abeygunawardene 25
Pravin Pieris not out    5
Denham Williams not out    1
Extras      4
TOTAL (for 7 wkts, decl. in 44 overs) 189
FALL OF WICKETS: 11 (Rajawasam), 85 (H. Pieris), 91 (Kanake), 120 (Meshad Pieris),
120 (Gunawardene), 178 (Bandaranayake), 184 (Mendis).
BOWLING: Amila Kariyakarawana 3-0-12-0, Chaminda Vidananpathirane 7-4-21-2,
Malintha Thotuwilage 7-1-21-0, Sugeesha Dinushan 14-2-62-2, Ganganath Ratnayake 12-0-64-1, Damith Abeygunawardene 1-0-2-1.

ROYAL - 2ND INNINGS

Dhanushka Perera b Bandaranayake 16
Kanishka Edirisuriya c Kanake
b T. Fernando      2
Safraz Saldin c Kanake b T. Fernando   0
Malintha Thotuwilage run out 108
Andrew Perera not out 51
Amila Kariyakarawana c and b Mendis 13
Menuka Keenawinna not out    0
Extras       3
TOTAL (for 5 wkts, close in 50.1 overs) 193
FALL OF WICKETS: 13 (Edirisuriya), 13 (Saldin), 31 (Dhanushka Perera),
174 (Thotuwilage), 190 (Kariyakarawana).
BOWLING: Aruna Bandaranayake 11-5-32-1, Tarindu Fernando 6-1-25-2, Pravin Pieris 3-0-12-0,
Dilshan Gunawardene 3-1-5-0, Jeewan Mendis 13.1-1-61-1, Denham Williams 11-1-36-0, R. Mohamed 3-0-11-0.

S. THOMAS' COLLEGE - 1ST INNINGS

A.G.Rajawasan run out (Saldin)    24
H.S.Peiris c A M Perera b Pathirana    2
D.H.L. Williams run out (Saldin)   37
H.M.J. Peiris c Saldin b Ratnayake    46
B.M.A.J. Mendis b Ratnayake   111
D.V.H. Gunawardene c Dinusha b Thotuwilage 34
M.Z. Kanake lbw b Dinusha       3
T.P.J.S. Peiris b Dinusha     0
T.H.A.I.K. Bandaranayake Abeygunawardene
b Thotuwilage      36
M.T.D. Fernando not out      1
Extras (B-4, LB-5, W-2, NB-7)    18
TOTAL (9 wkts decl, 101.3 overs) 312
DID NOT BAT: R.D. Mohamed.
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-17 (H.S. Peiris), 2-37 (Rajawasan), 3-89 (H.M.J. Peiris),
4-187 (Williams), 5-253 (Gunawardene), 6-263 (Kanake), 7-263 (T.P.J.S. Peiris),
8-288 (Mendis), 9-312 (Bandaranayake).
BOWLING: Kariyakarawana 9-0-41-0 (W-1), Pathirana 17-1-74-1 (NB-7, W-1),
Thotuwilage 14.3-5-41-2, Dinushan 15-4-38-2, Ratnayake 28-12-61-2,
K.D.R.K. Perera 5-0-19-0, Abeygunawardene 13-3-21-0.

ROYAL COLLEGE - 1ST INNINGS

K.D.R.K. Perera run out (Bandaranayake)   50
K. Edirisuriya c Rajawasan b Gunawardene   9
T.M.S. Saldin c Kanake b Mohamed    35
M.C. Thotuwilage c H.S. Peiris b Williams 95
A.M. Perera run out (Gunawardene)   17
A.S. Kariyakarawana run out (Gunawardene)    1
K.A.M.M. Keenawinna not out    14
G.A. Ratnayake c Kanake b Bandaranayake     1
D. Abeygunawardene b Bandaranayake     4
C.W.K.V. Pathirana c Kanake b Bandaranayake   0
W.H.S. Dinushan c H.M.J. Peiris
b T.P.J.S. Peiris      0
Extras (B-1, LB-3, W-1, NB-6)    11
TOTAL (all out, 85.4 overs)   237

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-28 (Edirisuriya), 2-72 (K.D.R.K. Perera), 3-147 (Saldin),
4-210 (A.M. Perera), 5-211 (Kariyakarawana), 6-223 (Thotuwilage),
7-224 (Ratnayake), 8-232 (Abeygunawardene), 9-236 (Pathirana), 10-237 (Dinushan).

BOWLING: Bandaranayake 18-5-72-3 (NB-4), Fernando 20-9-34-0 (NB-1)
T.P.J.S. Peiris 12.4-4-36-1 (NB-1, W-1), Gunawardene 6-3-16-1,
Mohamed 18-6-42-1, Williams 9-4-17-1, Mendis 2-0-16-0.