There is a sliver lining in every dark cloud in our sports world. Amidst all the dreaded Coronavirus googlies hurled at us, a cricketing comet hit the school and local cricket world. It was like a meteorite when young Navod Paranavithane from Mahinda College, Galle smashed a quadruple century (409 not out) in an inter school match against Dharmasoka College.
Paranavithane who is the skipper is just 18 and made a marathon innings of 409 that came in just 327 deliveries with 39 fours and 19 sixes. It was a truly remarkable innings that will go into the record books and last a long time and be unassailable, however considering that the days of miracles are not over and anything can happen.
It was only a few weeks back when another schoolboy cricketer from St. Anthony’S College, Wattala, Avishka Tharindu blasted a triple hundred (350) versus Lumbini. When that rare feat was achieved, it was remarkable and hit the headlines.
These knocks are most encouraging for the hidden talent that is emerging from out of the main city of Colombo, which for years dominated the scene.
Other schoolboy cricketers who have gone past the 300 run mark are Dhammika Vaas, Maris Stella, Negombo against St. Peter’s College, Negombo, Indika de Saram, S.Thomas’ College, Matara and the previous best was 291 by the great Jack Anderson of St. Anthony’s College, Kandy against S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia in 1917.
Before the print of that epic knock by Tharindu had dried out came the shattering news of Paranavithana’s heroics, that rekindled memories of that West Indian batting great Brian Lara who whacked 400 against England in a Test match.
Batsmen have gone over the 300-run mark and it did not make much news. But when Lara chiseled a 400, it shook the cricket world.
Never before had school batsmen gone over the 300 run mark. But now not only is the 300 run mark not safe, but the 400 run mark being achievable which was at one time thought impossible.
The schoolboy cricketer to create ripples and to be exact in 1959 was Lionel Fernando of St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena. Fernando a right had bat and a medium pace bowler who bowled two-way cutters, took all ten wickets and slammed a double hundred, both on the same day against St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala at Kotahena.
Fernando’s achievement which was indeed remarkable, and not equalled or broken to date earned him mention in the international cricket bible, the WISDEN.
Fernando captained the green, white and green school and performed that magic double against his old school. The writer was a member of that SBC team and was proud to be associated with that bit of history as Vice Captain. Fernando who played for Ceylon in the pre Test era is now domiciled in Melbourne, Australia probably enjoying and still reminiscing on that rare achievement which was achieved believe it or not 61 years ago.
But what is vivid in my memory was seeing Kenneth Dabrera who was the cheer leader and who had no equal in the schools cricket scene in that era and his supporters Denzil Perera, Upali Jayawardena, Chicko Sandhanam, Milroy Pieris, the Muthupulle brothers Joe and Emmanuel and several others shouldering Fernando into the pavilion.
Paranavithana and Tharindu must sure be hellishly talented otherwise making these marathon scores would not be possible. Excuses will be made that the opposing bowling attacks were not threatening and so the big scores.
But it must be understood that a bowling attack is a bowling attack and not under-arm bowlers or ones who donkey drop. The big knocks must not be belittled but must be appreciated and applauded.
These two youngsters need close watching by the talent scouts of Sri Lanka Cricket and taken in hand and given all the encouragement and the opportunities to further their unlimited talent and who knows make it to the Sri Lanka team before long. Here’s wishing the duo many more bags full of runs and may they go from strength to strength.
Having said that we move on to make our say on the ugly, unacceptable incident that took place after a school big match when a policeman was unmercifully beaten up and is suffering life threatening injuries.
The brave policeman could well have minded his business and allowed the rival factions who were playing a different match to slug it out and not gone to stop the brawl. As a peace loving police officer he was only doing his job and does he deserve a yellow and blue mauling for his trouble.
Obviously the assailants cannot be called schoolboys, maybe they were old boys just out of school. If this is what they are capable of they must be punished so that it will serve as a deterrent to others. They portrayed themselves as Mariakade thugs the way they acted.
Obviously the guy who struck out hard at the policeman may be the son of a powerful character who took the law into his hands. Whatever is said and done, the culprit or the culprits must be dealt with similarly allowing the law to take its course.
If this is what the younger generation is capable of, where they show no respect to the law keepers, then we shudder to think what type of citizens the country is producing. The shame is all the more stinging considering that those who were involved in the brawl were allegedly from a school that is renowned to learn from books, learn from men and learn to play the game.