St. Benedict’s College captain Pasan Suwahas (left) and his Wesley College counterpart Sahil Dias shake hands in front of the Rev James Cartman Cup and Rev Bro Luke Gregory Shield, two trophies they will play for in the 126th two-day match at Campbell Park on March 25 and 26 and the 50 over encounter on April 2 at the P Sara Oval
With a pandemic wiping out the sporting passions of schoolboys over the past two years followed by the island’s economy gone haywire, two educational institutions, St. Benedict’s College and Wesley College have come together in a manifestation of optimism to keep a 126-year tradition alight in one of the most darkest eras of the country.
The occasion marks their annual cricket encounter that commenced way back in 1896 and interestingly not branded on the likes of so-called big matches some of them that mushroom overnight and in reality are the breeding ground for hooliganism and sleazy conduct.
Organizers say the Bens-Wesley encounter was a match made in Heaven and now at a time when countless numbers of corporate companies are kicking their heels and putting up shutters unable to make ends meet economically, the banding together of a cast of sponsors for their match on March 25 and 26 is itself a miracle.
“We are a beautiful encounter and we have initiated something great”, declared Avanka Fernando, the head of Wesley College. “We have seen a lot of schools playing cricket, but we want to make sure this encounter is significant and a different one from all the other cricket matches in the schools arena. We want to have this encounter as an example in our country.”
Fernando’s remarks threw a challenge to the rest of the cricket-playing schools in the country to prove they practiced virtues in the name of sport, if not change their big-match lifestyles for the welfare of Society that has lost most of its public appeal.
Both schools can also take credit for moulding some of the most illustrious sportsmen and scholarly elite that have passed through their hallowed portals and are among the few institutions in the country that can be counted in for their roles in responsible public service.
“Cricket is a great leveller and our relationship is based on shared values, traditions and Christian cultures,” said the head of St. Benedict’s College Rev Bro Pubudu Rajapakse.
“Bens and Wesley have been enriched for so many years and that has been the pride and dignity of our schools and let us look to introduce additional values through cricket.”
St. Benedict’s and Wesley, who are not part of the all-noise, no-song syndrome, will be showcasing a new concept that they contend will make school cricket an interesting sport once again by deciding to take the second new ball after 50 overs instead of the 80-over wait.
The new playing rule the two schools believe will prepare a spin bowler to compete more at school level for the future by using the new ball like in present day Test cricket where some teams open the bowling with the new ball.
Proceeds from last year’s match were donated towards charity and vocational training for under privileged boys at a church-run institution and the generosity will be followed this year as well according to the organisers.
The Squads:
St. Benedict’s College: Sahil Dias (captain), Semila Liyanage, Anudith Wickremasinghe, Tilshan Senanayake, Tharanga Fernando, Rakitha Fernando, Ravindu Sigera, Yabesh Blessing, Uvin Perera, Chamath Gomes, Sanithu Amarasinghe, Pahan Brito, Linal Subasinghe, Disula Yapa, Ashan Isira, Shakesh Minon
Wesley College: Pasan Suwahas (captain), Yohan Soyza, Ashen de Zoysa, Sachin Senanayake, Viduth Wilson, Mevan Dissanayake, Sheron Kannangara, Shenel Samaratunga, Chamath Chathurya, Aarshan Joseph, Akshar Selvanayagam, Dilan Milantha, Pankaja Perera, Vihara Attanayake, Haren Olagama, Kojitha Himsara, Sharujan Shanmuganathan, Aveesha Sandaruwan, Hasanga Nanayakkara