Joes-Antonian games in retrospect

Supun Perera

CRICKET: It is a yet another landmark in the history of St. Joseph's College Colombo and St. Anthony's College, Katugastota where the two teams will lock horns for the 96th time and the Antonians have the pride of hosting their Colombo rivals at Katugastota.

The motivation is non other than "Murali - Vaas" challenge trophy offered in memory of late Bede Fernando who was a staunch Josephian. The donors of this prestigious trophy are his two sons Theo and Pradeep Fernando who are two outstanding products of St. Anthony's.

Although the Joes - Antonian encounter dates back to the 19th Century where the inaugural match took place, there was much interruption or no play except against the 2nd Eleven of St. Joseph's as St. Anthony's were not able to field a representative team.

Besides that they have also received shabby treatment from the organizers of the unofficial school cricket championship and like Ananda College were kept down most unfairly from the tournament. However according to history books it reveals that St. Anthony's took on the bigger schools in friendly fixtures and even convincingly beat them that they were included in the higher echelon only by 1910.

The Antonians could boast of some fine cricketers that they have produced. Prior to the world war they produced players of the calibre of Jack Anderson, Cecil Senarathne, R. A. D. Joseph, G. Macky, G. R. S. Baie and Peter Fernando to name a few.

In the post war era St. Anthony's produced some fine cricketers who later on went on to represent the country in the test arena. The greatest of them being without doubt Muttiah Muralitharan acclaimed by the Wisden Cricket monthly magazine (Quite different to the reputed Wisden Cricketer's almanac.) as the greatest bowler of all time.

The Kandy school also produced three other test players in Mahes Gunatillaka; the brilliant stumper, a great all rounder in Ruwan Kalpage and Wily Left Arm Spinner in Piyal Wijetunga.

In comparison St. Joseph's produced a large number of National "Caps" too numerous to count here, right from the turn of the last century. However the players of the calibre of Cecil Horan, W. P. Ranasinghe, Oswin Wright, Sir Lalitha Rajapaksa, Sri Albert F. Peries, Sam and Willie Abeysekera, Robert (Bobby) Fernando, D. S. Jayasundara (Fastest Bowler Sri lanka has ever produced), K. W. Devanayagam, Malcolm Spittle, Hector Perera (snr), Ken Serpanchy, Fairlie Dalpadado, Makin Salih, Lalith D. S. Wijerathne, Brian Obeysekera (that outstanding sportsman of post world war era who is presently the "live wire" of St. Joseph's Sport Council), Gary Melder needs special mention.

Besides making their alma mater proud they also adorned the Sri Lanka (Then Ceylon) "Cap" with much distinction. St. Joseph's also produced three outstanding test cricketers namely Ashley De Silva, Chaminda Vaas and Michael Vandort.

Out of these three; Chaminda Vaas is the most outstanding and had been the main strike bowler for the last 14 years. Incidentally both Vaas and Muralitharan had been the mainstays of Sri Lankan bowling attack who has shared more than one thousand wickets in both versions of the game.

Bogambara grounds had been the stronghold of the Antonians; where they have recorded most of their victories 1913, 1915, 1917, 1922, 1926 and 1930 where as the Joes have won there in the inaugural encounter in 1899, 1911, 1919, 1924, 1928 and 1934.

The Katugastota Cricket grounds came into existence only in 1935 and even in such a strong hold Antonians have defeated Joes only on a solitary occasion in 1991 thanks to Muttiah Muralitharan's 12 - wicket match bag under the captaincy of Nuwan Kalpage.

St. Joseph's became very close to victory in the previous year 1990 where Champion left arm fast bowler Chaminda Vaas who took a match bag of 8 for 62. However S. Herathge (55) and J. Speldewinde (48 n.o.) took the Kandy school to safety.

The greatest and the most thrilling victory for the Antonians was recorded way back in 1930 at Bogambara where St. Anthony's was led by Peter Fernando defeated K. W. Dewanayagam's (former Minister of Justice) champion Josephian outfit by one run.

Further the solidary and historic win for Antonians at Darley Road, was recorded under Wijepala Premarathne in 1956. The Architect of the Antonian victory was non other than A. Sheriffdeen (today a professor of surgery) had a vital breakthrough when the Josephian openers looked dangerous and then in batting when the "chips" were down for St. Anthony's 60 runs were needed for victory with 03 wickets remaining steered them to a memorable victory.

St. Joseph's dominate the series by a broad margin of 38 victories to Antonian 08. However the most important factor is that both these institutions have a "Hoodoo" to break. The last Josephian victory was recorded in 1984 under Jeewaka Candappa.

St. Anthony's last won under Nuwan Kalpage in 1991. Whatever the result could be the match will be played true to it's spirit and to the best of it's traditions. Let's hope and pray that the 96th encounter will produce a result after an exciting finish.

(Match was not played in (1900-1909), 1912, 1935, 1942 and 1961)