Fifty years ago when Lionel Fernando stunned the school cricket
scene
Elmo Rodrigopulle
In 1959 exactly 50 years ago a Sri Lankan schoolboy cricketer went
into the Guniness Book of Records and the cricketing bible - Wisden.
That schoolboy cricketer was Lionel Fernando sporting the colours of
the green, white and green school at Kotahena St. Benedict’s College.
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The 1959 St. Benedict’s College cricket team that Fernando
captained when he set up that record (standing from left) Leslie
Fernando, Cyril Ernest, Ranjit Perumal, Radley Crusz, Michael
Joachim, Gordon Dissanayake, Ranjit de Silva. (Seated from left)
Winston Dissanayake, Elmo Rodrigopulle (Vice capt), Lionel
Fernando (captain), Allan Gunasekera, Sanath Jayawardena.
(squatting) Nihal Fernandopulle and Victor Fernando. |
In recent times many articles have appeared in the newspapers
recalling the marvellous feat of Fernando, which in every sense of the
word was an unbelieveable effort.
Playing against his old school St. Anne’s College Kurunegala in an
inter-school match on the Kotahena turf, Fernando captured all 10
opponents wickets and not satisfied with that record he blasted a double
hundred on the same day.
It was truly fantastic effort and it stunned the inter-school cricket
scene. Never before had a schoolboy performed this magic act.
Fernando captained the 1959 team that helped him to the record, that
probably would not be broken for who knows when.
Vice Captain
I was the vice captain of that team and have the credentials to write
about that record and it gives me great pleasure to do so and describe
the effort of my captain.
Fernando came to St. Benedict’s College after captaining St. Anne’s,
Kurunegala. With the Kurunegala school not playing the best of schools
in Colombo, Rev. Bro. Alban who came to the Kotahena school as Director
from Kurunegala immediately got Fernando to join the Kotahena school.
Bro Alban who spotted the immense talent in Fernando was right in his
choice as the record by the lad proves. Incidentally it was Bro Alban
who gave the turb and the pavilion, that is easily the best among the
schools to SBC. The pavilion has now been named in his honour.
It was the late Army General Cecil Waidyaratne who played in the 1957
school team that emerged unofficial inter-school cricket champions who
proposed the naming of the pavilion in honour of Bro Alban which was
seconded by the cheer leader of that time Kenneth Dab-rera and accepted
by the school’s OBU.
In those days inter-school cricket was watched by massive crowds. By
11 a.m. the every vantage point on the ground was booked and the crowds
were pouring on to the playing area. The road adjoining the ground saw
traffic jams.
Green Top
Fernando won the toss and put the Annites in on a green top and
cleverly pitching on a good line and length completely bemused the
batsmen who had no answer to his medium paced ‘in’ and ‘outers’ and were
shot out for a paltry score with Fernando pocketing all 10 wickets
including a hat trick. He would have had a double hat trick, but
unfortunately a delivery from him knocked the stump but failed to
dislodge the bails.
Then he put his magic batting act on show to hammer the hapless
Annite bolwers to all corners of the field to rattle up a magnificent
double century.
Following on the Annites were shot out for another paltry score and
the Bens were home by innings.
On leaving school Fernando played for the Nomads and went on to win
his national cap and he played a particularly excellent innings against
the West indies.
Fernando will always be remembered. Incidentally Leslie ‘Cowdrey’
Fernando who was an opening bat in that team is now a senior sports
writer with the Daily News and Sunday Observer. |
