When Cambrians beat Wesley in 1961
Dilwin Mendis, Moratuwa Sports Corr
Prince of Wales' College and Wesley College were having a long
relationship and a severe bond for more than eleven decades and these
two schools met each other in their first ever cricket encounter in 1897
where Cambrians were victorious with an innings and seven runs. Since
then there is an annual fixture and even during the two world wars in
1915 and 1942 the matches were played. ixties both schools had strong
sides and they had matting wickets and both schools were branded as
"Masters of Matting". (Presently both schools have turf wickets). The
annual match commenced at 12 noon on both days and none could not
predict the outcome.In the third term of 1961 Cambrians met Wesleyites
at Moratuwa. Cambrians were led by Hayasti Aponso and his opposite
number was L.C.R. Wijesinghe. Prior to this match Cambrians drew with
Thomians and beat Royal and after the Wesley match they were down to
meet Josephians, Peterites and Trinitians to complete the third therm
matches.
The two teams were, Cambrians from Hayasti Aponso, T. Munasinghe,
Hemal Mendis, D.S. De Silva (Later represented Sri Lanka) Ryle de Mel,
Merl Mendis, Vernon de Mel, K.D.C. Perera, Priyananda de Perera, Nihal
Thenuwara and Sarath Silva (Hemal, Ryle, Merl, K.D.C. And Sarath are no
more). Weslyites from L.C.R. Wijesinghe, Mervyn Hamer, Everad Schoolman,
K. de Silva, S. Wickramaratne, Milroy Muthuvelu, M.H. Fuard, Darrel Maye,
Milroy Jebarajah, R. Perera and C.T. Rodrio.
Wijesinghe called the coin correctly and elected to take the first
lease and skipper opened with Hamer and both were back in the pavilion
for 6 and 8 respectively. K. de Silva joined Everad and brought the
score to 47 and Eveard was run out for 15. S. Wickramaratne joined with
K. de Silva moved the score board to 80 and finally they were all our
for 154 runs. H.M. Fuard made the top score with 37 while K. de Silva 30
and S. Wickramaratne 21.
T. Munaisnghe and Vernon de Mel were the pick of the bowlers for
Cambrians with 3 for 36 and 2 for 24 respectively. In reply at the end
of day one homesters were 100 for 4 and resuming on day two Cambrians
scored 161 with Ryle de Mel 47, Hemal Mendis 33 and Hayasti Aponso 22
and Ryle and Merl 15 had a healthy partnership of 56 runs for the fourth
wicket L.C.R. Wijesinghe took 3 for 38 while R. Perera claimed 3 for 14.
In their second innings Wesley were skittled out for a paltry 83 runs
with L.CR. Wijesinghe with 17. Sarath Silva had a marvelous spell of
11.4 overs 3 maidens and seven for 15 runs and Vernon de Mel grabbed 2
for 18.
Set to make 78 for an outright victory Cambrians notched up the
required score for the loss of three wickets with an unbeaten fourth
wicket partnership of 71 runs by D.S. De Silva 43 and Ryle de Mel 34.
This win came up after two years when Cambrians beat them at eh same
venue under W.G. Fernando in 1959/60 by four wickets. |
