ROYAL THOMIAN SIXTY THREE YEARS AGO BY
SUMEDHA ROBERTS
When I figured in the Big Match of 1916, we
were In the grip of World War 1. I was 17 plus. There was no
revelry by night after the match since Colombo was blacked out
on account of the German raiders that were prowling about the
coast of Ceylon. Yet match day 1916 was a fabulous day for me.
I went wild with Joy when, on the eve of the
match, I heard while at the nets in College, that I had been
selected to play. I rushed home and gave the news to my father,
himself an old Royalist.
The day dawned beautifully. Soon after
breakfast I donned my kit - flannels, blazer, muffler, buck-skin
boots, terrai hat and the rest of it and placing my "Autograph" bat
across the handle bar of my bicycle, I rode proudly through the
streets to my College in Thurstan Road.
At 10.30 we were in the Assembly Hall where a
great demonstration awaited the Principal who strode in on time in
his cap and gown. This lasted a few minutes after which, we were
summoned to Hartley's bungalow - now known as Sampson's bungalow
even though Hartley lived in it first-and treated to light
refreshments. After a pep-talk by Hartley and a warning that the
match must be won at any cost, we were dispersed.
We got on our cycles and tore away to the
N.C.C. ground where for the first time the big match was to be
played and were determined to win though we had lost every other
match that year and the Thomians with their powerful team were on
top at the time. True enough, though it seemed impossible, we did
win.
The play was thoroughly enjoyable from the
point of view of the spectators since every minute of it was
exciting and the finish in the last over of the match at the end of
the second day was indeed thrilling. We had closed in on Ronald
Jayatilleke who was just pushing the ball in front of him against
the bowling of Wijetilleke when A.P.S. de Silva standing a yard away
on the off, suddenly lunged forward and almost scooped the ball up
from the turf and that was the end of the match. There was wild
cheering and we were swamped by the crowd that surged in on us.
The low scoring was due to the excellent
fielding by both sides, and to a lesser extent the rather slow
outfield, this being a new ground.
There was no pavilion and for that matter,
there was no pavilion on any ground at that time with the exception
of the pavilion on the CCC ground. There were tents of canvas and
cadjan pitched all round the ground flying the colours of both
Colleges. The Medicoes, Law students and old boys of the rival
Colleges had their own tents. The old boys later on identified
themselves as 'Mustangs' and Norbert Perera was their captain.
The ground was filled to capacity. There were
no Ice-cream wagons not even a bar. Only soft drinks such as
lemonade, creamsoda, kola, ginger beer and lemon juice were
available.
There was no "Hai-Hoi-Babiatchi", only "Hurrah
for Mary" and "We'll hang the Royalists on our College banyan tree"
and such songs. The Medical students, of course, had their own songs
which, though familiar are unprintable. Then there was "Kheta" the
idiot, the receiving end of all the atrocities committed by the
Medicoes and the old boys.
There were no "Old Crocks" band wagons trailing
dust bins or motor cars - only carriages drawn by horses and
bicycles were used for parading the ground and the streets of
Colombo past the three girls' schools, Bishop's, Ladies and St.
Bridget's Convent where the boys would stop and do a "devil dance"
for the benefit of the girls, not caring a hoot for the call for
police action by the agitated old Principals.
There was no recorded music of any kind during
the game but from 4.30 to 6.00 p.m each day the CLI and Police Bands
played - a feeling of nostalgia has got hold of me as I write.
It was high noon when Khoo and Crowther took
the toss and having won it, Khoo correctly decided to bat. In the
first innings I was No. 7 in the order of batting and when Noel
Kelaart got out I went in and joined Khoo who was playing a
Captain's innings. Having taken my guard I had a look round and
faced Thambirajah Sara squarely and in the third ball I was beaten
all over -out for a duck! At the same time, I made up my mind to get
even with him which I did. The rest of the players put up a feeble
performance and we were all out for 101. The Thomians scored just
100 runs in their first knock, B.T. Jansz being the top scorer with
30 runs.
Since I had a reputation for being able to
field well at any point, Khoo took the opportunity to push me around
the field as and when it suited him, and when Reggie de Saram and
Sam Elapata opened the Thomian innings against the bowling of Khoo
and Wijetiileke, Khoo had me fielding in the slips. He was right .
After a mighty run of at least 25 yards he sent down a snorter to
Elapata In his first over to him. The ball caught the edge of his
bat and in a flash it was in my hands.
Soon after I took my seat in the form on the
second day of the match I was summoned by the Principal. The form
master, Mr. J. C. Jansz just said, "Roberts, Mr. Hartley wants to
see you in his office." A shiver passed through me. I thought I was
In for a six of the best for what crime 1 may have committed, I did
not know. I walked into the office my heart racing and stood facing
him. For a moment he did not talk but kept staring at me. Then in
his inimitable way he said "Roberts, you have let me down very badly
- you went in for lamb slaughter and could not even say 'Baa'. I
shall see that you are one of the opening batsmen today and look out
for yourself." He saw to it indeed and Sahabandu and I opened the
innings on the second day of play. Hartley's talk made me nervous,
more nervous than I was yesterday but I dug myself in and after the
first over felt confident of myself. When I got back to the tent
after being bowled by de Saram, Hartley was there beaming at me.
In their second Innings, when the Thomian
captain Crowther came out to bat, Khoo had me fielding mid-off to
stop his powerful drives. It was a pleasure to watch Crowther in
action. I was put to a gruelling test. For quite some time I stopped
those mighty drives then one got through my defence and there was a
roar of 'boakku' from the crowd. It was a boundary and four runs
were added to his score. Khoo came racing up to me gnashing his
teeth and swearing and ordered me to get out pointing in the
direction of the boundary towards which the ball went. I ran back as
directed and he took my place at mid-off. Crowther facing
Wijetiileke again drove fiercely and Khoo failed to stop the ball.
It went through him and on to the boundary for another four. There
was an uproar. Megaphones were blaring 'boakku' and 'get back to
your place Khoo'. He promptly called me back and left me to deal
with Crowther's drives until Sara came in and joined Crowther when I
was sent back again to the overhead boundary. If we were to win the
match Sara had to be 'liquidated' at any cost and at once. Sara was
a mighty hitter and fast scorer. His weakness lay in his raising the
ball skywards and very often it was sent soaring over the ropes for
a six. He soon took his chance and swung his bat at the ball sent
down by Wijetiileke. It connected and the ball soared upwards. It
was coming in my direction and with the sun in my face, I thought
for a moment it was going into orbit. It seemed to fall short and I
rushed forward to find that it was going over my head for a six. I
ran back just in time and took the catch on the boundary. Exit Sara
and as I have mentioned earlier I got even with him. Royal won by
the small margin of 27 runs. Actually our bowler B. A. Wijetiileke
won the match for us. He took 5 wickets for 28 runs In the first
Innings and 5 for 36 in the second.
