THE JUBILEE MATCH BY MERVYN MORGON
Looking down the passage of time with a mind
clouded by the annual repetition of the Royal-St. Thomas' Cricket
match, on the same ground and amid the same surroundings, it is
difficult to recapture the correct atmosphere and remember, except
in blurred outline, the flow of events that made the Jubilee Match
an outstanding one in the series. If, therefore, I touch upon only
the high lights of the cricketing drama, for such it proved to be, I
hope to be excused.
In the Inter-Collegiate season of that year,
1929 the Thomians had done exceptionally well and it was not undue
optimism on their part and that of their supporters that deluded
them into the belief that the Jubilee Match was a gift for their
taking.
While all Royalists naturally hoped that their
side would carry themselves bravely in this memorable encounter, it
was yet with a load of doubt in their hearts prompted by the
suspicion that there must be something in this overflowing Thomian
confidence.
When N. Kandiah, the Royal skipper, gained the
invaluable advantage of the toss much of this doubt was banished,
for there lay a wicket rich in the promise of runs - a shirt-front
wicket ironed by Abdul. While the Royal camp therefore looked
forward to the fight with a greater degree of expectancy, Thomian
faith remaining steadfast even in the face of the toss, bubbled over
when G. S. Hubert, one of Royal's opening pair, was soon sent back
to the pavilion.
J. R. Wilson of the stubborn bat and F. C. de
Saram of the flashing blade then formed an ideal partnership in
which brilliance was tempered with caution and caution found
inspiration in brilliance. And while these two batsmen were steadily
driving the first nail into the Thomian coffin, the Thomian camp
resounded to the strains of "Esto Perpetua".
It was not until 70 runs had been scored that
Wilson played his parting stroke. On this second wicket foundation a
total of 293 was built up with de Saram's innings of 72 transforming
the cricket of schoolboys into something worthy of a Jubilee
Match. It was in this match that de Saram established himself and
served out cricket that was to be of a richer vintage in later
years. H. E. Poulier's 63 runs a whirlwind effort among the ruins of
the Thomian bowling, coming on top of de Saram's classical
exposition, combined with a total that was only 7 short of the three
hundred was reflected on every Royalist countenance while the
Thomians were expressions of pained surprise.
The Thomians faced with a task the magnitude of
which was far beyond their calculations buckled to it bravely but
met with early reverse when R. Hermon and H. G. Wickremasinghe,
their star batsmen were out before the first day's play was over.
Then thanks to the Senanayake brothers Dudley and Robert, the
younger of whom will be leading St. Thomas' this year (1930), 85
runs were scored for 3 wickets before stumps were drawn, compelling
the Royalists to fight hard for victory the following day. R.
Senanayake and A. J. D. N. Selvadurai the following afternoon batted
with an air of grim defiance but though the very respectable total
of 190 runs was obtained it was just short of the amount required to
avert the follow on. The failure to obtain 4 vital runs turned the
game completely in Royal's favour. St. Thomas' second innings was a
grim duel between bowlers and batsmen while one heroic figure,
Selvadurai, batted hard to stem the tide that threatened to
overwhelm St. Thomas' - Selvadurai scored 55 runs, every run worth
three times its face value - the afternoon wore on, the atmosphere
was tense, every ball and every stroke was watched - would the
Thomians pull through? It was a moment set for great achievement and
it was the Royal skipper that supplied it. Bowling with his heart,
mind and body concentrated on every delivery, Kandiah skittled out
the Thomian tail and at 22 minutes to 6 o'clock, victory once more
turned her face towards the Royalists.
Royal were set with 12 minutes in which to
score 35 runs. They lost three wickets in doing so but what were
wickets at that moment. As Hubert scored the winning hit with a few
minutes to spare the Royalists like greyhounds straining at the
leash burst full over the ground to hoist the skipper and his
partner in.
(Reproduced from "Royal-Thomian
Souvenir"—1932 by G. R. S. Gunasekara and E. W. Goonawardena)
