MEMORIES - 2000 - 2003
In the Year 2000 I was yet an Under 15 player
when I was called upon to play in the 1st XI Team of
the College. What a privilege and what a challenge it was and I
was so delighted for I knew it is a dream of any schoolboy
cricketer to represent his school in the 1st XI and
undoubtedly it was mine too. I started my Junior cricket as an
all-rounder but I was taken into the College team as a bowler.
This was a great challenge for me to prove my talent as a bowler
and I am happy that I was able to justify my place in the team.
It was a daunting task to be in the field for
the first time at a Big Match either batting, fielding or even
bowling amidst such noise of thousands upon thousands of young and
old Big Match revellers with such music both in harmony and
cacophony.
The 121st Encounter in the Year 2000
under the captaincy of Ruchira Jayasuriya was my first exposure to
the Big Match. The Thomians were led by Gihan Fernando. I look back
with pleasure that I was among team mates of such calibre as Jehan
Mubarak who is now in the National Team. A record partnership
between Dhanushka Perera (116) and Kanishka Edirisuriya (60) in the
second innings had put Royal in a very strong position to apply
pressure on the Thomians. The match ended in a draw.
For the 122nd Encounter in 2001
Royal were led by Dhanushka Perera. We saw some fine batting
performances. The Thomians were led by Zakir Kanaka. Jeevan Mendis
scored a fine 111 runs and the Thomians made 312 for 9 wickets in
their first innings. Malinda Thotiwilage scored 95 runs for Royal
but was unfortunate not to have been able to complete his century.
Thotiwilage however achieved this in the second innings by scoring
108 runs and figured in a partnership of 143 runs for the fourth
wicket with Vice-captain Andrew Perera, who also scored a half
century. All honours of this Encounter went to Thotiwilage for his
unforgettable batting display in both innings. Had he scored a
century in the first innings as well, he would have had the rare
distinction of bring the first player to score twin centuries in the
series. The batting performance of both teams was very entertaining
and the match ended in a draw.
The great challenge came to me in the 123rd
Encounter in 2002 when the mantle of leadership fell on my
shoulders. I had to contend with quite a young team with little
experience. The Thomians were led by Dilshan Gunawardana. It was a
low scoring match with Royal making 183 runs while S.Thomas' made
217 runs. Jeevan Mendis scored 88 and rescued their side when they
were 3 down for 21 runs. Tharaka Kottahewa bowled best capturing 4
for 39 runs. In the second innings we scored 227 with Arunaprakash
scoring 53 and Rochana Wijeratne 42. Thomians chasing 194 to win
made just 102 for 5 wickets at close of play. The match ended in
another draw. However our team being a young side, under my
captaincy, winning the Lemonade Trophy Schools Cricket Six-a-Side
Invitation Tournament was a very rare achievement. I will also never
forget the 27th One-day Encounter for the Mustangs Trophy
which ended in a spine chilling tie.
Having had a highly successful inter-school
Tournament, by winning four matches outright, we came to the 124th
Royal-Thomian Encounter with great confidence and determination
under Rochana Wijeratne's leadership. The Thomians were led by
Arjuna Rajawasan. Though we started rather poorly we scored 219 in
the first innings. Naveen Dias scored 50 runs and I was able to
score 75 runs. Tharindu Fernando of S.Thomas' bowled extremely well
to capture 7 wickets for 56 runs. The Thomians in reply made 251 for
8 wickets and declared their innings.
We were determined to put up a good score in
the second innings and were successful in making 300 for 7 wickets
with a declaration, leaving the Thomians no room to snatch a
victory. Tharanga Edirimuni made a fighting knock of 81 and my
contribution was an unbeaten 111 runs. We were associated in a
record breaking 110 runs partnership for the 6th wicket.
The Thomians however made 121 for 3 wickets in reply but the weather
was unkind towards the end of the day. The match ended in yet
another draw.
We Royalists are looking forward to the
historic 125th Encounter with great expectations and with
a determination to play a memorable game targeting to achieve a
glorious victory.
