FROM ROYAL WITH LOVE
BY T.D.S.A DISSANAYAKE - OF
THE ROYAL COLLEGE CLASS OF 1949
A truly remarkable Royal-Thomian
for S.Thomas' was in 1967. the batting in the first innings was boring by
both teams. Then David Ponniah and Ajit Jayasekara opened batting by two o'
clock on the last day. Though a draw was inevitable these two talented
batsmen who had put on a partnership of over fifty runs in almost every
schools match, took the royal bowling apart.Jayasekara hammered both fast
bowlers Chris Chitty and Brian Liversz for a total of seventy runs in ten
overs.At the other end Ponniah was the epitome of elegant style and
boundaries flowed off his bat. The Thomian tents were jubilant. In the royal
tents we were wondering what had happened.
The captain of the Royal team
tried all his bowlers but it was no avail.Jayasekara was indulging in
hurricane hitting scoring at almost twice the rate of Ponniah.The century
came as a matter of course with Jayasekara 65 not out and Ponniah 35 not
out.Their next target was 134 the record for the opening pair set up way
back in 1936 by Wille Jayatilleke and N.Scheffer.Unfortunately Jayasekara
was run out at 118 when his personal score was 75 including twelve
boundaries and one six. Thereafter S.Thomas' lost two wickets cheaply while
Ponniah compiled an elegant half century.
Ponniah and Azam Hameed. continued
to pile up the runs. When the score was in excess of two hundred many began
to wonder whether Ponniah as a fresher would score an unbelievable century.
When S.Thomas' was around 230 for 3 wickets, Ponniah was 90.Every run was
cheered. The crowd groaned when he was on 99 and gave a catch to the bowler.
The catch was dropped and the batsmen were able to complete a run. Thus
Ponniah became a part of history of the Royal-Thomian Cricket Match.
David Ponniah was eligible to play
in two more Royal-Thomians. However he entered the University of Ceylon at a
young age. After graduating he proceeded to the University Of London where
he completed his doctorate.Ajit Jayasekara joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as
a Flight Cadet.
It is interesting to observe what
they are doing in life now. Air Commodore Ajit Jayasekara is the Manager of
the Sri Lanka Cricket Team. Dr. David Ponniah is the Warden of S.Thomas\To
say the least, he has become a most acceptable Warden to :
Thomians young
Thomians Old
Thomians staunch and true
Who rally round the college flag
The Blue, Black and Blue.
