RAVI ABEYWARDENA OF 1973 FAME STILL
REMAINS NOT OUT!!!
Thomians young and old will no doubt remember the solid batting
performance of Ravi Abeywardena and Goddy Kumarage in 1973,
which helped the Thomians to draw the Big Match at the Oval,
despite bowling out the Royalist for a low score in the 1 st
innings. It was Thomian grit and determination all the way and
both played very confidently for the 8th wicket, to ultimately
face the remaining overs. Ravi was a good spinner and Goddy was
the all purpose player in our side. STC was captained by the
present Thomian Coach, maestro Ranil Abeynaike, who was probably
the best schoolboy cricketer that season.
Ravi's prowess had riot stopped in 1973 ! I met him at STC
recently and he narrated how he survived the Tsunami in Dadalla
(Galle), on that fateful day. Ravi was on his way to Colombo
when he saw the massive 15 foot wave on to the left side of his
vehicle Just some yards away from the Galle Road (similar to the
situation he faced at the Oval in 1973!). He had jumped out of
his vehicle, requesting his wife to follow him. He had just
managed to scale the Dadalla cemetery wall and cling on to a
grave with his wife by his side ( still good at running in
between the wickets and creasing on time!). His own vehicle had
almost crashed on to him with the wave. For over 15 minutes he
and his wife had survived the onslaught, with sheer
determination and guts. Ravi had many stitches on his head,
after the ordeal. He and his partner were once again NOT OUT, in
a Bigger Battle than the Big Match.
The Royalists need not
grumble that they could not get Ravi & Goddy out in 1973, as the
devastating Tsunami could not dislodge Ravi and his partner, even in
his 50th year ! Ravi told me that the survival skills were well
instilled at STC and the Big Match in particular.
"Ravi Abey "my kinsman is a proprietory planter in Baddegama, where
both our families own adjacent tea plantations. Let us wish him a
very long innings and partnership in life Cheers Ravi !
Esto Perpetua !!!
Milinda Hettiarachchi
