A Royal centenary season
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Five generations of Royalist cricketers from left Rajiva Wijetunga, Dimith Siriwardene, Mahesh Rodrigo, Dr. Ranjith De Silva and Suneetha Jayawickrema
It surely must be the dream of any young Cricketer of Royal and S. Thomas’ to play in the annual Royal-Thomian Cricket encounter. Certainly, a most cherished dream. Then, how can one describe the absolutely overwhelming feeling of sheer suspense, joy and honour at being chosen to play for Royal in the centenary match! A sheer fantasy for those of us who were fortunate enough to represent our respective schools at the centenary match of the world’s longest playing annual school Cricket encounter.
The year was 1979, when Royal Principal L.D.H. Pieris, in consultation with the Master-in-charge, V.H. Nanayakkara, together with coaches Gamini Salgado, Mahesh Rodrigo (beloved uncle of mine) and Vijaya Malalasekera, appointed Ranjan Madugalle as Captain of the Royal College Cricket Team. Ranjan was re-appointed Captain for the centenary, as he was the ablest and the most competent at the time. He was already Captain of the Sri Lanka Under (U)-19 Schools Cricket Team.
It was a happy time at Royal, those days when we had L.D.H. Pieris as Principal, ably assisted, of course, by Vice Principal E.C. Gunasekera. I am sure many of us who reflect on those times, cannot help but feel so gratified that Royal shone in virtually every field of endeavour. Be it sports or academics, it certainly qualifies to be called a golden era of our beloved alma mater.
The sheer determination of our coaches to discipline us in every aspect of the game was marvellous. They expected the very best from us, and certainly worked hard to help us play the game as it ought to have been. The overall regimentation and supervision by our Masters-in-charge, particularly H. Nanayakkara, helped make us what we were then, and are also today. My teammates and I salute these noble gentlemen for their selfless efforts. To these men, we will remain grateful for their influence on our lives.
Royal commenced the interschool Cricket season with 9 Coloursmen and Ashantha de Mel who had represented Sri Lanka Schools U-19 team, in its ranks. Of the 14 encounters during the season, Royal won 8, thereby tying with Nalanda who held the record for the most wins up to then. Royal would have held the record of winning 9 matches, if not for the caught-and-bowled chance given by Vinodhan John, which was (as luck would have it) missed by yours truly against St. Peters College at Bambalapitiya. The season was comparatively good for Royal, with skipper Ranjan scoring a 1,000 runs, the very first for a schoolboy in that season. Sudath Pasqual and Haroon Musafer scored over 500 runs each. The bowling department saw Ashantha de Mel, Kesara de Costa and myself capturing over 50 wickets each. Wicketkeeper M.N. Perera proved his excellence with 50 victims.
This was the first time the Royal-Thomian was being played over 3 days, which, until then, for the past 99 years, had been played over 2 days. The excitement and fervour that could be felt around the precincts of one’s school is very difficult to describe. The excitement was indeed infectious, from the Principal downwards, everybody was so keyed up and simply thrilled at the prospect of the 100th Royal-Thomian encounter, and we were to soon find that even the president of our country had thought it fit to host us to a reception at President’s House, before the match. This was indeed a very rare honour for all of us, as the then President J.R. Jayewardene was himself an old Royalist and a Cricketer who had played in the Royal-Thomian. I am sure the entire team cherished the reception the President accorded us, and it will remain etched in our memories as a truly momentous occasion.
The centenary match had created such a high degree of enthusiasm that the Old Boys’ Union branch in Australia had sent us the latest equipment. Being tall, I was particularly fortunate in being able to play with a long handled bat sent from Australia. An interesting episode was when Royal played Isipathana Vidyalaya. The new scoreboard presented by business tycoon Upali Wijewardena, was being used for the first time after its installation. Gamini Salgado and H. Nanayakkara were seated inside the scoreboard. Mr. Salgado was looking through one of the slots in the facade of the scoreboard, whilst Mr. Nanayakkara had stuck his neck out of the facade through one of the slots and was giving Mr. Salgado a ball-by-ball description. The Isipathana batsman hooked a bouncer off Ashantha de Mel and a beautiful catch was coming my way. I was in position to receive this catch whilst listening to the commentary from the head that was stuck out of the scoreboard. Mr. Nanayakkara was saying, “The batsman has hooked the bouncer and a catch is coming towards Wijetunge, Wijetunge is preparing to receive the catch. Yes it’s in his hands and, oh no! He has dropped the catch!”
Fortunately, they scored only one run! I guess I didn’t know whether to focus on the incoming ball or the commentary that came from the heads poking out of the scoreboard.
Anyway, it was the last delivery of the over and I was to bowl to the same batsman, and what do you think? Yes! I had him bowled with the first ball. Thanks heavens for that, otherwise it would have been curtains for me.
Another interesting match was the one we played against St. Joseph’s. Josephian Skipper Lakshman Aloysious, the not-out overnight batsman was at the wicket, with Kesara de Costa preparing to bowl to him. Lakshman Aloysious was visibly angry with the 3 men around his bat. He haughtily indicated with his bat, to skipper Ranjan, that a 4th fielder too should be positioned close to him. Ranjan being eveready to oblige, directed a 4th fielder in close proximity to Lakshman, and there Lakshman was facing the first delivery of the day by Kesera de Costa – a direct catch to the 4th fielder whom he arrogantly demanded of skipper Ranjan. And for skipper Ranjan – ever so typical – giving people what they ask for.
A truly noteworthy achievement for Royal in the centenary year was the selection of 3 of its players to represent Sri Lanka at the Word Cup 1979 – Ranjan Madugalle, Sudath Pasqual and Ashantha de Mel - a singularly honourable achievement for our alma mater.
A happy memory I have of the centenary match is the fact that I got the first wicket of the match. That I suppose, will always make it a special wicket for me.
This is a unique achievement.
I am ever grateful to the school authorities, our teachers and contemporaries who cheered for us throughout the season. The magnanimous support and faith lavished on us by our families, suffuses my entire being with a warmth that cannot be described.
“Who you are and what you become is determined by those who love you”- they had all done their part and it was now our duty to play the game – and play it we did as best we could! May succeeding generations enjoy and excel in whatever beneficial endeavours they choose.
I wish my nephew, Dimitri and his team all the very best for the ‘Royal-Thomian’, and may the best team win! – Rajiva Wijetunge
The Centenary Team
1.Ranjan Madugalle – Captain
2.Pradeepa Kariyawasam – V. Captain
3.Ajith De Alwis
4.Sudath Pasqual
5.Rajiva Wijetunge
6.Haroon Musafer
7.M.N. Perera
8.Kesara de Costa
9.Rohan Jurangpathy
10.C.P. Fernando
11.Ashantha de Mel
12.Gihan Sonnadara ]
13.Ajith Dandeniya ]
14.Played During the Season
15.Ajith Devasurendra ]
16.Wirendra Perera ]
On a personal note, I wish to record here with all due humility, a unique achievement.
Four Generations of Royalists who have played in the Royal-Thomian Cricket encounter.
- Sagaradutta Sudirikku Jayawickrema better known as ‘Sargo Jayawickrema’ played in the 50th Jubilee Royal-Thomian Cricket match.
- Following is a list of nephews, grand-nephews and great-grand-nephew of ‘Sargo Jayawickrema’ who played for Royal College.
Nephews
1. Nihal Wickramasuriya
2. (Dr.) Sunil Wickramasuriya
3. Vimal Wickramasuriya
4. Mahesh Rodrigo
5. Suneetha Jayawickrema
6. (Dr.) Ranjith De Silva
Grand-nephews
1. Rajiva Wijetunge
2. Rajeev De Silva
- Great-grand-nephew
1. Dimitri Siriwardena
- ‘4’ Generations who have played in the ‘Royal Thomian’ Battle of the Blues
1. Sargo Jayawickrema 50th Royal-Thomian Jubilee Match
2. Dr. Ranjith De Silva 75th
Royal-Thomian Match
3. Rajiva Wijetunge 100th Centenary Royal-Thomian Match
4. Dimitri Siriwardena 125th Royal-Thomian MatchThomian Match