Sasi Ganeshan (S. Thomas’), Sam Lawton (Royal) Guests of Honour
Two former cricketing stalwarts of S. Thomas’ and Royal Colleges who will grace the 140th Royal-Thomian Cricket match 2019 as Guests of Honour are Sasi Ganeshan and Sam Lawton.
Ganeshan captained the Thomian cricket team in 1976, which was adjudged the Best All Island Team and he was the first captain to win the Mustang Trophy. He was also the Head Prefect of the School. Under Ganeshan’s captaincy S. Thomas’ played 12 matches in the season, winning 8 matches outright.
His team comprised his brother Ajit Ganeshan (V. Capt.), Dayal De Silva, Ishak Sahabdeen, Micheal Jayasekera, Lakmal De Soyza, Suraj Dandeniya, Saliya Ahangama, late Lalith Ratnayake, late Guy De Alwis and late Dayalan Subramanium.
Three players, Ajit Ganeshan, Ishak Sahabdeen and late Lalith Ratnayake represented Sri Lanka Schools team captained by the late Anura Ranasinghe that won the Ali Bhutto Trophy in 1975 and toured Pakistan for the return fixture in 1976 under Ranasinghe.
Sam Lawton captained Royal College in 1974, a formidable outfit with 6 Coloursmen. At age 15, Lawton along with Ajitha Pasqual received College Colours for Cricket. Both players together represented Royal College for 5 years.
Lawton’s best year at Royal was in 1973 under Pasqual’s captaincy. Lawton captured 6/52 and 3/30 at the Big Match, which Royal nearly won after a poor start. He was adjudged Best Schools Fielder and was selected for the Sri Lanka Schools team.
Lawton was selected to play for Colombo South Schools team for 3 years and later represented NCC and Saracens SC in the Sara Trophy Cricket tournament- the Premier Cricket tournament, from 1973-76. He emigrated to Australia in 1977. He is still involved in Masters Cricket and manages the Victorian Railways Cricket team in Melbourne.