Moratuwa to come alive next weekend
The 69th Battle of the Golds, the big match between Prince of Wales’ and St. Sebastian’s colleges will be worked off on March 15 and 16 at the De Soysa Stadium in Moratuwa, followed by the 34th Limited Overs match on the following day, March 17, at the same venue. This year the Cambrians will be led by Suwath Mendis while Nuwanidu Fernando, a Sri Lanka Under-19 cap, will lead the St. Sebastian’s.
Nuwanindu Fernando (Captain)
When Sir Charles Henry de Soysa founded Prince of Wales College in 1876 and the same year he made arrangements to commence cricket and the members of the tutorial staff played friendly matches up to 1896. In 1896, organised cricket commenced at Prince of Wales and few friendly matches were played and on February 27 of 1897 the first Inter-School match was played against Royal College, followed by the games against S. Thomas’ and Wesley colleges. The principals who were at the helm of the school in time to time encouraged and cricket blossomed, with an average of eight to ten matches played during a season.
So far in the two-day big match the Cambrians are lading with six wins as against St. Sebastian’s three, while the rest were draws. In the Limited Overs encounter St. Sebastian’s are leading the tally with 17 wins while the Cambrians have won 13, and one each have ended in a no decision and an exciting tie.
Both St. Sebastian’s and Prince of Wales have done equally well in the Singer Schools Under-19 Cricket Tournament to finish off at second in their respective groups. After eight games the Sebs have won thee outright, one of them by innings and won two games on first innings points. At the same time they have lost three games on first innings points from Group ‘C’. Playing in Group ‘B’ Prince of Wales have three victories recorded by innings and two wins with first innings points. Like their traditional rivals, the Cambrians too have lost three games on first innings points.
Both teams take great pride in the number of cricketers they have contributed throughout and the amount of players who are currently in the Sri Lankan side from both schools. Both St. Sebastian’s and Prince of Wales will be equally keen to see the two-day big match finish off with an outcome to their favour.
In 1933, the then Principal, J.C.B. Rodrigo spoke to the then Rector of St. Sebastian’s College, Rev. Bro. Bonaventure and commenced the big match and the first encounter was played at the Cambrians ground. The two captains were Duncan Fernando for Prince of Wales and Eugene de Silva for St. Sebastian’s. It was recorded that there was a crowd of more than 10000 who came down to witness the first ever encounter.
Suwath Mendis (Captain)
Then, as this time around, the organising aspects of the match has been entrusted to the Prince of Wales Old Boys Association and the match has been played annually vise versa on their respective grounds.
In 1935, 1936 and 1937, the Cambrians beat the Sebs and due to unknown reasons the match came to a half.
The same year, Principal Rodrigo spoke to the authorities concerned of St. John’s College Panadura and played a big match with them until 1953 and in 1954 again the Cambians vs Sebastianites big match was revived. In 1966, St. Sebastian’s won under Sarath Perera and again in 1969 and 1970 there was a stoppage before being revived in 1971.
In 1979 the big match was shifted to the present venue, the De Soysa Stadium and ever since the match is being played without interruptions. In 1981 the Limited Overs match was introduced and the captains were Ajith Bandara for Prince of Wales and Glenmore Perera for St. Sebastian’s. With the introduction of the Limited Overs game, the enthusiasm went towards it and crowds has began thronging to De Soysa Park to witness an exciting game of cricket.
St. Sebastian's: First row (from left): Kelum Perera (Physician), Sarath Perera (Asst. Coach), Rev. Fr. Indunil Sampath (POG), Nuwanindu Fernando (Captain), Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi (Rector), Tashik Perera (VC), Rev. Fr. Priyan Tissera, Frank Cooray (MIC), Imal Boteju (Head Coach), Samith Fernando (Asst. Coach) Middle row (from left): Kalana Sandeepa, Sukitha Prasanna, Nadeera Fernando, Dunith Jayatunga, Dalara Fernando, Vinuja Ranasinghe, Nishitha Abhilash, Praveen Cooray, Lahiru Fernando; Top row (from left): Rumesh Mendis, Bihanga Mendis, Sasika Perera, Janishka Perera, Thadula Silva
Prince of Wales First row (from left): Kalpa Fernando (Head Coach), Kaumal Nanayakkara, Vajira Abeywickrama (POG), Suwath Mendis (Captain), K.J. Fernando (Principal), Prince Fernando (VC), Kasun Devapriya (MIC), Asela Perera (Asst. Coach) Middle row (from left): Lakshan Perera, Pasindu Pathum, Vinuja Ranpul, Naduka Fernando, Tharuka Fernando, Devaka Peiris, Kavinda de Mel, Tharindu Amarasinghe Top row (from left): Rashan Fernando, Omesh Mendis, Dinura Fernando, Anupa Heshan, Thanuj Kavishan, Kunchana Perera