‘King of Viharamahadevi Park’ no more
Former Ceylon cricketer Dayananda Sahabandu, well known as ‘Daya’ Sahabandu passed away this week at the age of 83. His funeral took place last evening at the Jawatte cemetery.
Born on March 28, 1940 in Colombo he went on to become a crafty left-arm spinner during the pre-Test era. He attended Royal College Colombo, where he played First XI cricket from 1957 to 1960 before earning his place in the Ceylon team in the 1960s. In 18 First Class games he turned out for Ceylon between 1968 and 1977, Sahabandu claimed 87 wickets at an average of 19.49.
Sahabandu’s wicket taking streak goes as far back as his schooldays, as he once captured a match bag of 5 for 78 as an effective spinner. But going further, as a junior cricketer, Sahabandu opened the bowling for Royal. He went on to open the bowling with pace and acutely switch to spin no sooner the track slowed down, which was regarded as a rare ability that benefitted his country in his day.
He was known as the best left-arm bowler of his generation despite being a dual purpose bowler. Those who knew Sahabandu well identified him as ‘a quite person whose character was in his bowling’ with a ‘golden arm and long pointed fingers’. He was a humble servant of cricket, regarded as a moderately gentle left arm bowler. Some termed his bowling as mesmerising and a player of guts and determination who always puts country before self.
Despite many accolades, Sahabandu had very little opportunity to show his prowess at international level. He played 18 First Class games and took 87 wickets, but his victims included many well-known cricketers. Those in this list include Tom Graveney of England, Keith Fletcher, Ian Chappell, Ian Redpath and Keith Stackpole.
Sahabandu bowled what was described as a ‘lovely loopy off-stump line’ to take 5 for 86 in 37 overs and 1 for 33 against Tony Lewis’ England side. Touring India in 1975, Sahabandu finished with figures of 3 for 54.
At domestic level, where he turned out for Nomads Sports Club for nearly two decades, Sahabandu played 253 matches taking 1048 wickets. For that he bowled 6550 overs to end up with an astonishing average of 14. He was fondly called as the ‘King of Viharamahadevi Park’ for his bowling heroics.
Playing in the Gopalan Trophy Sahabandu opened bowling for Ceylon and finished with figures of 5 for 54 and 6 for 83 in a drawn game. During the Indian tour in 1975-76 he captured 8 for 37 and 4 for 46 against East Zone. Playing for the Board President’s XI against State Bank of India, Sahabandu finished with a match bag of 7 for 77. Against Ajit Wadekar’s XI in 1975, Sahabandu came on top to claim a match bag of 8 for 112.
Apart from his bowling, Sahabandu was an occasionally useful and defensive tail-ender in the batting order, but he was famous as a poor fielder. After his playing days were over Sahabandu also served as a national cricket selector. He was employed at Colombo Municipal Council as a Physical Education Instructor for 14 years before joining Maharaja Organisation as an Executive for the next 30 years.
Sahabandu hardly had foes on and off the field, as he was ‘incapable of making enemies’. But he was known to share humour in the dressing room.
He was one of the 49 veteran cricketers felicitated by Sri Lanka Cricket few years later. Sahabandu’s name is listed among the 30 ‘Lions of Sri Lanka Cricket’ where top names are included. He lived on Charlemont Road in Wellawatte, towards the beach side, with his wife Swarna and only son Janaka.