St. Benedict’s and Wesley compete for Cartman Cup and Luke Shield
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Captains of both schools -- Shanmuganathan Sharujan of St. Benedict’s (left) and Anuga Pahansara of Wesley with the Luke Shield
St. Benedict’s College and Wesley College announced their arrangements for their annual 1st XI two-day cricket encounter for Cartman Cup and 50-over encounter for Luke Shield to be played between both schools in 2025. In celebrating 129 years of cricketing legacy since teams first met on a cricket pitch back in 1896, both schools have made elaborate plans to host this year’s One Day encounter at the SSC and the two-day encounter at P. Sara Oval.
Further both institutions will join hands to celebrate 160th anniversary of St. Benedict’s, which falls this year. Last year, both schools celebrated Wesley’s sesquicentennial which coincided with the two-day encounter. This year the One Day encounter for the Luke Shield will be played ahead, after Bens-Wesley Committee was forced to push back the original dates set for the two day encounter due to Ordinary Level Examinations being scheduled for March.
Therefore, the Luke Shield encounter will go ahead as scheduled on March 29 at the SSC, while the two-day encounter for the Cartman Cup will be played on March 31 and April 1 at P. Sara Oval. Both matches will be continued to be organised and hosted by the Bens-Wesley Committee as they’ve managed since 2021 along with the patronage of both schools.
Last year, St. Benedict’s led by Sharujan Shanmuganathan had the hour of being the first recipient of the Rev. James Cartman Cup as they beat Wesley by 46 runs at the P. Sara Oval.
In February 2021, Director of St. Benedict’s, Dr. Brother Pubudu Rajapaksha and Principal of Wesley, Avanka Fernando signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding to inaugurate the annual Bens-Wesley cricket encounter with a purpose, for a cause and for the future whilst celebrating the landmark 125 years of Bens-Wesley cricketing legacy and bringing together both Benedictine and Wesleyite fraternities. The MoU paved the way for past cricketers and alumni of St. Benedict’s and Wesley to come together and form the Bens-Wesley Committee under the stewardship of both principals and to organise the annual cricketing encounters.
The key true highlight of last four years of Bens-Wesley encounter was the donation made by both schools, together with the sponsors, towards a charitable cause. In 2022 it was a donation made towards the Diyagala Boys’ Town, and in 2023 it was a donation made to a project initiated by Wesley, celebrating their sesquicentennial year by supporting 150 rural schools. Followed by 2024 donation going into De La Salle College, Mutuwal.
This year St. Benedict’s is led by Shanmuganathan Sharujan and Wesley is led by Anuga Pahansara. Chief guests for the two-day encounter will be Vivian Saverimuttupelle, cricket captain of 1972 and Lalith Perera, who led in 1973 on behalf of St. Benedict’s for the two-day Cartman Cup while captains of 1974, Dayalan Sellamuttu and of 1975 K. Dayaparan will join representing Wesley.
Wesley College
(Seated from left): L.L.S. Cabral (Physio), Lakshan Hewage (Senior Assistant Coach), Colonel Rizan Hamidon (Rtd) (Head of Sports), Anuga Pahansara (Captain), Avanka Fernando (Principal), Rashmika Amararathna (Vice Captain), Nalin Nanayakkara (Master in-charge), Imran Thahir (Head Coach). (Middle row from left): Binoth Sandil, Denuwan Nethmal, Jeewahan Sriraam, Nehemian Perera, Anuk Pieris, Dinuja Samararathne, Rukshan Tharanga, Senal Weerasekara, Dimath Sudarshan, Deneth Sigera, Shamma Jonathan, Sehandu Athauda, Sithuka Hansith. (Top row from left): Lithum Senuja, Minuka Mandinu, Adhyaan Zian, Kavidu Amarasinghe, Dinula Dison, Ehren Ali, Ahamed Al Nahyan, Dewmith Thathsilu, Dulshan Nethmina, Nadila Nethmina
St. Benedict’s College
(Seated from left): Cpt. Jude Vass (POG), Rohana Fernando (Physio), Asela Jayasinghe (Senior Assistant Coach), Pemlal Fernando (Head Coach), Shanmuganathan Sharujan (Captain), Rev. Dr. Pubudu Rajapaksha (Director), Rev. Bro. Anton Piumal (MIC), Lal Wickramathunga (Consultant), Mevan Dissanaike (Vice Captain), Prageeth Nishantha (Senior Assistant Coach), Yasith Umayanga (School Scorer), W.S. Janak (Assistant MIC) (Seated from left): Didula Edirisuriya, Yohan Edirisinghe, Mihila Jayweera, Mario Fernando, Haren Olagama, Janindu Nandasena, Nadun Fernando, Ayesh Gajanayake, Manikya Deshapriya, Dinath Senila, Dumindu Yehen, Akein Perera, Samindu Pieris, Tehan Bitar, Trishane Silva, Vihanga Rathnayake