When Cambrians beat Sebs by an innings in 1959

Prince of Wales’ College First Eleven Cricket Team 1958/59. Seated L/R – Nisal Senarathne (Coach), Lakdasa Gunathilake, Suranjith Mendis (Captain), J. B. C. Rodrego (Principal), W. G. Fernando (Vice Captain), S. N.Rajapakse, K. W. Dharmapala (Prefect of Games). Standing L/R – Earl Fernando, S. Kasthurirathne, Roy Cooray, Lister Perera, T. Munasinghe, G. S. Abesiriwardane, D. D. Upali (Picture by Dilwin Mendis Moratuwa Sports Special Correspondent)

The Annual Big Match between Prince of Wales’ and St. Sebastian’s College was inaugurated in 1933 and so far seventy encounters have been worked off and there were three stoppages during this period from 1938 to 1953 and 1969 to 1970 due to unforeseen circumstances and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the eleventh hour. So far Cambrians have won six commencing from 1935, 1936, and 1937 then in 1955, 1959, and 1977 and Sebs beat Cambrians in 1962, 1966, and 2011 and the rest were tame draws.

It is almost 63 years ago Cambrians registered their fifth victory in 1959 under the captaincy of Suranjith Mendis and his opposite number was an all-rounder Sirimal Fernando and worked off at Cambrians grounds. I was a seventeen-year schoolboy at Prince of Wales’ and I was a member of the College’s second eleven cricket pool. I had the privilege of witnessing this game throughout. It was a great farewell to the Principal who was instrumental to inaugurate this most popular social event of Cricket Crazy Moratuwa City the Battle of the Golds who is an old Royalist and a Member of the Tutorial Staff of S. Thomas’ College J.B.C.Rodrigo who retired from service after this memorable encounter in 1959 at his den.

The left-handed opener Suranjith Mendis who was the first-ever schoolboy to score a century in Saravanamuttu Trophy Cricket Tournament against formidable Moors Sports Club in 1958 and he pulverized the strong Moors attack to all corners of their grounds at Braybrooke Place. All-rounder and well-experienced cricketer Sirimal Fernando led Sebs. Suranjith won the toss and decided to bat first and Cambrians scored a healthy 263 runs with skipper Mendis making the top score of 63 while the 1958 skipper Lakdasa Gunatilleke made 55 runs and W. G. Fernando contributed 42 runs, and for Sebs. S. de Silva captured 5 for 56 and Sebs replied with 119 runs and former skipper Kingsley Fernando scored 51 and Lister Perera claimed 6 for 46 and following on visitors were bowled out for a paltry 88 runs with G. S. Abeysiriwardene doing most of the damage with 4 for 18 runs and giving Cambrians an innings and 56 run win and Cambrians were home for tea.

Chief Scores

Prince of Wales’ – 263 – Suranjith Mendis 63, Lakdasa Gunatilleke 55, W.G.Fernando 42, S.de Silva 5/56

St.Sebastians – 119 – Kingsley Fernando 51, Lister Perera 6/46 and 88 G.S.Abeysiriwardene 4/18