Prince of Wales’ College’s 1970/71 cricket season cannot be forgotten because in 1969 and 1970 the Big Match with St. Sebastians College was not played due to unknown reasons. After a lengthy discussion the authorities concerned decided to revive it in 1971 and it was played on a Pre-Poya and Poya Day at Cambrian grounds.
Priyantha Jayasekera (Captain) |
The happy captain was Priyantha Jayasekera and his deputy was the gloveman of the side Sriyan Samararatne. There were two pairs of brothers in the team Sriyan and Savindra Samararatne and Chitral and Hemal Mendis.
The Principal was S C H de Silva and the Prefect of Games and Master in charge of Cricket were two famous Old Cambrians Dunstan Perera and Cecil Fernando respectively. The following were in the cricket pool. Priyantha Jayasekera (Captain), Sriyan Samararane (Vice Captain), Ajith Mendis, Hiran Jayatilleke, Savindra Samararatne, Lakdasa Cooray, Dushmantha Silva, Chitral Mendis, Manju de Silva, Bandula de Silva, Hemal Mendis, Sunil Peiris, Desmond Gunasekera, P D Kusumtilleke and S Perera.
In all there were fourteen matches on the card in clouding the Big Match with their arch rivals St. Sebastians College. Cambrians won against Zahira and Dharmasoka Colleges. They drew with Wesley, Royal, St Thomas, St Josephs, Richmond, Kingswood, Isipathana and Maliyadeva and lost to St. Benedict’s and Thurstan Colleges and tied with St Peters which was a one day game.
Not a single century was recorded in thirteen matches instead five half centuries were recorded. Big Match too ended in a tame draw. But Priyantha Jayasekera scored an unbeaten 100 runs and he became the seventh centurion for Cambrians in the Big Match Series.
In the same year Priyantha Jayasekera and Ajith Mendis were selected for the Ceylon Combined Schools Cricket team that toured India.
The 21st Big Match was captained by Priyantha and the Sebs were led by Ralph Gunawardene and the match ended in a draw. After the revival of the Big Match in 1971 to date it is worked off uninterrupted.
The Chief Socres
Prince of Wales 200 for 7 dec and 69 Sebs 180 and 17 for 4.
0 comments:
Post a Comment