13th Battle of the Oldies

The 13th Edition of the Oldies Cricket Encounter between St. Xavier’s Old Boys’ Association (SXOBA) and Gamini Past Pupils’ Association (PPA) for the Mayor’s Cup unfolded on the grounds of the Race Course on April 20th, 2024, drawing a large crowd.

Rev. Fr. Camilus Janz, the Parish Priest of St. Xavier’s Church, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Accompanying him were notable dignitaries including H.A. Premalal, the HQI of Police; Bodimanage -Commissioner of Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council, the Assistant District Secretary of Nuwara Eliya; Mathews Paulraj, Principal of St. Xavier’s College; Nimal Kumaradasa, Principal of Gamini CC, Former Mayor Mahinda Dodampegamage;  Paul Perera, Senior Advisor of SXOBA; the Joint Secretaries of the SXCOBA, Thomas Benjamin and Nilan de Zoysa,  Secretary GPPA Chandika Vaidyaratne, and  Vice President Sandaruwan Herath. The event also saw the presence of distinguished personalities including the Past President RM Nawaz, Cricket Manager U.C. Emmanuel and notable athlete DMM Indrapala and Former MC member-Mahinda Silva, along with a host of revered past cricketers, all lending their support to this cherished tradition.

The decision-making process of Sanjeewa Weerasinghe, skipper of the Old Xaverians, was evident as he won the toss and opted to field first. After a gripping 37.3 overs, the Old Gaminians posted a formidable total of 289 on the scoreboard. Lakmal Eranga 114 runs, Asanka Dissanayaka (34 runs),Chinthaka (32 runs), Sameera (40 runs) were the chief scorers for Gamini CC. Notably, Gaminian skipper Lakmal Eranga’s exceptional performance stood out, as he notched up an impressive century, etching his name in history as the first centurion in this prestigious series, which commenced its legacy back in 2010. Bowling: Puwaneshwaran (5/40/2), Pradeepan( 7/46/2), John Christopher (7/53/2),K.Muralidaran(2.3/13/2)

Gaminians were able to confine the Xaverians score with 129 in 22.3 Overs. Irshad (20 runs), Sanjeewa(15 runs),Ramlan(18 runs),Pradeepan (21 Not out) contributed towards the Xaverians innings. Bowling: Sumit (5/25/1), Yasith (8/24/5), Kasun(5/36/2),Sameera(0.2/2/1). Adding to the spectacle, Yasith’s remarkable bowling prowess shone brightly as he clinched 5 crucial wickets, showcasing his exceptional talent amidst the fervent atmosphere of the event.Lakmal Eranga was awarded the Man of the Match and Best batsman and Yasitha was awarded the Best bowler.

At the award ceremony, the pioneers of this event were awarded: Paul Perera, Mahinda Kumara, Kenneth Martinestine, Benjamin Jeganathan, R, M,Nawaz, Sunada Ratnasiri, V.Balendran, Jude Xavier, Ujitha Samarawickrama, Ajith Wickramasinghe, S.Vincent, V.Vadivel, Tharanga Wijekoon, Athula Senanayake, Rohan Peiris, Kapila Senarathne, Nilan Zoysa, Gamini Ratnayake, Srinath Wickramasinghe, Vajira Kumari, Susantha Palihawadana, Lasantha Herath, Lucky Wickramasinghe, Milton Ranasinghe, Paul Raj Rosairo, and Gerald Anthony. 

In a message, the Principal of Gamini National School mentioned   “ In closing, let us come together in the spirit of friendly competition and mutual respect. Whether you find yourself cheering from the stands or on the field, let us all be reminded of the values this match represents; integrity, teamwork, and the joy of the game”. The Principal of St Xavier’s added ”  I am proud to state that the history of hardball cricket at St Xavier’s goes back to 1925 when the Manager of the College Rev.Fr.Alexander Siriwardene introduced this game to the boys of the College. The ground opposite the Church and the Cargils Grounds were the places where young boys had their practices and matches. However, these two grounds are today used for commercial purposes, and the lack of ground facilities continues to be a problem for our boys.” He stressed the need for a playground for the College that is 165 years old.

The Secretary of the St. Xavier’s Old Boys’ Association, serving as the chief organizer, expressed that the event’s objectives were partially met. He elaborated further, noting that the concerted efforts of the organizers have spurred several schools and unregistered clubs to engage in hardball cricket. Notably, this initiative has catalyzed the establishment of annual encounters and even reinstated the tradition of two-day games after a prolonged hiatus spanning many years.

Athula Senanayake, the 1958 combined schools captain, conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to both teams, acknowledging the significance of their spirited rivalry in fostering a healthy sporting atmosphere. Reflecting on the history of school cricket, Senanayake mentioned the slow progress of leather ball cricket since its inception in 1925.

However, he highlighted a crucial moment in the resurgence of the sport in Nuwara Eliya schools. It was in 1958 that leather-ball cricket experienced a revival, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Nuwara Eliya District Cricket Association, under the guidance of Mr. E.A. Vanz Sanden, the Honorary Secretary, and President H.R. Hyde. Their visionary advice and proactive measures paved the way for the reintroduction of leather-ball cricket, marking a significant milestone in the region’s cricketing history.

The adjudication of the tournament was entrusted to umpires hailing from the Badulla Professional Umpires’ Association, ensuring fair play and adherence to the rules of the game.

Meanwhile, the organizing committee, spearheaded by a dedicated team, comprised UC Emmanuel, Benjamin Jeganathan, RM Nawaz, John Christopher, Chandana Fernando(President SXCOBA), Tony Pathirana, Leonard Rosario, Mohamed Zaky, Tharanga Wijekoon, Gerald Anthony,  Ujitha Samarawickrama Chandika Waidyasiri, Lakmal Eranga, Sadaruwan Kumara Herath, Thissa Jayawardene, Rohan Peiris, Vadivel Balendran, Hiran Kodithuwakku, Nilan de Zoysa, Tharanga Perera, Thushara Rajapakse, Dilan Dominic, and Sanjeewa Weerasinghe each contributing their expertise and dedication towards the success of the event. This assembly of committed individuals worked tirelessly to orchestrate the seamless execution of the event that was sponsored and organized by the St Xavier’s OBA this year.