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| Sunday, 10 November 2002 |
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Turin Abeywardane : cover - fielding specialist of 1930's by PREMASARA EPASINGHE Turin Abeywardane is his name and cricket in Sri Lanka will remember this pint-sized cricketer for his fine fielding in the cover region during the early 1930's. He is an old Anandian who not only excelled in school cricket, but in inter-club matches and even impressed international cricketers like C.B. Grace - son of Dr. W.G. Grace. It was a casual visit by Grace to Sri Lanka in 1932 where he met the then Ananda College Principal P. de S. Kularatne who took Grace to watch Ananda cricketers at practice and at once Grace was simply so impressed with the fielding of tiny boy Turin. Grace marvelled at Abeywardane's fielding and remarked: "I am positive that this tiny boy who is fielding at covers will make the grade very soon and go a long way, if he continues in cricket,' Grace told Kularatne. Having represented Ananda between 1932-34, his cricket career had to be cut short as his father died early. He sought employment as an officer in the Port Green Fellow Harbour Light Range Company, but while he was at school he had the cricketing fraternity here marvelling at his batting and fielding. Once when Ananda played a practice match against Singhalese Sports Club in 1932 which comprised powerful cricketers like Chippie Gunasekera, Col. F.C. de Saram, D.B. Gunasekera, Wijewardane, D.S. Jayasundera, Turin Abeywardane was yet small but still a leading batsman. D.S. Jayasundera and Turin were friends and in a humorous way, Jayasundera had remarked "I will break your legs today." The challenge was accepted and Turin triumphed, despatching the last two deliveries of Jayasundera's over to the fine leg and square leg boundary. The SSC players were simply stunned at his batting and Col. F.C. de Saram had wanted him to play for SSC. Unfortunately he could not make it. Turin Abeywardena is the father of late Harsha Abeywardane, who was the former Chairman (1984-1987) of the United National Party. He was married to Somie Perera and besides Harsha, they had a daughter Sarala. Though he didn't play big-time cricket due to his father's early demise, he made it good during his school days. In 1934 in the 'big match' against arch rivals Nalanda, Abeywardane scored 44 not out and won the awards for the best batsman and best fielder. That year, Ananda were unofficial school cricket champions. At that time, the Principal of Ananda was L.H. Mettananda who promised that he would declare two days holiday, should they beat S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia in the final game. But, Abeywardane cautioned the Principal, saying that the Thomians might think it was a great achievement and that they are unbeatable, but assured the Ananda College Principal that they would do their best. Abeywardane batted with great courage and hit a memorable six to the train-track to clinch victory for Ananda by six wickets. "This was the finest hour that we beat the school by the sea and I was in cloud nine," Abeywardane said. The champion Ananda outfit was coached by B.S. Perera who captained Notts CC - a leading team among the clubs those days. |
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