Adastrians first innings win over SSC got a holiday for Airmen

By Dilwin MENDIS - Moratuwa Sports and Special Corr.

CRICKET: It is said that cricket is a game of uncertainties and this was amply displayed in no uncertain manner when Adastrians Sports Club took on the mighty star-studded Singhalese Sports Club in a key Saravanamuttu Trophy cricket encounter at the SSC grounds at Maitland Place.

The Adastrians came into this game after their fine win against the formidable Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club in their first ever Sara Trophy match of the 1967/68 cricket tournament.

The Adastrians cricket team 1967/68 who beat SSC.... Seated (from left): Donald Perera (Captain), Group Captain P. H. Mendis (Chief of staff), Charlie Amerasinghe, A.V.M. Rohan Amarasekera (Commander of the Air Force), K. M. Nelson (Vice Captain), Sqd/Ldr S. Levelyn D. Fernando (Manager), Norbert Fernando. Standing (from left): K. S. S. P. Silva, P. Premadasa Silva, W. A. S. Silva, Mohamed Faleel, Dilwin Mendis, Nimal Cooray, Sarath Fernando, S. Dharmarajah, Leslie Ratnapulli, Wilfred Basnayake. Absent- Keerthi Caldera, Hemasiri Hettige, Hemasiri Fernando. Picture by Delwin Mendis, Moratuwa Sports Corr.

The Adastrians were mere lilliputs compared to the star-studded SSC team that comprised almost full All-Ceylon outfit except 'stumper' L. Koggodachchi the former Richmondite.

The strength of the SSC batting could be judged by the fact that former Cambrian and Ceylon 'Cap' Lasantha Rodrigo came at number nine.

The SSC team had former Thomian and Cambridge Blue Ian Pieris as captain. The batting order; Channa Gunasekera, Sunil Wettimuny, Anura Tennekoon, Anura de Silva, Sriyantha Rajapakse, Niel Chanmugam, P.I. Pieris, Stanley de Alwis, Lasantha Rodrigo, Lareef Idroos and L. Koggdachchi. It was virtually an All-Ceylon side.

Though Adastrians came into this game with much hope after their win against Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club, they had not much of a chance against the SSC. The Adastrians were led by old Nalandian Donald Perera. The batting line-up: Leslie Ratnapulli, Dilwin Mendis, Keerthi Caldera, Hemasiri Hettige, Norbert Fernando, Donald Perera, Nimal Cooray, Charlie Amerasinghe, K. M. Nelson, Hemasiri Fernando and Mohomed Faleel.

The all-important match was down to be played at the SSC grounds at Maitland Place. The Adastrians never had a ground of their own for practices though Rifle Green grounds belonged to them, but it was on a lease for 99 years to Saracens Sports Club. Adastrians got the grounds only when Saracens were without a fixture. So, Adastrians had to hire Health Department grounds at Castle Street and the matting wicket for most of their matches. The Adastrians will be ever grateful to Mr. Royle Barthelot of Health Department who always helped them out when the Adastrians need the ground for practices.

There is a very interesting story why this ground is called "Rifle Green". During the second World War, there were two RAF Camps at Parsons Road (now Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha) and McCulum Road (now D. R. Wijewardene Mawatha). The ex-British Airmen came daily to Rifle Green grounds for their daily parades and weapon training and military training.

People saw them armed with Points and 303 rifles and promptly the ground was named Rifle Green and that name stood for a long time.

After their win over Bloomfield, the Adastrians manager Squadron Leader Lewelyn Fernando went out of his way to motivate the Adastrians team. His motto was "never-say-die".

The SSC won the all important toss in this match and asked the Adastrians to bat first. The Adastrians wickets tumbled and they were out for a paltry 127 runs. SSC skipper Ian Pieris and Neil Chanmugam were among the wickets. Ian Pieris had ample reason to be happy as when stumps were drawn on the first day, the SSC had made 56 for 4 wickets. Came day 2 and the match was delayed owing to overnight rain making the playing surface wet and play started only after lunch on the second day.

When the game did start the SSC batsmen found run-making difficult and to everyone's surprise the mighty SSC batting were skittled out for a meagre 87 runs. None of the batsmen entered double figures.

For the Adastrians, K.M. Nelson had the best bowming figures of 4 for 20, then Sarath Fernando had 3 for 27 and Mohamed Faleel had 3 for 9. The Adastrians fielding was superb and it helped the bowlers a great deal. So Adastrians enjoyed a first innings lead of 40 runs.

When the Adastrians went in for the second time, the SSC tried all their tricks to get them out cheaply. Keerthi Caldera and Dilwin Mendis battled soundly, determined not to lose wickets early. Adastrians made 60 for 3 wickets in their second innings with Dilwin Mendis 31 not out and Keerthi Caldera 20 not out. And Adastrians became the giant killers.

The cricket loving Commander of the Air Force - Air Vice Marshall Rohan Amarasekera who witnessed the match right through was very happy indeed and on a gesture invited the victorious Adastrians team to his bungalow to celebrate the victory. At the end he made a surprise announcement of a day off to all concerned.

That was a day to remember where the uncertainties of cricket prevailed. Today, it's 42 years after that memorable match, but it still lingers on the memories of all those who participated in the game.