C.I's 76 came in 70 mins against England

By A. C. de Silva

Michael Tissera batted well and gave skipper C.I. Gunasekera all the help to push the score along.

Abu Fuard - the off-spinner of Ceylon had a good ‘bowl’, claiming 4 wickets for 45 runs in 16.4 overs.

CRICKET: C. Ivers Gunasekera - the former Royalist and All - Ceylon cricket captain is 'no more', but the deeds he has done playing for Ceylon against tough opposition, will long be remembered for many years to come.

Gunasekera was an old Royalist and there were many good performances for Royal during his school days, but he carried forward his performances at school matches for the big league. He was an obvious choice to play for Ceylon and he carried forward the promise he held in his younger days to the satisfaction of his elders and Sri Lanka's cricket so that the country would not be left in the lurch.

Came 1962 and Sri Lanka had that fixture against England with Ted Dexter as captain at the Colombo Oval on October 3rd. This game was a limb-loosener for the Englishmen who were on their way to Australia for the customary Ashes tour. The Ceylon captain was C.I. Gunasekera.

It was big news - that Dexter was leading the Englishmen and Sri Lanka was hoping that there would be someone to match Dexter and company, so that Sri Lanka would not be considered an 'also ran' as the Lankans were not considered a strong-enough side to match the Englishmen. Sri Lanka didn't have to look deep down the line to find somewhat a saviour to keep the Lion flag flying.

In skipper C.I. Gunasekera - there was a leader who didn't say can't for anything. Gunasekera's policy was to try and do something that will have the visitors look up and take note. He blasted 76 runs and helped Sri Lanka to make 152 for 8 wickets in replay to England's 181 for 8 wickets.

Ted Dexter won the toss and batted in this one-day game.

Spirited bowling

England who batted first but their promise of bright cricket was somewhat blasted by a spirited performance by the Sri Lankan bowlers. The first over was bowled by lanky paceman Gunatilleke to England left-hander Geoff Pullar. Only one run came in the first over and Ceylon struck it rich in the second over of the day, when pullar, England's opening bat, snicked an early catch into the safe hands of A.C.M. Lafir at second slip.

It was an ideal start for the Lankans to put them forward. Then came Ted Dexter - the skipper, who started off in characteristic fashion with two great cover drives for four off the sorry looking Gunatilleke, but Gunatilleke did not lose heart and he did well to beat Dexter hook, line and sinker and England had two wickets down for a mere 12 runs.

However, Sheppard in the meantime was getting his eye-in and as if with vengeance he opened out and was particularly was sever on off-spinner Neil Chanmugam, hitting his fourth over for 2 fours, a two and a six, Graveney in the meantime, was slowly but surely getting his eye-in and, on as if vengeance bent, he opened out and was particularly severe on Neil Chanmugam, hitting his fourth over for 2 fours, a two and a six, Graveney was slow off the mark, but later settled down to play some good cricket, though the sparkle was somewhat lacking.

Lunch was taken with England on 119 for 3 wickets, after the 50 was reached in 62 minutes, the 100 in 97 minutes.

Forty minutes after lunch, Abu Fuard, who together with skipper C.I. Gunasekera, was keeping the batsmen quiet to a certain extent struck a good length bowling from the Tennis Court end and accounted for Graveney and Illingworth in his eleventh over.

Ceylon's fielding at that stage somewhat slackened and P.I. Pieris and Dhanasiri Weerasinghe dropped twice (One each), but Parfitt succumbed to the spin bowling of Abu Fuard later on, when wicket-keeper H.I.K. Fernando stumped him in grand style.

The rest of the M.C.C. batting somewhat folded up and Dexter declared at 181 for 8 wickets. By far the best knock for the Englishmen came from Sheppard who tucked into his knock of 73 eleven fours and a six in 110 mintes batting.

Abu Fuard 4/45

The bowling honours certainly went to Abu Fuard 4 for 45 in 16.4 overs. He was supported by skipper C.I. Gunasekera, P.I. Pieris and L.R. Gunatilleke.

M.C.C.'s declaration came around 2.30 p.m. and Ceylon were left with 170 minutes batting to score 181 runs for victory.

Coldwell - the Worcestershire fast bowler and Northamptonshire tall-man David Larter were in charge of the new ball. Although both Larter and Coldwell had pace in them, they were not able to blash their way through. Four Ceylon batsman fell victims as a result of bad strokes and not until. C.I. Gunasekera and Michael Tissera were associated at the wicket that the cricket brightened up. While Tissera batted fluently, Gunasekera, who was in a devastating mood, belted the M.C.C. attack to all parts of the field.

There were around 12,000 spectators at the match and Sri Lanka's batsmen provided the sparkle. In Ray Illingworth's eighth over, C.I. Gunasekera swept five consecutive boundaries and it was followed by another smashing four by Gunasekera off the off-spinner Fred Titmus.

Then Gunasekera hit a rocketing six to long-on off paceman Coldwell, the scoreboard mounted to 75 for 4 wickets and within half-an-hour Gunasekera, who was partnered by Tissera, registered the 60-run partnership. Hitting eight fours and a six, Gunasekera raced to his half-century in 47 minutes. He and Tissera were associated in a 100 run partnership that came in 60 minutes batting.

At 103 for 4 wickets Dexter brought on Titmus to bowl to Tissera, setting somewhat of a legtrap. Dexter himself, Graveney, Sheppard and Pullar were all set in the legtrap, but Tissera got a way from the legtrap with his calculated driving.

Ceylon registered their 100 of the innings in 140 minutes with Tissera and Gunasekera still at the wickets. Gunasekera's innings of 76 which was the highest individual score of the match, collected his runs in 70 minutes batting. After both Gunasekera and Tissera were out, the batting of the Ceylon team crumbled against the off-spinner Ray Illingworth who claimed the wickets of Dhanasiri Weerasinghe and P,I. Pieris.