Sathi Coomaraswamy (4 for 45) had Don Bradman and Co. in check!
By A.C De Silva
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Keith Miller – a known allrounder.
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Sir Donald Bradman – the batting star that thrilled many
people.
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CRICKET: From 1884 onwards it was the practice of most Australian
cricket teams on their way to Britain to play a match lasting about four
hours against Ceylon (renamed Sri Lanka on May 22nd 1972) to play a
match in Colombo and around 35 matches were played in Colombo by
Australian teams before the country became a full member of the
International Cricket Conference on July 21 in 1981.
During this period the cricket crazy fans of Ceylon were able to
watch over 100 of Australia's leading Test players in action and this
inspired many young Sri Lankans to catch up with the game.
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Sathi Coomaraswamy – the Sri Lankan bowler who had a haul of
4 for 45. |
Among the many stars that came to Sri Lanka was Sir Donald Bradman
who scored 40 runs in the 1930 match and 20 in the 1948.
Sri Lanka's captain in the 1948 game was M. Sathasivam and Donald
Bradman led the Australian team, but rain was somewhat of a spoiler.
Batting first Australia made 184 for 8 wickets declared with Sathi
Coomaraswamy turning in a fine bowling performance, taking 4 for 45.
Then there was the fine performance by one-time Army Commander
General Heyn who got the valuable wicket of the great Don Bradman who
had the great Australian batsman caught by R.L. De Kretser in the
covers.
A fine perform came from Australian great Keith Miller who hit out
lustily to make 46. Then there was Sam Loxton who made 34. Bradman
declared the Australian innings closed at 184 for 8 wickets. In bowling
Sathi Coomaraswamy had marvellous figures of 4 for 45 that troubled the
Aussies.
For the Ceylon team S. Nagendra and Mahes Rodrigo opened the Ceylon
innings and Nagendra was lbw to Barnes for 5 with the total at 13 and
then at 38 Mahes Rodrigo was out to a fine caught and bowl chance by
Johnson.
Then the two stalwarts - F.C. de Saram and M. Sathasivam - the
captain came together and when it appeared that the two will be involved
in a good partnership, the rains came and stopped the match.
SCOREBOARD
AUSTRALIA
S.G. Barnes retired out 49
W.A. Brown lbw b Coomaraswamy 03
Don Bradman c De Kretser b Heyn 20
Keith Miller c Gunasekera b De Kretser 46
Neil Harvey c Jayawickrema b Coomaraswamy 08
R.A. Hamence b Coomaraswamy 00
S.J.E. Loxton c Rodrigo b De Kretser 34
R.A. Saggers b Coomaraswamy 06
I.W. Johnson not out 02
D.T. Ring not out 06
E.R.H. Teshack did not bat --
EXTRAS 10
TOTAL (for 8 wkts dec) 184
Wickets fell at: 1-8, 2-68, 3-86, 4-106, 5-106, 6-144
7-173, 8-173
Bowling: C.E. Allen 13.1-2-33-0
S. Coomaraswamy 15-2-45-4
B.R. Heyn 15-0-43-1
S.S. Jayawickrema 5-1-14-0
R.L de Kretser 12-1-39-2
CEYLON
M. Rodrigo c and b Johnson 26
S. Nagendra lbw b Barnes 05
F.C. De Saram not out 07
M. Sathasivam not out 06
S.S. Jayawickrema Did not bat --
B.R. Heyn Did not bat --
C.I. Gunasekera Did not bat --
S. Coomaraswamy Did not bat --
C.E. Allen Did not bat --
R.L. de Kretser Did not bat --
B. Navaratne Did not bat --
EXTRAS 02
TOTAL (for 2 wkts) 46
Fall of wickets: 13, 38.
Bowling: K.R. Miller 2-1-3-0
S.J.E. Loxton 2-1-3-0
Johnson 3-2-6-1
D.T. Ring 4.2-1-10-0
E.R.H. Toshack 4-1-16-0
S.G. Barnes 4-1-6-1 |
