47th Old Boys Cricket Quadrangular on August 23 and 24

By Ranjan Anandappa

The 47th Quadrangular Cricket Tournament between the old boys of St.Joseph's College, St.Peter's College, St.Benedict's College and St.Anthony's College, Katugastota will get underway on August 23 and 24 at three venues, namely St.Joseph's, St.Peter's, and S.Thomas' College Mt.Lavinia.

This tournament began in 1963 with the old boys of the four schools engaging themselves in a cricket contest in a brotherly and friendly atmosphere. Besides the tournament not being held due to unavoidable circumstances in some years ,it had been having a successful run throughout.

All four schools have produced some outstanding cricketers, basketball players and ruggerites and some of them could be seen in action during the tournament. Cricket will be played on a limited overs basis.

Three sports have been included in the tournament cricket,rugby and basketball. Although basketball was included in 2005 the latest addition is Rugby Football.

Addressing a press briefing in connection to the event at the St.Peter's College OBU pavilion auditorium, the Chairman of the Old Peterites OBU Shaminda Perera said that this annual event between the four schools have brought the old boys together in a friendly and brotherly atmosphere. He further said that the tournament initially started off with cricket, but later basketball and rugby were included, so that more of the past pupils of the schools will get to know each other. The winners of the basketball tournament will be awarded the Rev. Fr. Joe Wickremasinghe Trophy and the winners of the rugger tournament will receive the Ranjith Samarasekera trophy.

The tournament will be conducted in two age categories. The main team and the over 40's. In the over 40's, the Old Antonians have players like Gamini Debahapuwa, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sajith Fernando, C.P.P.Raj and Indika Galagoda, to name a few players.

The Old Joes over 40 team will be led by Oril de Mel and the others included are Prashan Liyanage, (Vice Captain), Nimal Ranchigoda, Chaminda Vaas, Sisilough de S Wijeratne, and Tony Gunawardena. The Old Peterites over 40 squad has Keerthie Gunaratne, Indunil Anthony, Roshan Anthony, Ranmore Matinesz, Niranjan Dabare and Asnaga Perera while the Old Bens will take the field in the over 40 affair with Ajith Perera as Captain and the rest _ Susantha de Alwis, Shanthilal Silva, Gihan Perera, Lorenzo Jayasinghe, S.K.Perera, Nevin Noyar, Chandimal Manjula and Lanka Kamalgoda.

The finals will be played at St.Peter's College grounds , Bambapapitiya on August 24th with former Test cricketer and presently a TV commentator and a distinguished Old boy of St.Peter's College Russel Arnold as the Chief Guest.