'CI' lit up 'Oval' - 24 runs in 5 balls

Visits by Australian Cricket Teams......When one talks of Australian Cricket teams playing in Sri Lanka, one match that Sri Lankan Cricket fans will never forget is the match where Sri Lanka's skipper C.I. Gunasekera plucked the limelight in 1961 in the game against Australia.

C.I. Gunasekera – Towering Inferno – the Sri Lanka skipper ‘C.I.’ hit Aussie bowler Lindsay Kline for 24 runs in one over – the scores being 4,6,4,4,6.

Michael Tissera – a capable batsman made 24 for Sri Lanka in total of 187 for 7 after Australia had made 289 for 8 wickets.

Richie Benaud made 35 in Australia’s total of 289 for 8 wickets as against 187 for 7 wickets by Sri Lanka.

Australia was led by Richie Benaud who did not disappoint the Australian crowd. Sri Lanka Captain was C.I. Gunasekera. There was a large crowd of around 20,000 local fans at the Saravanamuttu Stadium, formerly known as the Colombo Oval.

This match will stay in the minds of Sri Lanka's cricket crazy fans as the match that "C.I." gave muscle with an explosive display of power hitting.

All-Ceylon had a tough job to clear to get to Australia's score of 289 for 8 wickets in 235 minutes declared. Norman O'Neill (70), Booth (40), Benaud (35), Simpson (27), Burge (35), Mckenzie (22), Ian Quick (20) scored quick runs.

That never-say-die able batsman "C.I." - the Sri Lankan captain, stepped on the 'gas' as if to say and hit the bowling all over on that historic day at the Colombo Oval.

Though "C.I" is not with us to relate that great episode (he died a couple of years back); this 1961 clash with Australia, will stay long in the memory of all spectators who were fortunate to witness it to Australia's score of 289 for 8 wickets, Sri Lanka replied with 187 for 7 in 135 minutes in a spirited display of fine hitting by the Sri Lanka skipper that will stay long in the memory of all who were present at the Colombo Oval or the Saravanamuttu Stadium as it is now known.

Heroic hitting

Sri Lanka skipper 'C.I.' hit Aussie bowler Lindsay Kline for 24 runs in one over.... 4,6,4,4,6 and made all Sri Lankans happy. Lasantha Rodrigo (47), T.C.T. Edwards (27), Michael Tissera (24) and M.A.H. Fuard (23) gave all the support to build up the score.

Right now, the under 19 Australian cricket team is in Sri Lanka to play a series of matches.

There were several teams from Australia playing here since 1938 - he year that Sir Donald Bradman played led the team here. There were no big grounds here, like the present day, to play the matches out nevertheless, there were keen anticipation for the games by the local players.

Bradman's Aussies 367/9 declared

Bradman's Australian scored at a brisk rate on their first visit here and made 367 for 9 declared in 210 minutes off 69 overs. The Old SSC grounds at Victoria Park (Nomads grounds) where a pavilion has been built for official matches. Though the "Don's" name appeared to play, he did not take the field as he was indisposed and Stan McCabe led the Australians in the match.

Norman O’ Neill made a fine knock of 70 in Australia’s score of 289 for 8 wickets.

Jack Fingleton (49) and Bill Brown (53) put on 80 runs for the opening partnership in 120 minutes. Never before was such a scoring spree witnessed - 10 fielders were insufficient, hardly a ball went pass to the Sri Lankan keeper Vernon Schokkman as Lindsay Hassett (116) and C.L. Badcock (116) put on 217 runs for the third wicket in 180 minutes.

However, in all the hammering, Sri Lankan off-spinner Lanky George Perera took 5 for 108, while Pat McCarthy, George Hubert and L.D.S. Gunasekera fielded superbly.

Official Australian team to Sri Lanka 1948

After World War II, led by Don Bradman came to Sri Lanka in 1948. It was the finest Australian to-team leave that country. Bradman's team returned unbeaten. To the delight of all the Sri Lankan fans Don Bradman appeared after 18 years. However, the Don much to the annoyance of the Sri Lanka crowds, scored just 20 runs - caught by R.L. De Kretser off B.R. Heyn.

The Aussies scored 184 for 8 wickets and All-Ceylon were 48 for 2 wickets with Mahes Rodrigo making an aggressive 26 and the rain came down and the match ended there.

In 1953, Lindsay Hassett's Australian team came to Sri Lanka and they made 209 for 8 and drew with All-Ceylon 149 for 4 wickets, the runs coming in 2 hours.

Sri Lanka's opening batsman Channa Gunasekera (Jnr) batted well to make 66 not out and with Vernon Prins (42) the pair put on 79 runs for the third wicket.

Then came another whistle-stop game in 1964 when Bobby Simpson's Australian team made 249, with graceful 65 by Bob Cowper, a power-packed 49 by Norman O'Neill, being the chief scorers. Peter Burge was in fine form with the but and knocked off 21 runs in one over from Aba Fuard and that helped him to make 32.

Fine batting by Tissera

Though the Aussies made quick runs, there was Sri Lanka's Michael Tissera who gave a fine display of batsmanship after Sri Lanka slumped to 35 for 3 wickets in one hour at which stage Tissera joined B.G. Reid (29 not out). Tissera gave the finest display by a Sri Lankan batsman and in just 30 minutes, he stroked 50 runs inclusive of 12 fours. It was an innings to remember.

The rain came down and took away 45 minutes of play. Simpson the Australian skipper, was full of praise for Tissera's fine showing.

Rain spoilt Aussies progress

The visit by the Australians in 1969 was the first extended visit by an official Australian team.

The Australians on their way to India and South Africa did not have an auspicious start in Sri Lanka, being held down to less than 200 runs in each. Unofficial Test innings. Just a few months earlier, the Aussies totals were: 284 and 240, 250, 547 and 42 for no wickets, 533 and 339, 619 and 394 for 8 (d).

The Australians played 3 one-day games, two in Colombo and one in Kandy. Rain followed them around and the games suffered as a result.

* The first game in Colombo, bowler B.N. Mahmood hit Aussie bowler Gleeson for two sixes and two fours - only 166 minutes play was possible.