Positive approach needed to get result in Cambrian-Sebastianite match

by Dilwin MENDIS - Moratuwa Sports Corr.

CRICKET: Come the month of March each year and that’s the time of the “Big” inter-school cricket matches. There are many matches spread throughout the country to cater to the many interested followers of inter-school cricket.

Just out of Colombo-Moratuwa to be the exact location, there’s a annual encounter between Prince of Wales and St. Sebastian’s that has aroused plenty of interest over years.

This year is the 60th encounter to be played at the De Soysa Park (Tyronne Fernando Stadium) on March 12 and 13 with the one-day game to be played on 14th March at the same venue.

This match was started in 1933, but there were two stoppages in the smooth run for unknown reason. Out of the 59 matches played so far, the Cambrians are ahead with six wins while the Sebastianites have two wins.

The last result in this match came way back in 1977 when the Cambrians won, since then there have been 32 consecutive draws and it may be somewhat of a record for a such a long streak of drawn encounters to a cricket match. It is a record that doesn’t create interest and it will be better if a more positive approach is made.

The Cambrians recorded their first win in the series in 1935 in the third encounter in the series while the Sebastianites had their first win in 1962 which was the 14th encounter.

Though there have not been many victories recorded in the series, there have been some interesting encounters in between. One such encounter was the 14th encounter where the Sebastianites the Cambrians by five wickets with 15 minutes spare.

Prince of Wales made 170 and 161 in their two innings while St. Sebastian’s made 174 and clinched victory with five wickets to spare, scoring 159 for 5 wickets.