Winning the toss – Part II

Richmond College Masters’ C.C. Vs. Galle C.C. – 1909

Other than the Galle C.C. the only other men’s club of any distinction was the Richmond College Staff, which included at least twelve really first-class cricketers, ably led by Rev. W.J.T. Small who had won his colours at his College, Gonville and Caius, Cambridge. This club achieved remarkable success, and in its triumphant progress, successively lowered the colours of all the prominent clubs in the Southern Province, including the Galle C.C., the Matara C.C., then captained by that stalwart ‘son of Anak’, W.L. Kindersley, and the Combined Colleges’ Team, so that these pedagogues were hailed in the press as the undisputed champions of South Ceylon. Their team included Rev. Small, E.F.C. Ludowyke, G.R. . Fernando, H. Mant, G.A.F. Senaratne, J. Vincent Mendis, Blum Soerts, Capt. A.A. Dias Abeysinghe, A.R. Seneviratne, A.W. Mendis, Capt. , A.R. Seneviratne, A.W. Dissanaike, George Amarasinghe, C.W.W. Kannangara, F.A. de S. Adihetty, and the writer, most of whom would have done credit to any First-Class Club team in Colombo.

I remember this club registering a total of 300 for three wickets against the full strength of the Galle C.C. minus of course, those of us who were members of both clubs, such men naturally throwing in their lot with the College Staff. In this memorable game, Small and Mant scored a century each, the former 110 and the latter 140 not out. The Galle club was beaten by an innings. The Masters’ C.C. deserves special commendation because, in my opinion, this club gave a great impetus to the game in the South at a time when such a reawakening was necessary, owing to the lull that then prevailed. The Galle C.C. was not as alive as it should have been, no matches were played with out-station clubs either at home or away, and, generally speaking, cricket was then at a very low ebb. The Masters’ C.C. appeared at such a time and infused spirit and enthusiasm into the game, defeating all possible clubs in the province, and administering an innings’ defeat to the Wesley College Staff which was a powerful combination.

I remember the match in 1909 when the Masters’ Colours were on the point of being lowered by the Galle C. C. There was keen rivalry in this particular game. The Town club had already been beaten more than once, and this time its members were determined to do or die in the attempt to retrieve the honour of their historic club. The Galle C.C. team was one of the strongest that ever battled for her including M.S. Gooneratne, J. Ludovici, A.A. Sourjah, B.J. Ohlmus, J.E. Ludowyk’ Ardin Ousman, A.S. Jayawickrama and D.M. Moreira. They had taken first knock and scored 155 runs. It was a half day match, play having commenced at 1 p.m. This score was not beyond the reach of the Masters who commenced their essay with utmost confidence. The glorious uncertainties of cricket intervened after about an hour’s play when a rot set in and nine wickets were down for only 96. E.F.C. Ludowyk was then at his best and he was not out with 9 runs when George Amarasinghe, the humourist of the team, whipped in. We had all given up hopes of victory.

The supporters of the Galle C.C. were jubilant. We were naturally sad, as we were about to taste our first defeat. But lo! and behold!! Amarasinghe, who was not expected to survive a ball, scored a lucky “one” by an accidental sneak to short leg and Ludowyk crossed over, The latter began to bat as he had never done before and will never do again. It was a wonderful exhibition of batting. A cut here for 4, a leg glance there for 4, an off drive for 4, a beefy hit to long-on for 4, and a single off the last ball of every over invariably! It was really a glorious performance. A complete transformation had come over the game, our score was rising by leaps and bounds, and soon 120, 130, 140, and even 150 appeared on the score board amidst the frenzied enthusiasm of the College supporters.

I remember the weary, worn and sad Small of half-an-hour ago metamorphosed into an excited, red-faced, and boisterous partisan, changing his quiet sat into a standing position on a bench; and cheering for all his worth till his palms were sore as the score was nearing the 150. All the time, mirabile dictu Amarasinghe, (or, shall I say, we!) had the good fortune to face only one ball and this circumstance was undoubtedly our salvation! The winning hit was given, 100 was reached, and as there was only one more ball to complete the over, Ludowyk faced that, too, like the hero he was. This proved his undoing as he was caught on the boundary line off that last ball.

The match had been won, 60 runs had been scored for he last wicket, and it was one of the finest victories I have ever seen gained by any side. As the two heroes walked into the pavilion, they were cheered to the echo. Many were the congratulations showered on them. Ludowyk was beaming; so were we all. To our surprise, however, George Amarasinghe alone appeared to be morose, grumpy, and long-faced! He threw away the bat in a temper and would not join in the hilarity. I questioned him as to his inexplicable attitude and out the answer came in thundering tones like a bolt from the blue: “I was just getting into form when that rascal (pointing to Ludowyk) got out!