Sri Lanka Schools: Jayakody Leads Wesley (12 January 1999)

12 January 1999

Sri Lanka Schools: Jayakody Leads Wesley

By Richard Dwight

Wesley College founded on the second of March 1874 celebrates this year its '125 years of excellence' in the field of education. It is regarded as quite an achievement, when one considers the varying vicissitudes and difficulties it had to encounter, as it journeyed along through the years in its commitment to impart a holistic education. Being a premier institution of the Methodist Church, the general expression in keeping with their tenet will be one of "we'll praise Him for all that is past and trust Him for all thats' to come". It would be interesting to note that Royal, S. Thomas', Wesley and Trinity, perhaps in that order - with each, well over a '100 year' existence, were the pioneers of school cricket, at least where mutual cricket encounters amongst them were concerned.

Like the afore mentioned schools, Wesley too, was fashioned in accordance with the Public schools' system, where sports formed an integral part in the development of a student. The sports field was regarded as important as the classroom, with one being complementary to other. And for more good reasons than one, cricket comparatively, in the realm of sport continues to take pride of place in the life of a school. Acknowledging this, Wesley in recognition of this in its historic year, will make an award for the man of the match, for each of its cricket encounters during the first term. The award will consist of a plaque and a cricket slack (totalling Rs. 1000) This could be won by a player from either side, with two respective coaches acting as adjudicators. It has in addition, to mark this important milestone in the annals of Wesley College, put out an attractive and very informative fixture card, which makes interesting reading.

From it one gathers that there have been 101 centuries recorded since Wesley's first cricket match in 1893. Many a Wesley cricketer has centuries against their names during their eras. But what strikes us forcibly as significant, is that apart from scoring a century in the previous year (1995) Lou Adhihetty scored three centuries in 1956. Whilst Roshan David too, had three centuries in one and the same season in 1989 and following it up with a century each in 1990 and 1991.

But by far the most outstanding and surpassing them all with the bat, is Wesley's current dazzling batsman Dharshika Jayakody who notched up four centuries in 1997 and four centuries in 1998. Quite deservedly and fitting it is, to find that the honour and rare privilege of leading Wesley in its memorable year falls on Jayakody. As a fifth year coloursman Jayakody apart from his excellent batting is also a fine off spinner and, being the only coloursman in the side, much will depend on what he does.

To rivert back to the fixture card, it also reveals that there are quite an array of Wesley bowlers who have taken eight wickets an over in a single innings. Abu Fuard did it on four occasions, once in 1953, twice in 1954 and once in 1955 whilst Lucky Goonetilleke performed this feat thrice, once in 1958 and twice in 1959. Brian Claessen and Abu Fuard had the distinction of performing a double i.e., scoring a century and taking eight wickets in a match in a particular year. The other interesting thing to observe was that one of the pioneers in radio cricket commentaries S.P. Foenander, Captained Wesley in the years 1901, 1902 and 1903.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)