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“Murali-Vaas Trophy”: Joes-Anthonian centenary clash - a look at the past

by SUPUN PERERA

The prestigious and historic centenary cricket encounter between St. Joseph's College Colombo and St. Anthony's College Katugastota will take place tomorrow and day after at Darley Road, commencing at 9.30 am on each day.

Muttiah Muralitharan    Chaminda Vaas

These two great institutions; which posses two biblical names; has produced such great cricketers who have made their Alma Mater and the country proud with their sterling performances on the field. The motivation for this all important encounter is “Murali-Vaas Trophy” which was inaugurated in year 2007 in appreciation of the two legendary cricketers of all time; left arm speed merchant Chaminda Vaas of St. Joseph's and spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan of St. Anthony's.

Both these men have rendered a yeoman service to SriLankan cricket in both Test and One-dayers and still we strive hard to find suitable replacements for these two great men who have left an indelible mark in the history of cricket in Sri Lanka. Both Vaas and Muralitharan played a key role in winning the world cup for Sri Lanka under Arjuna Ranathunga in 1996.

To recap and recount the glorious past of the Joes-Anthonian cricket encounters; The inaugural encounter has taken place in 1899 and St. Joseph's has defeated the Katugastota lads by 90 runs in a one day match. Since then, till the year of 1910, the match was not played since St. Anthony's could not field a competitive first eleven side. Adding salt to the wounds; the history details out that the Anthonians received poor reception from the tournament organizers Along with Ananda College where they were ignored unfairly from the first eleven school's league.

However they have managed to play private friendly encounters which resulted in convincing wins for both St. Anthoney's and Ananda.
The year 1916 was a memorable year for the Katugastota College where they were promoted to the higher echelons but in the very same year they were humiliated by the champion Darley Road outfit by an innings and forty nine runs.

In the following year, Anthonians took a sweet revenge over Josephians where they recorded their maiden victory in a two day encounter under Jack Anderson in Kandy.

Previously the Kandy school was managed to defeat their counterparts in a one day games in 1913 and 1915 respectively.
The Anthonians have the great privilege in producing one of the most accomplished batsmen Jack Anderson. In 1917, the Katugastota lads had the great opportunity in defeating Josephians by an innings and 162 runs.

The architect of this victory for Anthonians was non other than their captain himself, Jack Anderson. His majestic knock of 184 helped the Anthonians to build up a massive total of 357. In the following year of 1918 large crowds have thronged to St. Joseph's College grounds to witness the batting of Jack Anderson.
According to the history and the sports statistics of yesteryear this was suppose to be the first inter collegiate cricket encounter and to the utter dismay of the crowd; Josephian star allrounder L.A.Rajapakse (Later Sir Lalitha Rajapakse) has shattered Anderson's stumps when he was on 05. In a closely fought battle, St Joseph's emerged victorious by a mere 49 runs under the able leadership of Victor De Alwis.

Both St. Joseph's and St. Anthony's have made a notable contribution to Sri Lankan Cricket in both pre and post test era. The Katugastota lads could boast of F.Wijegunawardena, Cecil Senaratne, Jack Anderson, A.C.M.Lafeer, T.M.A.Cooray, W.Premaratne, Ranjith and Saliya Doranegama, Prof. A.Sheriffdeen, Mahesh Goonetilleke, Bernard Perera, Ruwan Kalpage, Greatest of all time Muttiah Muralitheran and Piyal Wijetunge who made their Alma Mater and the native country proud.

Incidentally, Mahesh Goonetilleke, one time the brilliant stumper, Ruwan Kalpage, Muttiah Muralitheran and Piyal Wijetunga wore the prestigious test cap for the country.

On the other hand, St. Joseph's produced a galaxy of cricketers in the calibre of Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner, Cecil Horan , Dr. C.M.M.Zubair (The first Moor Doctor of the Island), Oswin Wright, Prof. J.P.De Fonseka, Sir Albert F. Pieris, Sir Lalitha Rajapakse, Senator Bernard Jayasuriya, K.W.Devanayagam (Former Minister), D.S.Jayasundera, Bobby Fernando, Malcolm Spittle, Hector Perera (snr), Makkin Salih, great allrounder and reputed coach Fairlie Dalpethado, Ken Serpanchy, Malcolm Franchey, Kerthi Caldera, Lalith De S. Wijayaratne, Star sportsman Brian Obeysekera, Garry Melder, Rohan Wijayasinghe (snr & jnr), Ashley De Silva, Brian Rajadurai, brothers Rohan and Ajith Weerakkody, Champion Left arm paceman Chaminda Vaas, Michael Vandort, present Sri Lanka Vice Captain Angelo Mathews, explosive allrounder Thisara Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne and Roshane Silva. Out of them, Ashley De Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Michael Vandort, Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera had the distinct honour in wearing the Test cap for the country.

The series wise, out of the 99 encounters Josephians are way ahead than their counterparts with 39 victories to mere 08 victories of Antonians.
The last Josephian victory was recorded in 2008 under Ruwantha Fernandopulle which ended a 23 year wait for the Darley road lads since they last defeated the Katugastota school under Jivaka Candappa way back in 1984. However the Antonians have a long overdue since they recorded their last victory under Nuwan Kalpage back in 1991. The centenary encounter is of special importance both St Joseph's and St. Anthoney's where the two teams are equally strong on paper. fourth year Coloursman wicket keeper batsman Vidusha Jayasinghe leads the Josephians while Paceman Kanishka Ranaraja will lead the experienced Antonians.

The school by the Mahaweli river is well aware of the fact that they have a 21 year jinx to break and will go flat-out to dethrone the School by the Beira lake. The Josephians are even more defiant in preventing Anthonians from winning this all important Centenary encounter since the match will be played in their own den at Darley Road. Whatever the outcome will be both these institutions are determined to display an exciting showpiece of CRICKET!