St. Benedict’s College and Wesley College compete for Cartman Cup and Luke Shield as they celebrate 129 year old cricketing legacy

From left: Wesley College Captain Anuga Pahansara, Joint Secretary Ryan Kern, Joint President Dharshana Liyanage, Principal Avanka Fernando, St. Benedict’s College Acting Principal Rev. Bro.  Niran Perera, Joint President Shanthilal Silva, Joint Secretary Priyal Perera, and Captain Shanmuganathan Sharujan

Seated (from left:) St. Benedict’s College POG Cpt. Jude Vass, Physio Rohana Fernando, Senior Assistant Cricket Coach Asela Jayasinghe, Head Coach Pemlal Fernando, Captain Shanmuganathan Sharujan, Director Rev. Dr. Pubudu Rajapaksha, MIC Rev. Bro. Anton Piumal, Consultant Lal Wickramathunga, V. Captain Mevan Dissanaike, Senior Assistant Cricket Coach Prageeth Nishantha, School Scorer Yasith Umayanga, and Assistant MIC W. S. Janak

Standing (From left:) Didula Edirisuriya, Yohan Edirisinghe, Mihila Jayaweera, Mario Fernando, Haren Olagama, Janindu

Nandasena, Nadun Fernando, Ayesh Gajanayake, Manikya Deshapriya, Dinath Senila, Dumindu Yehen, Akein Perera,

Samindu Pieris, Tehan Bitar, Trishane Silva, and Vihanga Rathnayake

Seated (from left:) Wesley College Physio L. L. S. Cabral, Senior Assistant Coach Lakshan Hewage, Head of Sports Colonel Rizan Hamidon (Retd.), Captain Anuga Pahansara, Principal Avanka Fernando, Vice Captain Rashmika Amararathna, Master in charge Nalin Nanayakkara, and Head Coach Imran Thahir

Standing second row (from left:) Binoth Sandil, Denuwan Nethmal, Jeewahan Sriraam, Nehemian Perera, Anuk Pieris, Dinuja Samararathne, Rukshan Tharanga, Senal Weerasekara, Dimath Sudarshan, Deneth Sigera, Shamma Jonathan, and Sehandu Athauda, Sithuka Hansith

Standing third row (from left:) Lithum Senuja, Minuka Mandinu, Adhyaan Zian, Kavidu Amarasinghe, Dinula Dison, Ehren Ali, Ahamed Al Nahyan, Dewmith Thathsilu, Dulshan Nethmina, and Nadila Nethmina

St. Benedict’s College, Colombo and Wesley College, Colombo announced their arrangements for their annual 1st XI two day cricket encounter for Cartman Cup and 50-over encounter for Luke Shield to be played between both schools in 2025. In celebrating 129 years of cricketing legacy since teams first met on a cricket pitch back in 1896, both schools have made elaborate plans to host this year’s One Day encounter at SSC and the two day encounter at P. Sara Oval. Further both institutions will join hands to celebrate 160th anniversary of St. Benedict’s College, which falls this year. Last year, both schools celebrated Wesley’s sesquicentennial which coincided with the big two day encounter. This year the one-day encounter for the Luke Shield will be played ahead, after Bens-Wesley Committee was forced to push back the original dates set for the two day encounter due to ordinary level examinations being scheduled for March 2025. Therefore, Luke Shield will go ahead as scheduled on 29 March at the SSC, while the two-day encounter for the Cartman Cup will be played on 31 March and 1 April at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium (P. Sara Oval). Both matches will be continued to be organised and hosted by the Bens-Wesley Committee as they’ve managed since 2021 along with the patronage of both schools.

Last year, St. Benedict’s College led by Sharujan Shanmuganathan had the honour of being the first recipient of the Rev. James Cartman Cup as they beat Wesley College by 46 runs at the P. Sara Stadium. The first winner between the two sides since the trophy was introduced in 2021. In February 2021, St. Benedict’s College Director Dr. Brother Pubudu Rajapaksha and Wesley College Principal Avanka Fernando signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding to host the annual Bens-Wesley 1st Cricket Encounter with a purpose, for a cause and for the future whilst celebrating the landmark 125 years of Bens-Wesley cricketing legacy and bringing together both Benedictine and Wesleyite fraternities. The MoU paved the way for past cricketers and alumni of St. Benedict’s College and Wesley College to come together and form the Bens-Wesley Committee under the stewardship of both principals and to organise the annual cricketing encounters. This was followed by the introduction of the Cartman Cup in memory of former Principal of Wesley College Rev. James Cartman for the two day encounter which was played on 24 and 26 April 2021 at St. Benedict’s College Grounds which incidentally was considered among the one of the very few cricket big matches played that year amidst the Covid pandemic restrictions and without any spectators, followed by the 2022 encounter played with limited spectator participation at Wesley College Grounds while the country was stricken with economic crisis and the 2023 encounter which was played with better spectator participation with the country relaxing it’s restrictions at P. Sara Oval. The 2024 encounter witnessed a capacity crowd participation which were treated to an exciting game at the P. Sara Oval where the pendulum swung both ways before Benedictines settled with the win. It must be noted that in spite of draws in the previous three years, the match lived up to its expectations as both schools played some entertaining cricket though none could lift until Sharujan lifted the majestic trophy in 2024, which is on offer for an outright win.

The one-day encounter played for Luke Shield in memory of former St. Benedict’s College Director Brother Luke Gregory was to be held in 2021 but could not be held due to the lockdown in Colombo. However, both schools hosted the inaugural encounter in April 2022 at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium (P. Sara Oval), which St. Benedict’s College managed to win. Benedictines followed this by winning the 2023 encounter at SSC and 2024 encounter at P. Sara Oval. The key true highlight of last four years’ Bens-Wesley encounter was the donation made by both schools, together with the sponsors, towards a charitable cause. In 2022 it was a donation made towards the Diyagala Boys’ Town, and in 2023 it was a donation made to a project initiated by Wesley College, celebrating their sesquicentennial year by supporting 150 rural schools. Followed by the 2024 donation going into De La Salle College Mutuwal.

This year St. Benedict’s College 1st XI is led by Shanmuganathan Sharujan and Wesley College 1st XI is led by Anuga Pahansara. The joint committee under the guidance of St. Benedict’s College Director Bro. Dr. Pubudu Rajapaksha and Wesley College Principal Avanka Fernando have made arrangements for crowds to be entertained at both the two-day Cartman Cup encounter and the one-day Luke Shield encounter. In addition to this, both matches will be telecast live through papare.com and The Papare. As this encounter celebrates the sporting histories of the two schools and their shared bonds of brotherhood, the Bens-Wesley Committee, together with the two schools expects students both past and present to witness this encounter, or through the live telecast so that they can be a part of this celebration from anywhere in the world.

Other information 

• Press conference held on 12 March at Excel World – Park Premier.
• Luke Shield (One Day) will be played at SCC on 29 March.
• Cartman Cup (Two Day) will be played at P. Sara Oval on 30 March and 1 April 2025.
• Chief guests for the two-day Cartman Cup:

From Bens side – 1972 Captain Vivian Saverimuttupille and 1973 Captain Lalith Perera.

From Wesley College – 1974 Captain Dayalan Sellamuttu and 1975 Captain K. Dayaparan.