St. Benedict’s College and Wesley College continue Annual Cricket Encounter

St. Benedict’s College,1st XI Cricket Squad 2023 - 2024 :

1st row - seated (from left) Physio Rohana Fernando, Assistant Coach Madushan Kularathna, Captain – Prefect of Games Jude Vaz, Sub - Director Primary Rev. Bro. Praveen Vaz, Captain Master Sharujan Shanmuganathan, Director Rev. Bro. Dr. Pubudu Rajapaksha, Sub Director – Upper School Rev. Bro. Niran Perera, Vice-Captain Arshan Joseph, Sectional Head –

Middle School / Master-in-charge of cricket Rev. Bro. Piumal Senevirathna, Consultant Lal Wickramathunga, Head Coach

Premlal Fernando, Assistant Coach Asela Jayasinghe

2nd row - standing (from left) Dumeen Liyanarachchi, Vihanga Rathnayaka, Trishane Silva, Tehan Bittar,

Buddhima Tharupathi, Mevan Dissanayake, Nethan Fernando, Nirwan Jayathilake, Ayesh Gajanayake, Akshar Selvanayagam, Janindu Nandasena, Mario Fernando, Manikya Deshapriya, Dinath Senila, Samindu Pieries, Yohan Edirisinghe, Dumindu Yehen, Akein Perera, Onesh Michal, Didula Eshan

Wesley College, Colombo,1st XI Cricket Squad 2023 - 2024 : 

1st row - seated (from left) Coach Kavindana Perera, Junior Head Coach W. N. Amal Fernando, Uvin Perera, Head of Sports Shiraz Jaldin, Captain Sanithu Amarasinghe, Principal Avanka Fernando, Linal Subasinghe, Master-in-charge Wasantha Kasthuriarachchi, Vice-Captain Shakesh Minon, Head Coach Imran Thahir 

2nd row - standing  (from left) Sheked Fernando, Rashmika Arosha, Chanul Kadawatharachchi, Janithu Dinuwara, Manuth Samarakoon, Joel De Silva, Eheran Ali, Josh De Silva, Anuga Pahansara, Sriraam Jeevahan, Praneeth Nimshan, Sehandu Athauda, Denuwan Nethmal, Senila Senarathne, Sithuka Hansith, Hirusha Livera, Rahul Marimutthu, Ihanga Perera, Ravishan Lakmina, Rashmika Amararathne, Dulshan Nethmina

3rd row - standing (from left) Jathon Wieman, Deneth Sigera, Ian Jayden, Mohamad Haathif, Brendon Fernando, Vivan Ranavaka, Thisal Munasinghe, Yousuf Amaan, Ravindu Sigera, Nehemian Perera, Nilupul Liyanage, Tharanga Fernando

• Cartman Cup and Luke Shield in celebrations of 128-year-old cricket legacy 
• Two-day match at Oval from 23-24 February and one-day on 2 March

Today, St. Benedict’s College, Colombo 13 and Wesley College, Colombo 09 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 2024. This year whilst both schools celebrate a great 128-year-old cricketing legacy since teams first met on a cricket pitch back in 1896, they also join in hands in celebrating 150th Anniversary of Wesley College, which also coincides with the weekend the Big Encounter is scheduled for. The two-day encounter for the Cartman Cup will be played on the 23 and 24 February at 

P. Saravanamuttu Stadium (P. Sara Oval), while the one-day encounter for the Luke Shield will be played at the same venue on 2 March 2023, the sesquicentennial funders’ day of Wesley College. Both matches will be organised and hosted by the Bens-Wesley Joint Committee, along with the patronage of both schools.

In February 2021, St. Benedict’s College Director Dr. 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 on 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. In all three years, the match lived up to its expectations as both schools played some entertaining cricket though none could lift the majestic Trophy which is on offer for an outright win.

The one-day encounter played for Luke Shield in memory of St. Benedict’s College former 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, followed by the 2023 encounter at S.S.C which too was won by Benedictines after a close game. The key true highlight of last three year’s Bens-Wesley encounter was the donation made by both schools, together with the sponsors, towards a charitable cause. 

This year St. Benedict’s College 1st XI is led by Sharujan Shanmuganathan and Wesley College 1st XI is led by Sanithu Amarasinghe. Both teams had a good 1st XI Schools’ Cricket season leading up to this encounter.

The Joint Committee under the guidance of St. Benedict’s College Director Dr. Pubudu Rajapaksha and Wesley College Principal Avanka Fernando have made elaborate 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 on television. As this encounter celebrates the sporting histories of the two schools and their shared bonds of brotherhood, the joint committee, together with the two schools, have made arrangements to attract students both past and present to witness this encounter live, online, or through the live telecast so that they can be a part of this celebration from anywhere in the world. Furthermore, the Luke Shield encounter falls on the day Wesley College celebrates their 150th Anniversary, and organisers hope the Wesleyites will turn up at P. Sara Oval to colour it in double blue whilst the Benedictines will add some green and white to the celebrations to strengthen the Bens-Wesley partnership!

- Pix by Pradeep Pathirana