1965 Cricket XI – St. Peter's College
The Big Match was played on March 19 & 20, 1965, at St. Peter's College grounds at Bambalapitiya. St. Peter's romped home to a resounding 6 wicket victory thanks to a terrific bowling spell by skipper Travis Fernando who had a match bag of 11 wickets for 89 runs. St. Joseph's College was captained by Christoper Moreira and included Polycarp Wijesekera & Brian Perera as openers. Skipper Moreira came in at #3 – Alan de Costa at #4 – Wicket-Keeper Sunil Athukorale at #5 – Victor Vimalasingham at #6 – Bede Johnpillai #7 – Sarath Wanigasekera #8 – A. Rasanayagam #9 – Anil Peiris #10 and T. Mitchell at #11.
Alan de Costa, 40, Polycard Wijesekera, 21, Victor Vimalasingham, 33, batted best for the Josephians who were bundled out for 130 runs. Skipper Travis Fernando 5/45 and Peter de Niese 3/25 routed the Joes. In reply the Peterites scored 201 runs helped by a painstaking 68 runs by opener Charlitha Goonasena, Aubrey Paternott, 25, Tony Opatha, 42, Rodney Paternott, 23. The Joes had a deficit of 71 runs to clear and fared better in the 2nd innings scoring 164 runs with Polycarp Wijesekera, 36, Alan de Costa, 22, Victor Vimalasingham, 50, Sarath Wanigasekera, 20. Once again skipper Travis Fernando proved to be the Joes downfall as mesmerized the batsmen by taking 6/44 while Rodney Paternitt 3/31 provided ample support.
St. Peter's College needed 93 runs to win and the game was all but won when Darrell Wimalaratne, 29, and Charlitha Goonasena, 27, were associated in a match winning opening stand. An unbeaten knock of 31 by Aubrey Paternott saw the Peterites win the 1965 Battle of the Saints by 6 wickets.
Where are they today?
Tony Opatha (SPC) later won his 'Ceylon Cap' and did yeoman service for Sri Lanka Cricket. To my knowledge Polycarp Wijesekera and Sunil Athukorale live in Canada, and Sarath Wanigasekera in USA. In the Peterite team Mervyn Fernando lives in California, Rodney & Aubrey Paternott; Everard Hoffman, Peter de Niese have made Australia their home. Skipper Travis Fernando is still involved with alumni events at St. Peter's College and participates in the Pre 70s get-togethers every year.
