With Backs to the Wall: Big Match 1959.

In the 3rd inning of the 1959 Big Match Clifford Rathnavibhushana scored an inspirational 167 which – as this story is reported in 2022 – has stood the challenge of six decades as the highest Big Match knock by a Kingswood boy. But, more than the runs, it was an inning of character and resilience.

We had won the Big Match the previous year when Maurice Fernando captained the side. However, in ’59, we fielded a relatively young side. Clifford Rathnavibhushana captained, Fernando acted as deputy.

The season was an enjoyable but testing one for our boys. We lost fixtures against Wesley (by an innings and a good amount), Trinity (by 9 wickets), and Richmond. With St. Anthony’s, Prince of Wales, and Zahira our boys held our end for respectable draws. That year our solitary win came against St. John’s, Jaffna. It was a nail-biter, to say the least. In his year end report, Clifford had written about this game as “one of the most tense matches” of the season. And he was right in that assessment. It was a game of modest scores. But, Kingswood managed to trump by 24 runs.

Then came the all important Big Match against our “traditional hometown rival” Dharmaraja. In everybody’s mind the heroics of the previous year – our 10 wicket win – was fresh, and expectations were high. However, some of us who followed the fortunes of the team close knew that the odds were against us. The young team needed some seasoning and – on top of it all – our cricket master Winston Hoole had left us that year for India for his higher studies. However, through the season our boys had shown some character and reliable flair. The general expectation on the eve of the Dharmaraja game was one of confidence and good cheer.

Batting first, Dharmaraja scored a solid 302. It was good score to have on board with a dependable bowling unit, and soon the tables were turned on our boys. Kingswood was dismissed for a pedestrian 133. Matters were somewhat shaky when we followed on with a deficit that exceeded 150. But, it was this second inning that defined the fighting spirit of our team that year. Backs to the wall, and all to play for, it was a determined show of country or school may call play the game forward all. When we finally declared at 369/9, our opposite numbers had a daunting 200 runs to chase on the fourth and final inning.

For Kingswood, Kumarasinghe, who was in sterling form all season, batted with maturity and notched an 80+ score. But, the inning that stood out was Rathnavibhushana’s 167 – a masterclass that had in it the determination and grit of a man leading a team from the front. 63 years later, in 2022, as this memory is put into words, this knock remains the highest score by a Kingswoodian in a Big Match encounter. That itself speaks volumes for how important the inning was in the context of that match. The game ended in a draw. When the Rajans boys reached 90-something at stumps they had lost 4 wickets.

In the year end Honours, Kumarasinghe – who was in top form that season – was awarded the Batting Prize. The Bowling Prize went to Aluwihara. Fernando was the receiver of the All Rounder’s Prize.

For a team blooded with fresh faces lacking a bit on the side of experience, it was a season well ended. 1959 also put the foundation for some memorable years in Kingswood cricket that unfolded in the early-60s. We produced a few sparkling cricketing stars who achieved great things. But, that fight back in ’59 when all the odds were against us — that inning was inspirational. It was straight out of a romance story about crusades and knights.