St. Benedict’s vs Wesley annual cricket encounter next weekend
St. Benedict’s College and Wesley College announced their arrangements for their annual two-day cricket encounter played for the Cartman Cup, followed by the 50-over encounter played for the Luke Shield to be played between both schools. 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 February 23 and 24 at the P. Sara Oval, while the one-day encounter for the Luke Shield will be played at the same venue on the March 2, the sesquicentennial funders’ day of Wesley. Both matches will be organised and hosted by the Bens-Wesley Joint Committee, along with the patronage of both schools.
This year St. Benedict’s is led by national youth cap Sharujan Shanmuganathan while Wesley will be led by Sanithu Amarasinghe with both teams had a decent season this year leading up to this encounter.
The Joint Committee under the guidance of Bro. Dr. Pubudu Rajapaksha, the Director of St. Benedict’s and Avanka Fernando, the Principal of Wesley, 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.
Seated (from left): Kavindana Perera (Coach), W. N. Amal Fernando (Junior Head Coach), Uvin Perera, Shiraz Jaldin (Head of Sports), Sanithu Amarasinghe (Captain), Avanka Fernando (Principal), Linal Subasinghe, Wasantha Kasthuriarachchi (Master in-charge), Shakesh Minon (Vice Captain), Imran Thahir (Head Coach)
Standing middle row (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
Top row (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
Furthermore, the Luke Shield encounter falls on the day Wesley 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.