Give due credit to winners

It is now a well known fact that St. Joseph’s College, Colombo got beaten well and truly by their traditional rivals in the 78th Battle of the Saints and at the 38th Encounter of the 50 Over Cricket Match.

At the same time entire Cricketing Public is well aware of the internal issue that took place within SJC Cricket Administration just prior to the Big Match.

There is a concern especially among Peterites, right thinking Joes and the cricketing Public, WHY some old Joes tried to deny the due credit from the gallant Peterites in their victory in the said two encounters. Please note, to some extent Peterites were under dogs (at least on paper, prior to the big match) and they came out with flying colours, outplaying the unbeaten Joes in every department of the game.

Remember, when Petes were shot out for 36 runs in the nowfamous 1972 match (when left arm Rajive Benedict took 8 wickets for 6 runs) and beaten by the Joes. They did not have a key player Gamini Goonasena. Following year (when Joes had a strong side led by late Gary Melder), Peterites under Gamini took sweat revenge from Joes. That should be the spirit of the game than crying over petty issues. Joes claim that this was the core issue for the defeats if that is the case all Joes authorities should have settled this matter within themselves amicably (closed doors), without trying to rob the due credit from the Peterites.

Not only Joes had their regular coach in their dressing room, we saw the previous Joes coach too (now with the SLC), giving his instructions to the players in the dressing room. Then where did Joes go wrong ?

Can any spectator deny the fielding performance of the Pe- terites. It was par excellence. During the season Petes’ poor fielding performance let them down on many occasions getting the opposing sides on top of them, at times denying the victories for them etc. Peterites did their home work and tighten their loose ends and performed in the field brilliantly.

Then Peterites had a senior batsman whose performance during the season was mediocre. For me he was the match winner with all the respect and credit to the selected man of the match. When chips were down for the Peterites, he is the man who had made the difference in batting and getting the valuable first innings lead for his side. Therefore, Petes peaked their performance at the correct time and out played the Joes well and truly. How nice if the Jose had spoken the performance like what I have mentioned here than writing and talking of “Kopi Kade” stuff.

I know that there are many Joes who are aware that they got beaten by a better side.

At the same time, I wish to remind the readers that this was not the first time that the Peterites were denied their true victory, even in 1967 under Tony Opatha when Petes beat Joes there was some kind of controversy regarding the score board and Joes fielders running away to the dressing room etc. Ultimately this incident was referred to cricketing authorities and match was awarded to Peterites.

So all in all, let the Joes shout loud and clear the famous big match old slogan: “What is the matter?” “Minor matter” “Are we worried?” “No…no….” If majority of Joes response “Yes…yes….”, then there is a “Major Matter” for Joes to solve. Ayantha Panditharatne,

Mount Lavinia