– a Glorious 50
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Friday 24th April, 2009 15 by Commodore Shemal He was a member of the Royal Batsman and Best Captain that team and toured Australia and Once ICC President Percy Sonn Fernando 1st XI team in the 1974/75 season year. England. He captained his last 13 complimented him with these as a 15-year-old. He blossomed out from Royal ODI matches as well and in his words; “Ranjan has always been a anjan Madugalle notched up In 1978, he was classed as the College and really made his pres- last match as captain, guided Sri great ambassador for cricket, both perhaps the most glorifying finest schoolboy cricketer and cap- ence felt in the school arena. His Lanka to a comfortable five-wicket in the way that he played the game R50 of his renowned cricket- tained Royal in the Big Match – leadership qualities were even rec- victory over Pakistan in the 1988 and now as our Chief Referee. ing career on April 22, when he the 99th ‘Battle of the Blues’. ognized by the Sri Lanka cricket Asia Cup. There can be no doubt that he is sailed past 50 fruitful years of life. He scored 52 and 36 not out, selectors who picked him as cap- one of the most respected figures in Ranjan is surely one of the snapped up 4 beautiful catches and tain of the Under-19 team for three The Second Innings the game…I would like to thank greatest products of Royal College aptly displayed his class in ground Tests against Australia Under-19. His ‘Second Innings’, in a suit him for all his hard work and and I would like to reminiscence He played two successive years and tie with the rulebook com- excellent judgment he has demon- about his unique feats as a school- against Pakistan Under-19 in the menced in 1993. He progressed strated since becoming a referee in boy and touch on some of the Ali Bhutto Trophy matches and through the International Cricket 1994 and I hope he stays with us for highlights of his exceptional played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s Council ranks steadily and many more years to come”. achievements in numerous facets victory with a rich haul of 8 for 34 became the first person to hold the of the glorious game. in 1975. position of the Chief Match I first met Ranjan in the hal- Referee in 2001 and continues to lowed portals of the great educa- The First Innings hold that position. He has officiat- tional institution in the 70s. Ranjan’s ‘First Innings’ as a ed in more international matches I still remember the first con- talented, right handed dashing than he has played. versation and it was about receiv- batsman and a talented right arm Ranjan is one of the most expe- ing an award a few years earlier off-break bowler was at a time rienced and highly respected offi- from his much admired father, when Sri Lanka as a country was cials in the game and has etched Lionel Madugalle, the then more in search of acceptance and the name of Sri Lanka prominent- Permanent Secretary to the respectability in cricket than vic- ly in the international world of Ministry of Sports who was the tory. Surely, our rich school cricket sports. He has officiated in 110 chief guest at the ‘Colours Nite’ of scene has gifted many talented Tests and 235 ODIs. He is also the St. Mary’s College, Negombo, cricketers to the national team. first Match Referee to reach where I had my early education. He represented Sri Lanka in inter- the milestone of 200 At Royal, Ranjan was a strict national cricket in the 1979 ICC ODIs. disciplinarian as the Head Prefect. Ranjan Madugalle Trophy final against Canada. Ranjan Madugalle – A Glorious 50 In 1979, he was undoubtedly the fielding as well. His professional cricket most popular schoolboy in Sri He followed it up with an enter- career accounted for 21 Test Lanka, having captained the Royal taining 68 not out in the ODI and matches and 63 ODIs, 81 first College cricket team as well as the won both the Man of the Match class and 83 List A matches Under-19 Sri Lanka cricket team and Best Batsman trophies. spanning from 1978/79 to in 1978 and 1979 and having being Many are the scores that 1989/90. He was a member of crowned ‘The Schoolboy Cricketer thrilled the spectators when he the inaugural Sri Lanka Test of the Year’ in successive years. was playing for Royal. In 1979, team that played against To me, he was the perfect role which incidentally was his last England in 1982 and top model of an all-round schoolboy. season as a schoolboy, he made scored in the first innings Ranjan has epitomized the three centuries and eight 50s - 157 with 65 and continued as a Royal College motto, ‘Disce aut vs St. Peter’s, 120 vs Zahira, 102 vital part of the Sri Lankan Discede’ (Learn or Depart) in true not out vs Isipatana, 90 vs Ananda, Test and ODI team, only spirit by taking sensible decisions 85 vs St. Joseph’s, 71 vs St. missing one international Ranjan Madugalle Sebastian’s, 68 vs Thurstan, 57 vs game between 1979 and 1984. all along his decorative sporting raises his bat during career. I consider him a sincere Dharmaraja, 52 vs Prince of Ranjan’s maiden Test friend with the qualities of a Wales, 52 vs Wesley and 51 not out century came in a home Sri Lanka's first Test gemtleman who could sail with vs St. Anthony’s – what a mar- match - the first match of match against confidence in calm waters as well velous performance! the 3-Test series against England, at Colombo, as in rough seas alike, with a In 1979, the sporting extrava- India in 1985. His patient February 21, 1982. smile. ganza in Sri Lanka was the 100th knock of 103 that took ‘Battle of the Blues’ – the Royal nearly seven hours The Schoolboy Cricketer Thomian Centenary match and he ensured a drawn match. Ranjan was born on April 22, was bestowed the honour of cap- In the next match, he 1959 in Kandy and had his early taining the Royal made 54 batting at number education at Trinity College. His three to build a solid plat- love for cricket began when he College team. form for the next batsmen and was just 5 years. He captained the The match was played from eventually Sri Lanka recorded a Trinity Under-12 team and played March 8 to 10 at the SSC Grounds comfortable 149-run victory. Sri for the Under-14 team as an 11- and I still remember his fine Lanka went on to draw the third year-old before he crossed over to knock of 58. With class written all Test and won their first Test Royal with his father’s transfer to over him, glory followed him. series. Colombo. He was picked as the Schoolboy In 1988, he was appointed cap- Cricketer of the Year, Best tain of the Sri Lankan cricket Mercantile Investments paceman, Nazir 2/30, Pahan Serasinghe 5/20) Amunugama 35, G. Rizwan 35 not out, Gayan Wimalaratne, with amazing fig- Mobitel 141 for 7 in 24.5 overs (U. K. Perera 3/20, S. Perera 2/30) ures of 06 overs, 3 maidens 5 wickets Sepala 50, S. White 31, Kanchana Dialog Telekom “B” 141 for 4 in Ganegoda and Dinesh de Silva for 4 runs, sent Arpico SC crashing to Ekanayake 5/25) 21.2 overs (S. Wijeratne 57, S. an all time low nine runs (probably Ananda Mawatha: McCallum Wijesinghe 20, S. Perera 45 not out, R. the lowest total in MCA history) in the Cargo beat Citi Bank NA by 144 runs Razool 2/25) to the rescue ongoing MCA President’s Cup, McCallum Cargo sent into bat, MCA: Commercial Leasing Co. Division “F” 30 overs league tourna- 285 for 4 in 30 overs (including 20 beat Hilton Colombo by 6 wickets ment, last weekend. penalty runs for 2 under bowled overs) Hilton Colombo sent into bat 151 A gallant century by Eranga Gangoda, Match results Arpico, chasing a victory target of (S. Nalaka 26, N. Dimbukuwalage 30, in 28.1 overs (S. Perera 45, I. Priyantha 101 in 133 balls with three fours, helped Saturday 18 April 175 runs, were all out for nine runs in Selwin Perera 104 not out, L. 2/25, C. Dissanayake 3/30, K. Edirisinghe Trust Investments to hold the At Braybrooke Place: Unichela beat Access 13.4 overs, lasting only 55 minutes Suwandaratne 2/9) Tillakaratne 2/10) with eight batsman out for sponsors, East West Marketing “B” to a tie Group by three wickets on the D&L system. CLC 152 for 4 in 27.5 ducks. in the Austra–MCA Division “B” 50 overs Access Group, sent into bat 255 for 9 in 50 overs (C. Perera 27, K. The batting highlight Kanchana 87 not out, K. de League tournament, last weekend. overs (S. Illangage 28, S. Abeynayake 38, for the weekend was that of Gayan Silva 2/20) ETI, chasing a victory target of 246 Harsha de Silva 45, A. Solomons 72, Ishara McCallum Cargo’s Selwin Ananda Mawatha: runs, was looking down the barrel, losing Amarasinghe 3/45) Perera who became the first Union Assurance beat centurion of the tourna- six wickets for 90 runs but were rescued Unichala (given a revised target of 253 in 49 Data Entry by 4 runs ment, cracking an unbeat- by a 140 runs partnership for the seventh overs) 254 for 7 in 45.4 overs .