He came to be known as Sri Lanka’s most illustrious schoolboy cricketer, the legendary and mercurial world record holder Lionel Fernando, who was felicitated by his school St. Benedict’s College this week in acknowledgement of the monumental feat of taking all ten wickets and scoring a double hundred in just one day.
What Fernando did came to be known as the most iconic achievement on the field of play anywhere in the world that took place at an inter school match against St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala on February 13, 1959 the year in which he also captained the team.
Fernando went on to play club cricket for Nomads Sports Club, Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) and Saracens Cricket Club and represented the country against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Pakistan and the West Indies.
He also played for the Colombo team in the Indian Gopalan Trophy conducted by the Madras Cricket Club.
Experts and commentators claim the record of a double hundred and all ten wickets in just one day could remain intact for all eternity.
The head of St. Benedict’s College Rev Bro Pubudu Rajapakse graced the felicitation of Fernando along with Rev Bro Pumal Wilfred Abeyratne, Dr. Colvin Fernando the football captain of 1969, Verendra R Pulle, Basil Perera the cricket captain of 1974, Damian Perera the cricket captain of 1971, Nevin Noyahr, cricket and athletics captain, Ranil Perera basketballer and cricketer, Kennedy Michael cricketer and boxer and Shanthilal de Silva the cricket captain of 1985 and 1986.
