Day 15 - Game 8 vs Burgher Recreational Club College (Win No. 6) + Team Dinner at Colombo Cricket Club

Game 8 - Burgher Recreational Club. Mmmmm. Burger…..

Sorry about that. Just planning my first meal when I get back home.

A cooler day greeted us as we awoke. I awoke a little early so I could do some blogging at breakfast. It seems whether it be down at breakfast, outside or perhaps even the lift; they all have better wifi than my room – so apologies for the delay in some updates. The eagerness of the playing group this morning was evident. Today was our last game from the 2018 Sri Lanka tour and 12 lucky individuals would have their final chance to make it a most memorable tour – you could sense something special was going to happen today.

Captain Jack wanted us to chase a target regardless of the toss - For the record he lost it.

Sometimes there are slight variations on tour. While we were playing on the Thurston College grounds, our opponent today was the BRC or Burgher Recreation Club. They are a fist class cricket and hockey club based in Colombo. Established in 1873, they have only won the first class premiership once in that time. But they looked hungry (pardon the pun) and ready demolish any touring team that was in their way.

We met Dinesh on our regular walks around the oval. A lovely man who invited us back in 2020 to play his team again. 

Skipper Jack decided to go tails following in Dan’s footsteps. But alas, a loss. We would be chasing today. It proved to be a good toss to lose as Ryan bowled a short one in the first over that caught the glove, then the shoulder of the batter to be caught behind for 0. To add insult to injury, the young man needed to be carried off after being dismissed – but did so to applause from the spectators and Barker lads. 1/0 soon became 2/6, then 3/15 thanks to some thunderbolts from Oscar. There was a rumour circulating that his parents might stop by to watch; however they missed his third wicket too shortly after. When Ryan took a second, the home side was 5/30 and Mr. Thomlinson was worried the game would be wrapped up early and that could interfere with his Touring Head of School duties.

"Two outta three ain't bad" may also refer to the number of staff awake during the Burgher batting innings.

Then the Burgher boys started to buckle down and apply themselves. Their numbers 6 and 7 each made half centuries, which then forced Jack to make some changes in the field but more importantly, to the bowlers. Enter Sam… Having already been voted as an up and coming star of Barker Cricket, he took the ball and immediately began to work his magic – bowling in the ‘corridor of possibility’ and giving nothing away. And then it happened. Something some bowlers may never achieve in their lifetime – 3 magic balls – 3 wickets. On this tour, a spinner from the Foundation of Goodness had taken a hat-trick against us and two of our bowlers have been one but unsuccessful in their attempts. The field came in slightly for Sam, but they were not needed as yet again, he hit the batsman’s pads (who failed to offer a shot) and our favourite umpire in the whole wide world raised his finger without hesitation. A magic moment that will not be forgotten in a hurry. A run out (off a no ball) completed the Burgher innings for 152. Oscar took 4 (the last just in time for his parents to witness), Sam 3 and Ryan 2.

Nicknamed Brandy for his smooth run up and delivery stride.

The third batter to lose his wicket in three balls to Sammy.

The Barker Boys gather around Sam to congratulate him on such a rare feat.

Oscar (and his hair) in full flight against the Burgher boys. 

Sam poses for the obligatory shot that Channel 9 can use to sell a ton of memorabilia.

Lunch was chicken and pasta. This coach chose to eat sparingly as he’d heard a rumour that the Colombo Cricket Club dinner would be plentiful. Just before play for the Barker innings commenced, a local reporter had heard about the Reds and their successful tour of SL and began recording the results of the tour to date. Prof. Thomlinson had already recorded this game as a win and informed Bruce that we had claimed 6 from 8 games. If you have a subscription to the Colombo Post and can read Sinhalese, I suggest you keep an eye out next week!

Openers Angus and Campbell set to work to pass the target and fulfil THOS’s (Touring Head of School) prediction. Campbell was on 21 when one coach congratulated him on his shot making abilities, only to find he had spooned it to someone shot on the on-side. Chayton joined Gus and they were found the fast outfield conducive to singles or fours. As the innings progressed, each of them were retired in an effort to give others a bat. Max scored a few runs before before being bowled and that game Oscar a chance to have an all round great game. He score 15 not out, while Luke held up the other end. But when it came down to it, today belonged to Sam – our Hat-trick Hero.  

JB hands out the various awards.

Our last post match SL 2018 Tour photo

Wrapping things up, Thommo gives his appreciation to our hosts.

An early finish allowed us to refresh by the pool and hang out in the lobby just to get reasonable wifi in order to update the blog (grrrrrrr!) Then it was shower, a change of clothes, too much hair product and off to the Colombo Cricket Club for our final dinner together.

When cricket and goodness collide, great things happen!

To get anywhere in Colombo takes 30 minutes (or so Ravi tells us) and tonight was no exception. 22 minutes in peak hour saw us at the Colombo Cricket Club for dinner. We pre-ordered our meals to save time, sat down and waited for Kushil (the founder of the Foundation of Goodness) to arrive so we could made the presentation of a comically large cheque (equating to approximately 4.5 million SL rupee).

The newly relocated Colombo Cricket Club Cafe.

We all arrived at the CCC (Colombo Cricket Club) looking like a million rupees in our tour shirts and pants. It's a great club house that has full kitchen and bar facilities, as well as enough cricket memorabilia to sink a ship. We were guided upstairs to the function room and our massively long table, where the memorabilia continued. The coaches were in awe, reading all the signed shirts and scorecards, while the millennials were on their phones. I think the group was a little tired, particularly after playing during the day.

Pre guest speaker - notice the phones.

Their tiredness turned to elation almost instantly when our special guest walked through the door.
I'll set the scene first...

Guess who??? Standing up in the back left corner.

Kushil founded the Foundation of Goodness in 1999, with the help of Muttiah Muralitharan, whom he had helped manage during his cricket career. During the 2016 tour there was talk of him coming to the final dinner (at the previous location of the CCC). However, a scheduling conflict occurred and a slightly less famous cricketer, Malinda from the Aitken Spence tour company was the special guest. Upon meeting with Kushil a week prior, he promised he would try to get an ex Sri Lankan cricketer, but again, scheduling was an issue due to their demanding days, even now after retirement given the amount of charity work they do (also some were with the U/19 team in NZ at the moment).

Now, onto 8:12pm on Friday night....

Thommo passing on our thanks for an amazing tour.

Kushil on the right with one legend of the game and 3 future stars.

Kushil arrived and the coaches greeted him warmly. He apologised and said he had to duck outside to retrieve his special guest, and in walked a man who was known for his smile while playing, only to be usurped by the 22 smiles of the touring party. Relatively small in stature (and incredibly humble to boot), Muttiah Muralitharan almost seemd embarrased to be there but the joy he brought to those around him that night also seemed to relax him somewhat. Also in attendance were 3 young men who had played in the last U/19 World Cup for Sri Lanka and were schooled at the Foundation of Goodness. Kusal Mendis was one of them, which was ironic as there were cricket highlights playing on the TV at one point in the club and he was featuring in the footage.

That's a big cheque!!!

Kushil passing on a signed bat by 3 people you may have heard of. Muttiah M, Mahela J and Kumar S.

It all seemed a little surreal at one point, but when Kushil and Muttiah spoke about the amazing things that the Foundation has done, not only for these players but for the tens of thousands of students over the almost 20 years, and that Barker College had been a big part of that; it all brought it into perspective. It also hopefully inspired the 22 Australians present to continue doing great things when they return home in an effort make the lives of others just that little bit bearable. Kushil mentioned some of the younger members of the group are welcome to return at anytime in order to volunteer to teach and train at the Foundation.

The 4 cricketers were more than generous with their time in posing for pictures, answering questions and providing further exposure for the FOG. After some soup, a few fillets of "Jayasariya" and servings of pavlova big enough to stop any college record holder of pavlova eating, the dinner came to an end and the tourist headed back to their final night of luxury in 5 star accommodation - at least for one night while we attempt to adjust to a plane seat for limited sleep.

In the home stretch - happy, but with a touch of sadness.
Happy to be going home, but sad with all the great memories we have built over the past 16 days.
See you all soon.