July 26, 2026 · 6:13 pm
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When Yatawara shattered Sobers’ Stumps in 1961 & Tissera Scored 101 Runs

Senaka Weeraratna

Sobers bowled Yatawara = 58
This is what  prominent Sri Lankan historian and sociologist Michael Roberts has written on his platforms like Thuppahi’s Blog. … The phrase references a famous cricketing moment from a match played on 28 February 1961 at the Colombo Oval, where the fast bowler Sonny Yatawara clean bowled the legendary West Indian all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers  for 58 runs . [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

The Daily Mirror XI Match (1961);  The encounter occurred during a whistle-stop tour when six iconic West Indian stars stopped over in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) while traveling by ship from their famous 1960/61 tour of Australia. A special match was arranged between the Ceylon Daily Mirror XI (featuring the West Indian players) and the CCA President’s XI. [1, 2]
  • The Wicket: While batting aggressively for the Daily Mirror XI, Sir Garfield Sobers had reached a score of 58 runs when he was clean bowled by Sonny Yatawara. []
  • Double Strike: Yatawara, known as one of Kandy’s most feared and tempestuous pacemen of that era, also bowled out West Indian speedster Wesley Hall during the same innings. [1]
  • Match Context: The star-studded Daily Mirror XI declared at 184/6. In response, the President’s XI fought back from 28/4 to draw the match, anchored by a legendary 102 not out from Michael Tissera. []
“Sonny Yatawara was regarded as one of the, if not the greatest fast bowler of late 1950s. He used to terrorize batsmen with his fast and fiery express bowling”
Christie Seneviratne (Yorker)
In 1961 prior to Sri Lanka gaining full Test status six West Indian cricketers namely Garfield Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, Chester Watson, Condrad Hunte, Seymour Nurse and Wesley Hall on their way to England took time to play a game along with another four local players wicket keeper H.I.K. Fernando, Priya Perera, Tissa de Soysa,Yatagama Amaradasa and an unknown player from the ship’s crew named Hewson formed a team which was called the Daily Mirror XI.
The Ceylon Cricket Association team was captained by the late C.I.Gunasekera. Michael Tissera struck an unbeaten 102 in CCA’s total of 180 for 7 in reply to the visitors 305 for 6 declared. Hunte (50), Rohan Kanhai (60 retired), Seymour Nurse (31 retired) Sobers (58) and Wesley Hall (44) were among the runs for the Mirror XI. The CCA XI included C.I.Gunasekera (Captain), Sarath Silva, T.C.T. Edwards, Lasantha Rodrigo, Michael Tissera, D.H.de Silva, Hector Perera, Abu Fuard, Sonny Yatawara, Fitzroy Crozier and K.M.T.Perera.
In 1967 Sobers and Tissera played again this time in a four day game at the Colombo Oval.
‘Ceylon Daily News’  columnist, Christie Seneviratne, wrote under the guise of ‘The Yorker’. Christie Seneviratne was an outstanding schoolboy cricketer in the late 1930s from Wesley College. His critical reviews, mostly hard-hitting along with beautiful narrations on matches played, were a treat to read, and I hope it will be the same for the rest.
‘Down Memory Lane’, first published in Volume 01 of Quadrangle Magazine, December 2014
By Sujith Silva

Sonny Yatawara (1938 – 2 September 2000) was a Sri Lankan first-class cricketer. He gained a reputation for his fiery temperament and for his never-say-die attitude among cricketing fraternity and social circles.[1] He was regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in Sri Lanka during his playing career. He also worked at Ceylon Tobacco.[1] He played two first-class matches between 1960/61 – 1961/62 domestic seasons playing for Saracens Sports Club and Singhalese Sports Club.[2]

Career

He had his first taste of playing cricket at school level when he was studying at Dharmaraja College. In the mid-1950s, he then switched to Ananda College to continue his prospects in cricket.[2][3][4] In a school cricket match against St. Peter’s College, Colombo, he was reported to have caused serious injury concerns to at least four schoolboy cricketers of St. Peter’s College during bowling, and the players underwent treatment at the hospital.[2]

He made his first-class debut in the 1960/61 season, playing for Ceylon in the M. J. Gopalan Trophy against Madras.[5] His biggest scalp in his career came on 28 February 1961 when he clean bowled West Indies all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers for 58 runs in a friendly match at the Colombo Oval.[1][6] The match was played between Daily Mirror XI and CCA, and other players included the West Indian Test players Rohan Kanhai, Wes Hall, Seymour Nurse, Chester Watson and Conrad Hunte.[1]

After his playing career, he switched to a coaching career. He coached Dharmaraja College in 1962, and players of the caliber of T. B. Kehelgamuwa were groomed under his guidance.[7] He also went on to coach St Thomas’ College, Matale, junior age group teams at Trinity College. He also had a coaching stint with Kandy Cricket Club.[1]

Death

He died at the age of 62 on 2 September 2000.[1][2]  ……………..

“Down Memory Lane” is a historical sports feature series written by Sujith Silva, first published in Volume 01 of the Quadrangle Magazine in December 2014.
Series Overview
  • Author: Sujith Silva
  • Inspiration: Legendary sports icons, vintage school teams, and their historical athletic marvels
  • Focus: Golden years of school sports, legendary games, and stories of players who excelled on school grounds
Key Themes Explored
  • School Cricket: Vintage encounters and historical seasons, such as the storied 1957 schools cricket season.
  • Legacy & Heritage: Profiles of legendary individuals and teams from prestigious Sri Lankan schools like Royal College, Trinity College, Ananda College, and Nalanda College.
Would you like to explore a specific article, school team, or era from the Down Memory Lane archive?
That 1957 School’s Cricket Season

https://quadrangle.lk/that-1957-schools-cricket-season/

Ananda College Cricket team 1957

image.png

Seated L-R: AP Jayasinghe, Palitha Premasiri, Anuruddha Polonowita, Daya Amarasinghe, Ananda Ranasinghe.
Standing L-R: Palitha Wijesekara, Anura de Zoysa, SP Ekanayake, Sonny Yatawara, NG Ekanayake
On the ground: Ranjith Thabrew, Sirisoma Wijeggonewardene, Neville Ratnayake
APJ entered the Eng Faculty and worked as an engineer. Passed away early. Palitha Premasiri (my classmate) never studied. Owned Southern Drapery Stores at Borella Junction. Deceased.
Anu Polonnowita joined the Colombo Municipality. Married Chitranganie (daughter of the late Prof. PB Fernando who was Professor of Medicine before Prof. Rajasuriya.
Daya Amarasinghe joined the Prisons Dept. Ranasinghe was at Ceylon Insurance.
Palitha Wijesekara (deceased) was the elder brother of athlete Vijitha Wijesekara and Dr. Rohitha Wijesekara (our junior batch).
Anura de Zoysa also died some years ago.
SP Ekanayake also did a Physical Science degree in the University and joined the Army. Died a few years ago as a Major.
Sonny Yatawara joined Ceylon Tobacco soon after leaving school. Died early in life.
NG Ekanayake too died some years ago.
Thabrew was in the Science Faculty. Wijegoonewardene joined the Army as an Officer Cadet and retired as a Major. Neville Ratnayake was another classmate of mine who joined the Central Bank.
Almost 60 years later, the 1957 captain Anu Polonowita is second from left in this picture with Suren Iyer.
Source:  AI Overview

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One response to “When Yatawara shattered Sobers’ Stumps in 1961 & Tissera Scored 101 Runs”

  1. thuppahi
    July 26, 2026 at 6:28 pm

    Remarkably, I have, thus far, not succeedd in locating a good photo of YATAWARA. I hope some schoolmates and cricketing mates can help us…..Michael roberts at mrober137@gmail.com

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