Monday 27 July 2026
A Warm Reception
On 7 July, 13 keen King's College cricketers, two staff members and half a dozen excited parents embarked on the trip of a lifetime to Sri Lanka. This adventure was to last twelve days, including six days of cricket against schools of great cricketing tradition and ability.
Having prepared for this trip with morning sessions at the indoor cricket centre in 8 degrees, the boys stumbled off the plane to a cultural group that signalled that everything during this trip would be new, vibrant and full of challenges. The team started into their work in 31 degrees against Wesley College of Colombo at the Sinhalese Sports Club getting, a test cricket venue with stunning facilities. This contrast was matched by the skill of the opposition - one of their number bowled both right and left arm spin during their spell, and a reverse sweep for six were early indications of the prowess we would come up against all tour. We lost the first two games of the tour before finding our groove and managing our preparation to perform more consistently.
In the game against Anuradhapura District College, Charlie Barron (Year 12, Marsden) scored his first ever century and set up a wonderful total of 359/9 off 50 overs. The opposition featured a player who had played first class ticket but he was run out early and, despite an innings of 141 from a formal lad, they fell 49 runs short and we had our first victory. This was followed by a second more comfortable win before we travelled to Kandy for some cultural and spiritual enlightenment. In a country of 22 million people the logistics of travel were often slow but there was always a wonderful array of sights, both urban and natural.
Our last three days of cricket in Colombo proved very difficult with the heat, the aggressive opposition and the beckoning of home combining to produce three losses but with some good standout performances none-the-less. Ash Sirigiri (Year 11, Peart) was the top run scorer with Oscar Holt (Year 12, Parnell) playing some very good innings as well. Ollie Sinclair (Year 12, Greenbank) bowled well at the death to take best bowler and Thomas Rhodes (Year 12, Greenbank) was named finest fielder for his athleticism and industry. The Player of the trip was Tom McCulloch (Year 13, Greenbank) whose high release leg spin proved unplayable on many occasions and whose captaincy alongside Oscar Holt and Barney Foote (Year 13, Averill) was a decisive factor in the victories we achieved.
Director of Cricket Indika Senarathne's local knowledge and ability to get the most out of every player in every game was significant. The trip was wonderfully well organised by Trendex Tours whose staff were attentive to the touring party's every need. The supporting parents made the most of every opportunity and together the group were wonderful ambassadors for their College and country. Watch this space as this mission is likely to be repeated.
Matt Kidd - Tour Manager
Game Day One vs Wesley College
Game One (50 Over):
King's College 139 (Ash Sirigiri 54, Mohammad Ashraf (Year 11, Peart) 14)
Wesley College 144/5 (Millar Ormsby (Year 11, Greenbank) 3-1-15-1)
Loss by 5 wickets
Ensuing T10 Game:
Wesley College 132/8 (Daniel Bricklebank (Year 11, Peart) 2-0-19-2, Ollie Sinclair 1-0-10-3)
King's College 56/8
Loss by 76 runs
Game Day Two vs Anuradhapura District U19
Game One (50 Over):
King's College 207 (Oscar Holt 64, Ash Sirigiri 39)
Anuradhapura 208/4 (Archie Gore (Year 12, Selwyn) 3-0-22-2)
Loss by 6 wickets
Game Day Three vs Anuradhapura Central College
Game One (50 Over):
King's College 248/9 (Charlie Barron (Year 12, Marsden) 111*, Ollie Sinclair 44, Barney Foote 42, Johnny Hindman (Year 12, Parnell) 27, Archie Gore 26, Tom McCulloch 25)
Anuradhapura 305 (Barney Foote 5-0-28-3), Ollie Sinclair 7-1-35-2)
Win by 43 runs
Game Day Four vs Prince of Wales' College
Game One (50 Over - target stretched to fill day's play):
Prince of Wales' College 130 (Johnny Hindman 3-0-11-2, Wyatt Empson (Year 13, St John's) 5-0-10-1, Thomas Rhodes 4-0-12-1)
King's College 259/9 (Johnny Hindman 53, Ash Sirigiri 47, Oscar Holt 36, Barney Foote 26, Wyatt Empson 18)
Win by 6 wickets initially - fell short of stretch target of 275.
Game Day Five vs Mahanama College
Game One (T20):
King's College 98 (Ollie Sinclair 26, Millar Ormsby 18*)
Mahanama College 102/4 (Johnny Hindman 2.5 - 0-13-2)
Loss by 6 wickets
Game Two (T20):
King's College 129/9 (Oscar Holt 42, Tom McCulloch 24)
Mahanama College 132/4 (Tom McCulloch 4-1-14-2, Daniel Bricklebank 2-0-16-1)
Loss by 6 wickets
Game Day Six vs St Sebatian's College
Game One (T30):
King's College 137/9 (Ash Sirigiri 38, Oscar Holt 29, Thomas Rhodes 12*)
St Sebastian's College 138/1 (Tom McCulloch 5-0-28-1)
Loss by 9 wickets