Lionel Fernando

Lionel Fernando (21 October 1939 – 31 March 2026) was a Sri Lankan-born Australian cricketer who played for Ceylon from 1964 to 1971.

Biography Fernando received his early education at St. Anne's College in Kurunegala, where his father was the Municipal Commissioner. Later, he attended St. Benedict's College, Colombo, where he captained the cricket team in 1959. In a match against the team from St. Anne's College, he dismissed the opposition for 50, taking all 10 wickets for 24 runs, including a hat-trick, then scored a double-century in 157 minutes, all in one day's play. The feat of taking all 10 wickets and scoring a double-century in the same match is believed to be unique in world cricket. In 1965–66, he top-scored with 40 in a one-day match for Ceylon against the touring MCC. In 1966–67, he toured Pakistan with the Ceylon team, playing in one of the unofficial Tests, and a few weeks later, against the touring West Indians, he scored 48 and 72 not out.

In the 1970s, Fernando played league cricket in England: two seasons with Fieldhouse in the South Lancashire League and one season for Walsden in the Central Lancashire League. He and his wife Stella lived in Melbourne. They had two sons, Tyrone and Dilshan, and a daughter, Marina. Fernando died in Melbourne on 31 March 2026, at the age of 86.