The Inter University Cricket Championships kicked off with a bang with this with the completion of 4 matches, while a few matches were unfortunately adversely impacted by the weather.
Undoubtedly, the match of the round was the clash between the Universities of Moratuwa and Sabaragamuwa at the University of Moratuwa grounds. In a 45 over affair, Moratuwa chose to bat first but soon found themselves in trouble at 35-4. From then, on two crucial partnerships took them to a position of strength with Gavin Botheju providing a much needed anchoring role with 85 off 96 balls, with ample support from Vinuja Ranasinghe (40) and Avishka Sirisena (35). For the Sabra side, it was a duo of pace bowlers in Sisitha Madanayaka and Mohammed Faheem who led the charge with 4 and 3 wickets respectively. In response, Sabra got off to a lightning start thanks to a belligerent knock from Prince Fernando who raced to 64 off just 49 deliveries. However, Moratuwa fought back with a strong bowling performance, reducing their opponents to 115-5 at one stage with Vinuja Ranasinghe capturing 3 wickets. As had been their wont, Sabra kept on attacking at all costs and soon the 6th wicket partnership of Chathun Ranasinghe and and Thilan Pradeeptha took the game away from Mora with their unbeaten stand of 87 taking Sabra to victory with 5 wickets and plenty of time to spare.
The contests between the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka and The Gampaha Wickramarachchi University was less of a contest, with the newcomers being blown away by a fiery bowling display from SEUSL. Opener Chalaka Chamupathi was the only ray of hope with a fighting knock of 37 while SEUSL skipper was the star of the bowling effort, with a 5 wicket haul as GWU were bundled out for just 79. In response, SEUSL got off to a quick start and did not take their foot of the gas rushing to their target with 7 wickets and nearly 35 overs left.
The University of Peradeniya were also at the top of their game in their home clash against the Eastern University of Sri Lanka. Once again it was the Pera bowlers who held sway with a strong bowling effort never letting the Eastern batsmen settle as they were bundled out for just 129 inside 38 overs. Only two Eastern batsmen in M Praveen and G. Varalakshan were able to make it past 30 with Sasindu Lakshan picking up 3 wickets. Even though there was a small chance for Eastern to make a game of it, Madhawa Wijesinghe soon put paid to such hopes rushing off to a fast start and soon taking the game away from EUSL. He would ultimately finish with an unbeaten 75 off 66 balls as Pera won the rain reduced match by 8 wickets and 74 balls remaining.
In another rain affected match it was the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka who came up trumps against the Uva Wellassa University. In what began as a 39 over affair, RUSL soon found themselves in trouble at 90-6 before a captain’s knock by Kasun Weerasinghe dragged them to respectability with an unbeaten 43. Melon Abeysundara was the pick of the bowlers for UWU with a 4 wicket haul. After RUSL finished with 149-9 off 39 overs both sides would have felt they were in the game even after the target was adjusted to 122 off 28 overs. However, the RUSL bowlers turned up to the party never taking their foot of the necks of the Uva batsmen, strangling their run rate while also picking up wickets at regular intervals. Kasun Weerasinghe was once again at the fore with a 3 wicket haul as UWU were bundled out for just 76 runs handing over a 45 run victory to RUSL.
In the match between the Universities of Jaffna and Vavuniya, Andrew Roshanthan got Jaffna off to a quick start despite losing two wickets and the game was in the balance when weather had the last laugh with persistent rain forcing a washout.
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