Japura Clinches Yaal XVI Elle Championship in Style

The University of Sri Jayewardenepura emerged victorious at the 2nd edition of the Yaal XVI Elle Tournament, defeating the University of Peradeniya in the final to claim the prestigious championship. The tournament, showcasing the best of university-level Elle talent, was held recently at the Jaffna University Stadium with the participation of eight universities.

Competing in Group A, the Jayewardenepura team began their campaign in dominant fashion. They opened with a commanding 11–01 win over the host, University of Jaffna, followed by an 09–05 victory against the University of Colombo. In a tightly contested third match, Jayewardenepura drew 06–06 but advanced by narrowly winning the Super 05 ball 01–00.

Maintaining an unbeaten streak, Jayewardenepura progressed to the semi-finals, where they faced a strong University of Moratuwa side. Batting second, Japura chased down the target of 07 runs in just 13 balls, securing their place in the final. In the final clash, Jayewardenepura batted first and posted a solid 09 runs. Their disciplined fielding and bowling effort restricted Peradeniya to just 04 runs, clinching the title with a decisive 08–02 victory.

Individual accolades also went to Jayewardenepura players. Dilan Maduranga was recognized as the Best Runner for his consistent speed and agility throughout the tournament. The Best Player of the Tournament award was also claimed by a standout performer Tharindu tharaka from the Japura squad,
who excelled in all aspects of the game—batting, running, and fielding. The successful conclusion of Yaal XVI marks another remarkable achievement for the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, strengthening its legacy in university sports and Elle excellence.