The highly anticipated Inter-University Cricket Championship kicked off in September.
The cricket team from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura began their tournament journey against Gampaha Wickramaarachchi University on September 19th. The team achieved a comprehensive victory by 10 wickets over GWU, setting a positive tone for the tournament. In the second and third matches of the preliminary round, USJ faced the University of Vavuniya and the University of Jaffna, respectively. The team triumphed, winning by 59 runs against UOV and by 8 wickets against UOJ, securing a place in the knockout stages of the tournament.
In the quarter-finals, the team encountered a formidable opponent in the University of Kelaniya. However, their strong form continued as they emerged victorious by 52 runs, earning a spot in the semi-finals. Unfortunately, a rain-interrupted match against the University of Sabaragamuwa in the semi-finals in the hill country dashed the team’s title hopes.
As the final game of the season, the team faced the University of Moratuwa in the consolation finals, where they secured a thrilling victory by just one run, ultimately finishing third overall in the tournament. This performance showcased the resilient nature of J’pura Cricket.
A special thank you goes to Coach Mr. Umesh Lakshan for his expert guidance and leadership, to Mrs. Nishanthi Vidanage, Head of the Physical Education Department, for her unwavering support and dedication, and to Mr. Nadeera Ginige, Master-in-Charge, for his commitment in preparing the team.
With a hunger to reach the top once again, this experience in 2024 will undoubtedly fuel J’pura Cricket to come back even stronger in the years to come.