ARMY WAR COLLEGE CRICKET FIESTA CONCLUDED WITH MANY ACCOLADES

Army War College (AWC) Cricket Tournament for second trimester was held on 26 May 2024 as one of the key events of course calendar that displayed skills, comradeship, sportsmanship and event management. The entire tournament was featured with 15 matches in which preliminary matches were played during the evening time and two semi-finals and final were scheduled on Saturday 26 May 2024 at the College Ground.

The tournament set the stage to showcased cricketing talents of 14 teams, Two team s from Defence Studies Branch (DSB), one team from PermanentStaff, three teams from Senior Command Course 11 (SCC 11), six teams from Junior Command Course 30 (JCC 30) and two teams from Junior Staff Course 26 (JSC 26). After competitive preliminary round, Syndicate1 and 3 of SCC, Team 1 of DSB and Syndicate 1 of JCC have secured their place in semi-finals.

The semi- finals and final of the tournament was graced by Major General Dinesh Udugama RWP RSP USP ndc psc, the Commandant of AWC as the Chief Guest and he was flanked by the Chief Instructor, Senior Instructors, faculty members, permanent staff and all the student officers.

Upon completion of heated semi-finals, team 1 of SCC and team 1 from DSB reserved their seats for grand finale. It was a nail biting final. Following the toss, SCC Syndicate 1 opted to bat and scored 57 runs. Major Sudath Manikdiwala put highest runs for SCC Syndicate 1. Defending the target against formidable batting line up, Syndicate 1, SCC put their die-hard effort to defend the target. Team 1 of DSB, however was able to reach to the 58 runs sparing with two overs. DSB Team 1who had dominating series with bat and ball was able to raise the bar as the Champion of Cricket Tournament in second trimester of the AWC. Meanwhile, Syndicate 1, SCC was tilted as the runners-up. Major Sadun Gamage MIR from DSB was titled as ‘Best Bowler’ and Major Sudath Manikdiwala SLLI from Syndicate 1, SCC, as the ‘Best Batsman’. Major Mahesh Kankanamge GW from DSB Team1 was awarded as the Man of the Match’ for his match winning knock and economical bowling spell. Major Hinidumage Chandana SLSR from Syndicate 1-SCCwas titled as the ‘Man of the Series’ for his outstanding performance throughout the series.

Following the final, all participants were ushered to the second session of the Cricket Tournament, where multiple entertainment events were held at the Open Air Wing of the College. Student officers were given opportunity to reveal their hidden talents before the faculty and permanent staff. Cricket Tournament of the second trimester was given golden opportunity for whole staff and student officers to break the shackle midst of their routeing and academic aspects.