INTER REGIMENT CRICKET TOURNAMENT 2021 BRINGS HISTORIC VICTORY TO CORPS OF SRI LANKA ENGINEERS

The ‘A’ Division finals in the Inter Regiment Cricket Tournament (50 Overs), organized by the Army Cricket Committee got underway on 08 April 2021 at the “Muthukumaru” stadium, Panagoda.

The Sappers cricket team was formed in the year 2013 with a majority of soft ball players and played for the Inter Regiment “B” division where they could not mark a single win. In the later years they developed rapidly and became the champions of “B” division in year 2018. From year 2019 Sappers were qualified to play Inter Regiment “A” division tournaments.

Ten Regimental teams where some of them consisted with national players vied for the supremacy, beginning 23 August 2020 by meeting their rivals at “Muthukumaru” Army cricket ground at Panagoda, Sappers Cricket Stadium at Mattegoda and Sri Lanka Ordnance Corps International Cricket Stadium at Dombagoda.

Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers (SLE) and Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) teams entered the final fray defeating Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment and Sri Lanka Artillery Regiment teams respectively.

In the final encounter the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment won the toss and elected to bat first. Tight bowling and good fielding of Sappers restrict SLSR to 190 runs in 49.1 overs. Left arm leg spinner Sapper Hashan Sandeepana took 5 wickets for 38 runs, Lieutenant Omesh Vidyarathne took 2 wickets for 33 runs were the key bowlers to restrict SLSR batsman who excelled in previous matches of the tournament.

In replying the SLSR total the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers scored 191 runs in 44.4 overs losing only 4 wickets and marked the grand victory in the SLE Cricket history. Sapper Sithumina Ekanayake scored 64 runs in 119 balls with 1 six and 4 fours. Sapper Heshan Hettiarachchi scored quick 35 runs off 25 balls with a six and 3 fours.

Finally, SLE team pushing SLSR team to be the first runner-up emerged as champions in the Inter Regiment ‘A’ division Cricket tournament. The prize-giving ceremony will be held in due course.

Match Summery,
SLSR – 190 (49.1 Overs)
Lance Corporal Hemal Korathota 70 (111) Sapper Hashan Sandeepana 5/38 (10)
Rifleman Mayura Wijesinghe 29 (33) Lieutenant Omesh Vidyarathne 2/33 (9)

SLE – 191/4 (44.4 Overs)
Sapper Sithumina Ekanayake 64* (119) Rifleman Mayura Wijesinghe 3/21 (9)
Sapper Heshan Hettiarachchi 35* (25) Rifleman Yohan Kalhara 1/29 (7)
Lieutenant Omesh Vidyarathne 29 (41)