The Business Management School (BMS) – Sri Lanka recorded a 24-run victory over the University of Liberal Arts (UOLA) – Bangladesh in the finals of the Red Bull Campus Cricket- World Finals tournament, 2016 hosted by Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh won the toss and put the hosts into bat first. Sri Lanka managed to put up a total of 191 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their respective 20 overs.  The Sri Lankan team were able to put up this team total, sans skipper, Niroshan Dickwella, top scorer Shehan Jayasuriya, and Bhanuka Rajapaksha, who were unable to play due to the Mercantile ‘A’ Division tournament.

However, they were replaced by the National team opener, Dhananjaya de Silva and the all-rounder Dasun Shanaka. The responsibility of captaincy was handed over to Geshan Wimaladharma.

Red Bull Inter Campus CricketSri Lanka got off to a weak start, losing wickets consistently. Geshan Wimaladharma opened the innings scoring 17 runs alongside Dhananjaya de Silva who scored 32. The Sri Lankans were struggling at 92 for the loss of 5 wickets, at one stage of the innings. Number eight bat, Ranitha Liyanarachchi scored a much needed 52 runs, despite losing the rest of the wickets at the other end.

Sri Lanka had a sigh of relief as they finished off at 191. Highest wicket taker Arifur Rahman, delivered yet again for Bangladesh taking 3 wickets, conceding 20 runs.

Bangladesh went into bat with 192 runs to chase, and the weight of a nation on their shoulders. However, due to the brilliant bowling efforts of the Sri Lankans, Bangladesh fell short at 167 for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs, thereby shattering their dreams of getting their hands on the trophy.

An 88 run partnership for the second wicket had the Sri Lankans worried about the game but they managed to get the rest of the wickets in quick succession. M.D Hasanuzzaman led the Bangladesh team, top scoring with 39 runs, contributing in the second wicket partnership. However, the rest of the team were unable take Bangladesh over the line.

In the Sri Lanka bowling department, off-spinner Koshan Jayawickrama bagged 4 wickets for 27 runs, while the former Royalist, Chamika Karunaratne took 2 wickets for 17 runs.

BMS : 191/9 in 20 overs- Ranitha Liyanarachchi 52 (27), Dhananjaya de Silva 32 (24), Arifur Rahman – 3/20, Mohammed Islam 2/22

UOLA : 167/8 in 20 overs- MD Hasanuzzaman 39 (32), Avishek Mitra 28 (20), Koshan – Jayawickrama 4/27, Chamika Karunaratne 2/17

Business Management School Sri Lanka won by 24 runs