Hokandara ‘B’ regains D.R. Wijewardena Trophy

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The Hokandara ‘B’ cricket team regained the D.R. Wijewardena Challenge Trophy beating Advertising Department ‘B’ by 5 runs at the Inter-Department Cricket Tournament of Wijeya Newspapers played at the Shalika ground in Narahenpita last Sunday. Batting first in a 10-overs per-side match, Hokandara ‘B’ were bowled out for a meager total of 57 in 9.3 overs but the defending champions, Advertising ‘B’ could not rake runs and were skittled out for 52 in 20 overs. With their superb performance in defending a low total, Hokandara ‘B’ became worthy champions after a lapse of one years. Hokandara ‘B’ finished on top among a total of 32 teams who took part in the two-day tournament, which was filled with great fun and camaraderie among the colleagues of Wijeya Newspapers.

For the winners, opener Menaka top scored with 16 which consisted of two sixes and a boundary but his partner Ishan Chathura, who chipped in with 6 runs, became the best batsman of the tournament with a tally of 67 runs in five games. Ranjan Srinath of Hokandara ‘B’ who claimed five wickets after chipping in three runs was adjudged the player of the final. Mohamed Jumat top scored for Advertising ‘B’ with 19 off nine deliverieswon the player of the tournament award. Jumat scored 50 runs and captured five wickets throughout the tournament. The two finalists Hokandara ‘B’ and Advertising ‘B’ were hot favourites to win the title, after ousting other top contenders to remain unbeaten until the final.

Mahesh Darshana of Hokandara ‘B’ won the best bowler of the tournament award after tallying 10 wickets. Accounts beat Transport ‘A’ by 8 wickets to win the Plate championship while Transport ‘B’ beat Circulation ‘A’ by 9 wickets to win the Bowl title. The tournament was conducted successfully by the Welfare Society of Wijeya Newspapers with the sponsorship assistance of Bank of Ceylon, Commercial Bank, Nations Trust Bank, Sampath Bank, NDB Bank, Seylan Bank, Fort City, Stock Lanka Ltd and Priyantha Colombage, the director of the movie Adaraniya Kathawak. The tournament was held on February 27 and 28.

Results

Final: Hokandara ‘B’ beat Advertising ‘B’ by 5 runs
Hokandara ‘B’ 57 all out in 9.3 overs (Menaka 16, Mahesh 7, Ishan Chathura 6, Wijeratne 4/11, Pasindu 2/11, Isuru 2/17)
Advertising ‘B’ 52 all out in 10 overs (Mohamed Jumat 19, Pasindu 5, Ranjan Srinath 5/4, Mahesh 3/15)
Plate final: Accounts beat Transport ‘A’ by 8 wickets
Transport 69 all out in 9.3 overs (Kasun 24, Nikapitiya 10, Asanka 8, Danushka 6, Dinuka 4/4, Rasika 4/12)
Accounts 71 for 2 wickets in 5.3 overs (Jaliya 29n.o, Nishantha 19n.o, Nalaka 17)
Bowl final: Transport ‘B’ beat Circulation ‘A’ by 9 wickets
Circulation ‘A’ 61 for 8 wickets in 10 overs (Rupasinghe 17, Heshan 15, Jeewan 2/12)
Transport ‘B’ 62 for 1 wicket in 5.2 overs (Lakmal 50n.o, Gamage 10 n.o.)