ESoft crowned inaugural Red Bull Campus Cricket Women’s National Finals winners
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ESoft Metro Campus were crowned the winners of the inaugural Red Bull Campus Cricket Women’s National Finals, when they comfortably overcame Sky Academy by 61 runs in the grand final, played at the Thurstan College cricket ground yesterday.
In a rain-shortened game, where each side were given 14 overs, Sky Academy won the toss and put ESoft Metro Campus into bat, only to receive a challenging target of 104 runs. National cap Sathya Sandeepani top scored with 18 runs as Janadi Anali contributed with 15 before ESoft Metro Campus were restricted to 103-7.
Fast bowler Lakmali Rajapksa stood out among Sky Academy bowlers by claiming 5 for 7. The lasses from Sky Academy could not get going, ending with just 42 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in their allotted 14 overs. Sansala Wanigasekara raked up the top score of the game with a 38-ball 21.
National cap Sathya Sandeepani was named player of the match for her contribution of 2 for 7 with the ball and 18 off 16 with the bat. ESoft were crowned winners of the first ever Red Bull Campus Cricket Women’s National Finals, winning the final by 61 runs. Nimasha Madushani bowled brilliantly to capture two scalps conceding just two runs.
As a prelude to the big finale, exhibition games were scheduled from the first day running up to the finals. In the first exhibition game, ESoft Metro Campus managed to scrape though with a 2-wicket win against the very competitive Wadduwa Central ladies. Wadduwa Central then came back to register a convincing 67-run win against the National Youth Corps. Unfortunately, the game between the Wadduwa Central and Sky Academy, scheduled to be played the day before the final, had to be abandoned due to inclement weather.
Though there was heavy rain in Colombo over the four days of competition, the organisers managed to squeeze in three of the four scheduled matches, which saw a host of new talent shine through.
Red Bull Campus Cricket has had a massive impact on the local cricketing arena and this year, they decided to take a step further by organising the inaugural Red Bull Campus Cricket Women’s National Finals.
Red Bull Campus Cricket is a T20 tournament organised for university students, providing a platform for youngsters to pursue their sporting dreams while also not having to sacrifice their education.
Having been launched in 2012, the tournament has seen many players who went on to represent their national teams compete in the 9 previous editions of the Men’s tournament.
Red Bull athlete and
Sri Lanka women’s cricket team captain Chamari Athapaththu has been a vocal advocate for the growth of women’s sport in the island. Her movement #BigGirlsCan which was addressing barriers faced by sportswomen was an inspiration and Red Bull Campus Cricket Women’s Edition is an amalgamation of what she initiated.
Red Bull hopes that the very first Red Bull Campus Cricket Women’s National Finals will promote the sport further and bring much needed excitement and attention to the women’s game in
Sri Lanka. The first stage in Red Bull’s plans to conduct a World Finals, the competition saw a host of new talent like Janadi Anali, Sathya Sandeepani, Lakmali Rajapaksa and Sansala Wanigasekara emerge.
This project is part of Red Bull’s long-standing commitment to providing a platform for young and aspiring female cricketing talent, thereby Red Bull is giving Wiiings to aspiring professionals, who, in the past have not had similar opportunities.
Sathya Sandeepani was player of the match
ESoft skipper receiving the Red Bull trophy
ESoft Metro Campus team with the title
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