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Adivasi Veddah team
One of Sri Lanka’s largest renewable energy (dendro power) companies, the Aakash Group, gave sports enthusiasts in the north of Sri Lanka a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase their talent during the Inaugural Northern Province T20 Cricket Tournament, the grand finale of which was held on 14 January at the Urban Council Playground in Vavuniya.
Thirty-two teams battled in the T20 cricket match for the Aakash Champion Trophy along with other accolades for the champion team, runner-up, Man of the Match, Man of the Series, Best Bowler and Best Batsman.
Semifinal matches were held on 13 January between the Kalaimagal team and the Vavuniya Police team and the St. Joseph’s team and the Unified Sports Club. The first 16-over semifinal between the Kalaimagal and Police teams ended in a draw with Police scoring 96 for 9 and Kalaimagal mustering 96 (all out). However, Police managed to win the match during the Super Over.
Adivasi Veddah team facing Aakash Group cricket team
After the fascinating first match, the St. Joseph’s team faced the Unified Sports Club, with the latter scoring 140 for 4 and the former notching up only 97 runs for 7 wickets.
The grand finale on Sunday started with a friendly match between the Aakash Group staff, led by the Chairman and Managing Director of the company S. Ramasubramanian, and the indigenous Veddah people, which was the highlight of the whole tournament.
In the end, the indigenous people’s team emerged winners, scoring 60/5 in 6 overs, defeating the Aakash team which managed to accumulate 55/4 in 8 overs. During the much-awaited finals, the Police team won the toss and elected to bat first. During its 20 overs, the Police team scored 187, losing only five wickets (Nishantha 97 not out, Duminda 33, Indika 36; bowling - Anushanth 1 for 12 runs and Maudsan 1 for 39).
The Unified team, although mustering a brilliant chase, was out for 141 off 17 overs (Rushanthan 57, Anushanth 20, and Maudsan 13). Rasika and Dissanayake of the Police managed to secure three wickets each, allowing only 19 and 14 runs respectively.
With its amazing performance, the Police team carried away the coveted champion trophy and the cash price of Rs. 300,000, leaving the runner-up trophy and the cash price of Rs. 100,000 to the Unified team. The Man of the Match (Rs. 50,000) prize was won by Nishanthan (Police) and Vijayalath (Police) grabbed the Best Bowler accolade (Rs. 25,000 cash prize) whilst the Man of the Series (Rs. 75,000) and Best Batsman (Rs. 25,000) title both went to Rushanthan (Unified).
Vanni Range DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon patronised the grand finale as its Chief Guest and was accorded a warm welcome complete with traditional Tamil dancers. Vavuniya District SSP T.M.N.S. Thennakoon, ASP Vanni District Piyasiri Fernando and Vavuniya HqI CI Mahinda Villoarachchi were also in attendance.
The Aakash Group is an India-based conglomerate which is spread across six countries including Sri Lanka, India, Hong Kong (China), Dubai (UAE), Singapore and Madagascar. Aakash Group subsidiary Sustainable Green Energy Ltd. pioneered the cultivation of Beema Bamboo to generate renewable energy.
