BMS retains Red Bull Campus Cricket national title

Business Management School (BMS) recorded a comfortable nine-wicket win over Saegis Campus in the final of the Red Bull Campus Cricket National Finals 2017 to defend their title at the P. Sara Oval Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.

Put into bat first, Saegis were given a torrid ride by the BMS bowlers and fielders before they were shot out for 100 runs, inclusive of five runs through the Energiser Over, with 17 deliveries remaining. The titleholders on the other hand needed very little time to race to victory and retain their silverware with 56 balls to spare.

BMS opener Geshan Wimaladharma, who claimed two wickets earlier on, laid the foundation for a thumping win as he guided his side with a blistering knock of 46 runs off 25 balls. Wimaladharma hit four boundaries and guided four hits over the rope before falling as the only BMS victim of the final at 66 when their run chase was just 6.2 overs old.

Wimaladharma’s partner, Hashan Dumindu, had a small role to play when he was at the crease, but accelerated soon after the loss of his partner. He remained unbeaten on 29 off 26 deliveries and hit two fours and a six. Sadeera Samarawickrama, who had been in form throughout the competition, was on 17 not out when BMS reached the winning post. Samarawickrama faced 14 balls during his knock and hit a four and a six as Saegis’ bowlers were taken to task by the defending champs.

Earlier on, put into bat first, Saegis were made to struggle from the very beginning as they went on to lose wickets at regular intervals.  Janith Liyanage bowled only one over and claimed three wickets off a hat-trick before BMS sealed the deal. National cap Wanindu Hasaranga and Wimaladharma claimed two wickets each while seamers Ranitha Liyanarachchi, Koshan Danushka and skipper Dinuk Wickramanayake picked up a wicket each.

“Geshan (Wimaladharma), Amila (Aponso), Wanindu (Hasaranga), Sadeera (Samarawickrama) and above all Niroshan (Dickwella) were key to our mission of retaining the championship and we are proud and humbled to have achieved our goal of representing Sri Lanka for the second time at the Red Bull Campus Cricket World Finals in September. We also owe a lot to Niroshan (Dickwella) for being with us right throughout this tournament despite his commitments to the national team,” said BMS Skipper Dinuk Wickramanayake.