The open six-a-side cricket tournament, initiated by Security Force Headquarters-Central (SFHQ-C) with the sole intention of identifying cricketing skills among the youth in both civil and service sectors, got underway for three days (March 28-30) at Diyatalawa Army Polo grounds.
Under the able guidance of Major General U.A.B Medawela, Commander, SFHQ-C, 22 cricket clubs representing Army Regiments and 10 invited cricket clubs from different areas of the country, took part in the tournament which was inaugurated ceremonially on Friday (28).
Air Force Cricket Club, Jaffna Mulai Victory Cricket Club, Ambalangoda Singhe Cricket Club, Port Authority Cricket Club, Ragama Cricket Club, Colts Cricket Club, Chilaw Marians Cricket Club, Bandarawela Cosmo Cricket Club, Bandarawela St Joseph College Cricket Club and Badulla Maroons Sports Club vied in the tournament.
The tournament, conducted on knock-out system, saw Chilaw Marians Cricket Club and Sri Lanka Artillery Cricket Team entering the finals.
On Sunday (30), during a well-attended final encounter, Chilaw Marians Cricket Club carried the Championship trophy after a very close fight and a cash award of Rs 150,000 /=. The Sri Lanka Artillery Cricket Club with its runners up trophy received a cash award of Rs 75,000/=.
Best cricketer and Man of the Tournament trophies plus cash awards were won by Nimesh Perera and Saliya Saman of Chilaw Marians Cricket Club respectively.
Major General U.A.B Medawela, Chairman, Sri Lanka Army Cricket Board and a large gathering of cricket fans watched the final encounter.
