The University of Colombo cricket team secured the championship at the XV Sri Lanka University Games (SLUG) 2025, completing an unbeaten campaign that confirmed their place as the strongest side in university cricket this year.
Colombo, who were runners up at SLUG 2023 and winners of the Inter-University Championship in 2024, carried their momentum into this year’s tournament to win the title without a single loss.
The side was coached by Heshan Thilakaratne, captained by Pubudu Bandara, with Vinvinu Weerakkody as vice captain and Sanjeewa Jayasinghe serving as Master-in-Charge.
Colombo began their campaign with a comprehensive win over Eastern University, scoring 249/8 before bowling out their opponents for 62.
All-rounders Thewin Amarasinghe and Himsara Randeni took three wickets each.
Against Uva Wellassa University, Colombo piled on 330/8 with contributions from Anishka de Zoysa (85), Randeni (59), and Sajitha Vithanage (76).
They bowled out Uva Wellassa for 101, with Randeni taking 5 for 38 in a standout performance.
The third group game against the University of Jaffna saw left-arm spinner Devindu Kekirideniya claim remarkable figures of 7 for 28, reducing Jaffna from a strong position to 122 all out.
Colombo chased the target comfortably, with Randeni adding an unbeaten 40.
In the quarterfinal, Colombo met defending champions the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
Bowling first, Randeni took 4 for 38 as Jayewardenepura were dismissed for 167.
Colombo chased down the target by five wickets, with de Zoysa steadying the innings with 39.
The semifinal was against the University of Ruhuna. Batting first, Ruhuna scored 195 for 9 in the allotted 50 overs.
The match however was dominated by Amarasinghe, who claimed 5 for 37 before scoring 104 in the chase, completing one of the tournament’s most notable all-round performances. Afterwards, Colombo advanced to the final with a convincing win.
The final against the University of Kelaniya was initially shaped by a strong opening stand of 91 runs from Kelaniya, but Colombo struck back once that partnership was broken.
Kekirideniya once again delivered, finishing with 6 for 30 to dismiss Kelaniya for 199.
Chasing 200, de Zoysa (89*) and skipper Bandara (60*) guided Colombo to a nine-wicket victory with nine overs to spare.
Colombo’s campaign was marked by several standout individual performances.
De Zoysa finished as the tournament’s top run-scorer with 361 runs at an average of 72.20, followed by Amarasinghe with 266 runs.
Kekirideniya topped the wicket-taking charts with 20 wickets at an average of 6.5, while Randeni contributed both with bat and ball, claiming 15 wickets and scoring 144 runs.
Wicketkeeper Geenod Induwara also made an impact, recording 10 dismissals.
Be the first to comment