10th Anniversary Law Medical Cricket Match and Netball Match 2013

10th Anniversary Law Medical Cricket Match and Netball Match 2013
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On 6th July 2013, a beautiful warm summer’s day, Srilankan lawyers and doctors in the UK gathered together at the picturesque Harrow school cricket ground for their annual cricket and net ball encounters.

The lawyers’ 1st xi skipper Chathura Warnasuriya won the toss and elected to bowl first. Thanks to a solid 2nd wicket partnership between M.Wickramasinghe (34 ) and the skipper Vinod Elangasinghe ( 61) followed by an unbeaten 36 from M.Kanagaratne the doctors 1st xi reached a score of 174 for 5 in their 40 overs. The lawyers produced a good bowling performance with particularly good economical spells from Manoj Warnapala , Harsha Rupasinghe and Navin.

The lawyers’ inning was in trouble at the beginning with 2 wickets down for just 26 before two brilliant fast scoring partnerships involving Manoj Warnapala (62), Harsha Rupasinghe (25) and Ruwan Warnapala( 13) took them to a strong position. Two quick wickets in the middle of the inning put the match right back in the balance with the lawyers 5 wickets down for 128. Ajantha Jayatunge and Dhammika Premadasa bowled particularly well for the doctors taking a wicket each for not many runs. Hemantha Warnapala ( 24 not out ) and Rangan Balakumar ( 16 not out) carefully negotiated some good spin bowling with an unbeaten 49 run partnership taking the lawyers’ 1st xi to a comfortable 5 wicket victory with 5 overs to spare.

At the same time in the adjoining cricket field the 2nd teams of the lawyers and doctors displayed their skills. The doctors 2nd xi batting first put up a healthy score of 169 despite some good bowling from Anura Hegoda (4 wickets) and Chanaka Wijeratne ( 2 wickets). The match then turned out to be a one sided affair with the lawyers’ 2nd xi collapsing to 64 all out to hand over a huge 105 run victory to the doctors’ 2nd xi.

The two cricket matches were played in a good enjoyable atmosphere with a little bit of traditional friendly banter on the part of both the doctors and the lawyers.

Whilst the men battled on the field the women took to the grounds as Dr Malathie Peiris led the Law-Medical Netball Team for doctors and Ruwanthie Warnapala led the lawyers Netball Team. In spite of the valiant attempts by both lawyers and the doctors to outmaneuver each other, the third Law Medical Netball match was won by doctors for the third time.

Members of the two professional organisations, their friends and families were treated to a good day out with live music and Srilankan cuisine on offer at the ground. A tug o’ war, won by the doctors, too provided plenty of entertainment to the participants and the onlookers.

A big thank you is due to the captains of the teams and to all the organisers , particularly Wasantha Tennakoon, without whose efforts such a successful event would not have been possible.