South Africa beat Sri Lanka to claim the Red Bull Campus Cricket World title

The Red Bull Campus Cricket World finals 2017 concluded earlier today as Northwest University (NWU) of South Africa kept their winning streak intact to overpower Sri Lanka’s Business Management School (BMS) by seven wickets and claim the coveted title. After winning the toss and putting BMS to bat, NWU’s bowlers stood up to their reputation and bowled out the hosts for 121 in 18.4 overs at the picturesque Galle International Cricket Stadium.

The team from Sri Lanka had a mixed performance with the willow as apart from M. Sarathchandra (24), D. Wikramanayake (21) and C. Karunarathne (29) no other batsman succeeded in reaching the two figure mark. The Proteas put up a disciplined bowling performance to restrict the Islanders to a meagre run-a-ball target.

The team from NWU also displayed good fielding all throughout the match as the visitors exploited the conditions handsomely. On the other hand, BMS batsmen failed to step up to the pressure and went back to the pavilion one by one.

The Sri Lankan bowlers faced an uphill task

With an uphill task of restricting 121 on the scoreboard, the bowlers put up a valiant effort. The spinners did good but the lack of support from the pacers accounted to their loss. NWU’s batsmen started on a steady note but BMS’ ploy to bring spinners early worked as off-spinner K. Jayawickrama sent back opener Wihan Lubbe (2) in the second over of the game with the scoreboard reading 10/1. But J. Malan (64 not out) and M. Ackerman (23) forged a 48-run partnership before the latter was dismissed by another off-spinner G. Wimaladharma in the seventh over.

Wicketkeeper E. Lubbe was also dismissed early by Jayawickrama while trying to score quickly. At the halfway mark, the scoreboard was read 73/3 as new batsmen R. Haasbroek joined the in-form J. Malan and forged an unbeaten 50-run partnership and guided their team home in just 15.2 overs.