Down The Wicket’23 was the fun-filled attractive one-day cricket tournament organized by the Sports and Entertainment Avenue of Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya. It was held on the 18th of February 2023, at the Polhena ground with a large crowd of enthusiastic cricket lovers.
Cricket is one of the most enjoyed sports in Sri Lanka without any age barrier. The history of Sri Lankan cricket and its achievements are definite proof of it. The project “Down The Wicket’23” aimed to bring back the never-lost glory of the game and enhance enthusiasm among the youth and teenagers. The project ‘Down The Wicket’ was initiated by the Sports and Entertainment Avenue of the Rotaract Club of the University of Kelaniya with the hope of enhancing the fun, joy and personal growth among Rotaractors and Non-Rotaractors while parallelly building interpersonal relationships with other Rotaract Clubs.
There were several objectives of organizing this most awaited softball cricket tournament. They are, to motivate the audience to search, analyze and recognize the eminence of cricket, motivate students/undergraduates to engage in sports, encourage youth to build up bonds through team spirit and teamwork and learn self-discipline while acquiring skills needed for the sport. The expected outcomes accomplished through this cricket tournament were, building fellowship in the club through sports and recreational activities to work as one big team, initiating a platform where each Rotaractor who is into sports is valued and giving them opportunities to change their lives, initiating a better relationship among the clubs and strive to make a difference.
Down The Wicket, which was organized under the theme of ‘Together, Stronger’, indeed established itself with the participation of 30 cricket teams entering the tournament from all across the country. Rtn. Rtr. IPP Rashmika Silva, Rtr. PP Nazmi Mahamood, Rtr. IPP Kavinda Senarathne and Rtr. IPP Nimsara Fernando honored the event with their presence as the invited guests for the special cricket matches.
There were shivers of excitement throughout the event which was heightened with mixed voices of awe among the crowd as the bats and balls were in action. Subsequently, the Kurunegala NSBM team conquered the championship and team KDU was the victorious runners-up in the Down The Wicket ‘23 softball cricket tournament.
Cricket matches are not always about winning or losing, but they can be a place where you enjoy and share the amazing spirit of cricket itself while standing together as cricket enthusiasts bringing all as one big team. To make the day indelible in the Rotaract calendar, the fabulous organizing committee of Down the Wicket had organized gaming stalls, food stalls, a DJ and even a photo booth to entertain our cricket lovers who joined to witness and experience the day.
The immense dedication of the Directors, the Team Leaders, the Organizing Committee and all the members of the Sports and Entertainment Avenue should indeed be appreciated for the outstanding and remarkable event. A day of fabulous memories was thus concluded with the hope of bringing back another spirited cricket tournament to the cricket lovers the next year.
Stay tuned for DOWN THE WICKET ‘24!
