RP Lifted Cricket Invitational POL-ITE championship for the first time in History

Five years of drought has come to an end with a glamorous win over defending champions from Temasek Polytechnic (TP) in the finals of the Cricket Invitational POL-ITE championship 2009 as our Republic Polytechnic (RP) cricket team won the Gold medal for the first time in history. This year, it was a triangular series between RP, TP and Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), where RP got all honours and clinched Gold while TP received the Silver and NYP Bronze. This victory was dream come true for all RP cricketers ever since they started playing in the POL-ITE games for the past five years. This year, RP’s cricket team took part in POL-ITE games under the captaincy of Uditha Fonseka. Kolitha Wimalarathne was the vice captain who was outstanding behind the stumps as the wicketkeeper throughout the tournament. The team was well balanced with senior players and freshers. RP coach Ifthikar Haider who has been coaching RP’s team for 3 years put his best effort to bring the team up to a level where they played quality cricket and showed very good sportsmanship throughout the tournament. The advisors of cricket IG, Mr.Prasanna Kumar and Mr. Saju Sudhi who have been supporting and guiding the players from the beginning of the season, gave a strong motivation to all the players. All the hard work has paid off in this historic moment in RP cricket and will always be etched in our memory.

RP Vs NYP

RP trashed NYP in their first match and beat them by a huge margin of 117 runs. This glorious win helped to boost the team’s moral for the finals against TP which was held a week later. RP skipper Uditha Fonseka won the toss and decided to bat first. The two RP openers Vidura Nimalarathne and Uditha fonseka came to the center. RP lost 2 quick wickets of Vidura and Gehan Kaushal in the very first over and was in trouble with the score of 10 for 2 wickets. This put an early pressure on RP. But RP recovered from the damage soon after, as the 2-down batsman Sahan Abenayake and Uditha Fonseka put a 3rd wicket stand of 77 runs where Skipper Uditha scored a brilliant half century (54) and Sahan scored a brilliant 36. RP finished their 35 overs and went pass 200 mark and gave a mamoth target of 216, thanks to Ajay Daniel and Charith De silva who contributed very well with some quick knocks of 24 and 27 respectively.

NYP came to the crease to chase RP’s score of 215. It was a very big challenge for them to reply against the strong RP bowling attack. RP’s open fast bowlers Vidura Nimalarathne and Ajay Daniel started their hunt from the 2nd over onwards and NYP started losing wickets in regular intervals. It was an awesome spell from the two RP fast bowlers and they were well supported by the other two fast bowlers, Sahan Abenayake and Reghunath Menon. None of the NYP batsmen could survive in the crease for long against the well disciplined and attacking RP bowling performance. Ajay Daniel was the highlight who bowled a superb spell and picked up 6 wickets for just 23 runs. Sahan and Vidura shared 2 wickets each and RP wrapped up NYP batting order for just 98 runs. Overall fielding performance was great as everyone was on their toes and this placed extra pressure on NYP batsman. It was indeed a tremendous performance by TEAM RP!

Final - RP Vs TP

It was an exciting day as the two unbeaten teams RP and TP met each other in the finals. There were lots of expectations from both sides as both teams met head to head with plenty of key players. RP and TP made their way to the finals after beating NYP by huge margins in their first game. RP captain Uditha Fonseka won the toss and decided to bat first despite the wet outfield due to overnight rain. RP openers Vidura and Uditha came to the center and started off the innings well by lifting RP’s hopes where they put first wicket partnership of 51 runs. Skipper Uditha Fonseka was the first wicket after making a good knock of 26. Immediately after the first wicket vidura got run out and that decreased the run rate. Sahan Abeynayake joined with Gehan Kaushal and tried to build up the innings again. Sahan got out when he was batting well for 24 runs and vice captain Kolitha’s early dismissal put RP back in trouble. From that point onwards RP batsman were struggling to bring up the run rate. 1 down batsman Gehan Kaushal who made his final appearance in POL-ITE games played a very determined fight back knock of 31 whereas wickets were falling from the other end. RP all out for 142 in their 35 overs and set a winning target of 143 for TP.

It seemed to be a bit tough to defend the total of 142 against strong TP batting line up. But RP players approached the field with lots of courage and they got 2 vital breakthroughs in the first two overs. This put RP right back in game and the two open bowlers Reghunath Menon and Ajay Daniel capitalised on it by getting quick wickets in regular intervals. TP started losing their wickets and put RP in a very strong position where they lost 6 top order batsmen even before the total reach 50. Regunath and Ajay bowled exceptionally well for RP by taking 2 wickets and 3 wickets respectively. Sahan and Vidura were brought into attack later and they gave what RP skipper wanted by taking 1 wicket each and TP left with 1 wicket in hand with a total of 67. That time RP was just about to celebrate their first ever victory but TP captain Samal Lokuwithana tried to take the game away from RP with his explosive knock at the end of their innings. But TP’s last batsman Vishnu was bowled by RP skipper Uditha when TP’s total was at 109 and celebrations started on the field as RP beat TP comprehensively by 33 runs. It was such an exciting and stylish finish by Team RP as they played the final on a very aggressive mode and as a team. Team RP put up their best fight against TP this year after losing to TP in the finals last year.

It was the final appearance in POL-ITE games for many players. They all made their best performances in this final POL-ITE tournament.Uditha Fonseka, Kolitha Wimalarathne, Gehan Kaushal, Charith De Silva, Vishara Wijesekara , Sanjay Kumar and Dilhan Jayasuriya finished up their cricket career in style with this victory.

RP cricket team would like to send their gratitude to all the staff in OSG for providing all the necessary requirements, courage and hopes to clinch this championship. They would also like to thank everyone who supported them.