In a refreshing break from the usual office routine, employees from five prominent companies(Dialog ,Epic lanka,Ican lanka,CBA ,nCloud Solutions)recently gathered for a friendly cricket match aimed at fostering team spirit, camaraderie, and healthy competition. The match, organized as part of a team-building event, saw players from various departments set aside their work roles and come together to showcase their sporting skills and enthusiasm.
The match took place at the S.D.S. Jayasinghe Central College Ground, where a good crowd gathered, including families, friends, and cricket enthusiasts.
On match day, players arrived in team uniforms, with company logos proudly displayed. The energy was palpable as the teams gathered for warm-ups, with friendly banter flying across the pitch. There was an evident sense of unity as employees from different departments engaged with one another, sharing tips, laughter.
Our team (nCloud)
Our company’s cricket team is made up of a diverse group of individuals, each bringing their own strengths, skills, and enthusiasm to the game. Here’s a closer look at the key members of our team,
- Sohan – Captain+wicket keeper
- Lochana – Vice Captain+all rounder
- Dilshan – All rounder
- Gihan – Batsman+Bowler
- Ravidu – Batsman+Bowler
- Nishantha – Batsman+Bowler
- Gayashan – Batsman
- Lakshan – Batsman
- Sandeepa – Batsman
- Nadun – Batsman
- Kasun – Batsman
- Januth – Reserve
- Kavidu – Reserve
Each member of our company cricket team plays a crucial role in ensuring the team’s success. From seasoned professionals to newcomers eager to learn, everyone contributes to the team’s spirit of unity, sportsmanship, and enjoyment.
1st match begins
- At the end of the 6th over ncloud( 73-3)..
- Gihan-41(21),Ravidu-16(10), Sohan-3(3)
Dialog chase got off to a shaky start,they lost more than half of the wickets in 1st 3 overs.dialog team were all out by the end of the 5th over ncloud bowlers, though not known for their pace, kept the batsmen on their toes with well-placed deliveries.
- Gihan 4 wickets to 24 runs
- Sohan 3 wickets to 7runs
- Nishantha 1 wicket to no runs
2nd Match
After winning the first match, we analyzed the match summary to plan our next move. In the first game, we bowled out the opposition, with most wickets being clean bowled. This demonstrated our ability to deliver consistent, straight balls targeting the stumps. Additionally, we strategically placed five fielders on the leg side. This setup ensured that if the batsman attempted a cross-bat shot and missed, the ball would go straight to the stumps. Even when the batsman managed to connect with the ball but mistimed the shot, it created catching opportunities in the deep. After this discussion, every player agreed and felt confident that our analysis was accurate, so we decided to stick with the same fielding configuration and game plan, making no changes to our strategy.
We won the toss in match no 2 and invited CBA to bat first. From the very first over, they started striking hard, showing incredible timing, power and class. They gave us no chance to bounce back, consistently smashing the ball with such force that the satisfying sound of the soft ball meeting the willow ensured it would clear the boundary. By the end of their innings, they had set a huge target of 94 runs for 3 wickets in just 6 overs.
After our fielding session, we came to a crucial decision: there was nothing to lose now. We decided to play a do-or-die game since 95% of the match had already slipped out of our hands. The plan was simple, start hitting hard and aim to clear the boundary from the very first ball. We agreed not to worry about losing wickets, even if we got all out, we had to go down fighting. The idea was to smash as many runs as possible, and if the plan worked, we could potentially reach the 60s. From there, we could shift gears and aim for a win. Otherwise, we’d continue swinging for the fences and give it our all.
Unfortunately, we had to stop at 49-8. Even though we lost the game, we now understand that chasing scores in the 80s or 90s is extremely challenging for us. This realization highlighted the need to make adjustments in our bowling strategy to limit the opposition to around 50 runs. With this in mind, we decided to create a new bowling plan for the next to make a strong comeback.
3rd Match
In match number 3, the coin toss went in favor of the Epic Lanka team, who chose to bat first. We made a significant change to our bowling and fielding strategy for this match. We placed five fielders on the offside, a decision that even left the commentators surprised, wondering about our plan. Our focus was on consistently bowling fuller-length deliveries outside the off stump, making it extremely difficult for the opposition to score boundaries on the leg side.Whenever they attempted to force shots in that direction, we created catching opportunities in the deep extra cover, cover, and long-off areas. Even when they moved across to play shots on the leg side, we had our best fielders positioned at deep mid-wicket. It was here that Dilshan pulled off four extraordinary catches, which became a major talking point for the commentators throughout the match.
The plan executed perfectly, and by the end of the opposition’s innings, Epic Lanka were at 57/3. In this match, we also made a change to our opening pair. Sohan and Ravindu came in as the new openers, and they started with a bang. By the end of the second over, the score was 30/0. At that point, the win seemed 100% within our grasp.
However, things took an unfortunate turn. We began to experience a downfall from both ends, with key wickets falling periodically. By the end of the innings, we were at 48/4, and we ultimately lost the match. This was the most heart-breaking moment for us, as it felt like the victory was right in our hands, only to slip away.
The come Back
Match number 4 was the final match in the group stage, and at that time, we were in 4th place on the points table. Only the top 3 teams would qualify for the next round, so securing the 3rd spot was crucial. Winning the next match was mandatory. Even if we won, we still had to wait for the result of the next game in the tournament. If we won our match, we needed CBA to beat ICAN Lanka in their match for us to secure 3rd place. If ICAN Lanka won, they would take the 3rd spot instead. With all these calculations in mind, we knew we had to win our game, no matter what.
Once again, we lost the coin toss, and the opposition invited us to bat first. Everything seemed to spiral out of control as wickets kept falling. At one point, the scoreboard read 16/6 (3.1). At that moment, all our expectations were crushed, and it felt like the best we could manage was 25. With such a low total, it seemed impossible to compete, let alone bowl and win.
In the final over, Dilshan gave us a glimmer of hope by smashing two big sixes and taking quick singles. His efforts lifted the total to 42/7. When he hit the last six, the entire team rallied together, energized and determined. We all looked at each other and said, “Let’s do this. We can still do this.” Everyone was motivated, and the energy in the team was palpable.
After that we took to the field with superb discipline, both in our bowling and fielding. The commentators were left shocked, amazed at the kind of drama we were creating in this tournament.
Waiting time
Once our duties were over, we had to wait for the result of the last game between CBA and ICAN Lanka. If ICAN Lanka won, we would have to pack our bags and get off the tournament. Everyone felt nervous, walking around the ground anxiously. To keep the energy up, we started cheering loudly and supporting CBA, making the tournament’s end very enjoyable. Finally, the moment came in our favor CBA won, and we secured our spot in the semi-finals.
The Semi Final
Now it’s the semi-finals, and we meet Epic Lanka once again. In the group stage, we let the match slip from our hands, but we were strongly determined—this was our chance for revenge. Everyone was fully engaged in the game. It turned out to be another low-scoring match, but once again, we proved that we have the best bowling unit, ending Epic Lanka’s innings at 38-6. This target was easily achievable, and with the power of determination, we smashed through the chase, losing only 3 wickets. This victory unlocked nCloud’s team’s spot in the finals.
Final Match
In the final, the team gave it their all. They faced a formidable opponent who was just as hungry for the win. Despite a valiant effort, they came up just short, falling to our rivals in a hard-fought contest. While the loss was disappointing, finishing as the runners-up was an incredible achievement considering the challenges team had faced earlier in the tournament.
While the team’s journey ended in heartbreak, our performance throughout the competition spoke volumes about the team potential. From strong start to inspiring comeback in the fourth match, team demonstrated resilience, teamwork, and determination. Finishing as runners-up is a testament to our hard work and the progress we’ve made as a team.
Our journey may have ended in second place this time, but it’s clear that we are on the right track for even greater achievements.
