Hotel Dolphin win cricket title

K A K Mendis came up with a superb all round performance to steer Club Hotel Dolphin, to lift the Negombo Hoteliers Cricket title at the 34th annual tournament concluded at the Kadol-kale stadium, Negombo recently.

Club Hotel Dolphin, thus dethroned the defending champions, since 2008, Camelot Beach Hotel, beating them by four wickets with five balls to spare.

Mendis carried away the Best Bowlers award (07 for 35 in 06 matches) and the Man of the Tournament award while Camelot's Sampath Ariyaratne was adjudged as the Best Batsman.

Twenty four teams from the Negombo Region, from Wattala to Waikkal participated in this very popular tournament, organized by the Negombo Hoteliers Association.

Tournament Results at a glance:

Quarter finals: Golden Star 52/5 (5) lost to Club Hotel Dolphin 58/0, Jetwing Beach 34/5 (5) beat Jetwing Blue Oceanic 30/5 Goldi Sands 56/4 lost to Tamarind Tree Hotel 58/4 Camelot Beach 65/5 (4) beat Pegasus Reef 58/5.

Semi finals: Club Hotel Dolphin 67/4 (5) beat Jetwing Beach 46/5 (4.3): Tamarind Tree Hotel 48/5 (4.5) lost to Camelot Beach 54/3 (3.5).

Final: Club Hotel Dolphin 59/1 (4.1) (K A K Mendis 35, Ruwan Wijeratne 15 not out) Camelot Beach: 58/3 (L. Lakshitha 25, Sampath Ariyaratne 20, Palitha Gunasekera 2/15. The tournament's main sponsors were Asia Pacific Brewery Lanka Ltd., Cold Stores & HNB.