BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – In a repeat of the official World Cup staged earlier this year in their homeland, India overturned Sri Lanka to win the Lawyers’ World Cup by 22 runs on Saturday here.
Before a modest crowd that included some of legends of Barbados and West Indies cricket including Sir Garfield Sobers, the Indians dismissed the Sri Lankans for 128 in 29.1 overs, successfully defending a target of 151 in the Final under the lights at the Three Ws Oval.
A terminal batting collapse that saw eight wickets fall for 50 runs condemned the Sri Lankans to the same fate as their national side in the official World Cup.
Opener Wajahat Rizvi hit just one six in the top score of 41 off 61 balls, as India, sent in to bat, were dismissed for 150 in 29.2 of their allocation of 30 overs.
Abhishek Awaasthi, who went to the crease at No. 5, made 33 not out off 28 balls with one four, as the batsmen found difficulty in hitting boundaries.
Manesh Wevita took three for 29 off four overs and Nalinda Rathnayake picked up three for 34 off six overs.
The Sri Lankans seemed on track, reaching 78 for two at the end of the 17th over, but three late run outs undermined their chase.
Opener Priyantha Rajapaksha led the way for the Sri Lankans with 30, and Yohan Jinasena made 22.
Sunil Rajput took two for 15, and Aditya Kumar, two for eight, both from six overs.
West Indies Lions, one of two teams from the Caribbean in the competition, reached the semi-finals, but lost to India.
Scores:
INDIA LAWYERS 150 off 29.2 overs (Wajahat Rizvi 41, Abishek Awasthi 33; Manesh Wevita 3-29, Nalinda Ratnayake 3-34, Pradeep Heenkenti 2-35)
SRI LANKA LAWYERS 128 off 29.1 overs (Priyantha Rajapaksha 30, Yohan Jinasena 22; Sunil 2-15, Aditya Kumar 2-8)
