Sydney University Cricket Club’s team representing Australia at the fifth Red Bull Campus Cricket world Twenty 20 finals lost their three pool matches at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo.
The players have returned to Sydney in time for the opening round of the 2016-17 Sydney Grade competition which starts this Saturday.
Sydney University were all out for 74 in the Round 1 Red Bull game after losing the toss and being sent in by the University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh. Skipper Ben Trevor-Jones topscored with 28.
The hosts then rattled up 75 without loss in 6.5 overs, with MD Hasanuzzaman cracking 52 off 24 deliveries, including nine boundaries and a six.
In their second round match against University of Pretoria, representing South Africa, the opposition scored 6-186, with Rubin Hermann’s 55 not out off 34 balls including seven boundaries and a six.
Sydney University were restricted to 8-132 off their 20 overs, with No.3 Hayden Kerr topscoring with 53 from 42 deliveries, including five boundaries and two sixes.
Loughborough University, England, accounted for Sydney University by 44 runs in the Round 3 match at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.
Loughborough won the toss and posted 4-211 off their 20 overs with opener Michael Burgess cracking 75 off 38 deliveries and No.6 Charlie Lowen hitting an unbeaten 46 off 25 balls.
Sydney University replied with 8-167, thanks to 68 off 50 deliveries from No.4 Nicholas Craze. His knock included seven boundaries and three sixes.
The Business Management School, Sri Lanka, won the 2016 title with a 24-run result over the University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh, at the Galle International Stadium.
Sri Lanka racked up 9-191 after being sent in to bat, and restricted Bangladesh to 8-167.
Sydney University team manager Gary Whitaker said the squad was made up of players from First Grade through to Fourth Grade.
“We played against many first-class cricketers and international T20 Test players, so we did it tough,” he said. “We played our best cricket in the last round match.
“It was a great experience for the players and we’ll be better prepared if we win another AUG campaign and get to represent Australia again at this international tournament.”
The ICC sanctioned Red Bull Campus Cricket is billed as the world championship of college cricket. Sydney University won the 2016 Australian University Games cricket title to earn the right to represent Australia at the tournament.
The fifth edition of the competition was hosted by Sri Lanka. Teams from eight countries – Sri Lanka, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Pakistan, South Africa and United Arab Emirates – qualified through their own national competitions for the 2016 tournament.
The eight teams were divided into two groups of four with the group stages taking place at the headquarters of Sri Lankan cricket, the Sinhalese Sports Club, in Colombo. The semi-finals and final were held at the Galle International Stadium.
