News
Cricket Tour to Sri Lanka
Three Berkhamsted squads embarked on a cricket tour and a trip of a lifetime to the wonderful island of Sri Lanka during the Easer holidays.
38 boys benefited from this unique experience in preparation of the cricket season. They were supported by a travelling group of parents and staff.
Each squad had the opportunity to play five matches, each in testing conditions which saw temperatures rise to 34 degrees, as well as experiencing the delights of the Sri Lankan culture.
Cricket tour with a Test Match arena
Starting with a short stay and a first match in Negombo the tour then progressed to the mountainous region in Kandy. The boys played fixtures at the Pakallele Intentional Stadium (a venue that hosted the England vs. Sri Lanka Test Match and ODI in October 2018). Further matches in Kurunegala and the capital Colombo proceeded the final destination in the south of the country for some well-deserved rest and relaxation on the beaches of Hikkaduwa.
Sri Lanka Tour 2019 – C team pictures part 2, including three grateful boys who all received prizes, and a snap of Oliver T blasting his way to a game changing half century. pic.twitter.com/Jof6WeFCBu
— Berkhamsted Sport (@BerkoSport) April 12, 2019
All three squads played some fabulous cricket with both the ‘A’ XI and ‘B’ XI winning three of their five matches with memorable victories against St Thomas’ College, Colombo for the A team and SA Cricket Academy for the B XI. The C XI went one better and remained unbeaten on tour.
There was also time for the boys and staff to visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, climb the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya, tour the tea plantations and cinnamon farms on a river adventure and see first-hand the diverse wildlife the island had to offer from cobras to turtles and crocodiles to monitor lizards.
Kindness for the community
One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to a local rural school to hand over the cricket kit that had been kindly donated by the Berkhamsted School. The collection, which had been masterminded by Year 12 pupil Finn Mortimore, was a wonderful way in which to support this cricket mad nation in a small but important way.
Members of the tour group built a great rapport and friendships with local communities in Sri Lanka. The news of the Easter Sunday attacks that devastated Negombo, Batticaloa and Colombo has deeply saddened all of us. Our thoughts are with all those affected.
