Sri Lanka Embassy in Rome wins Runner Up & Best Food Trophies at Commonwealth Club Cricket Cup 2024
The Sri Lanka Embassy in Rome, Italy took part in the Commonwealth Club Cricket Cup 2024 and Commonwealth Food Fair organised by the Commonwealth Club of Rome, Italy, in collaboration with the Italian Cricket Federation held last weekend on Saturday, 28th September 2024 at the Roma Cricket Ground, Via Valle di Perna SNC Spinaceto. First time entrant to the Cricket tournament, the Sri Lanka Embassy Team won the Runner Up Trophy.
The Embassy played in two 5 over matches in its Group B category. Ambassador Satya Rodrigo won the toss and the Sri Lanka Embassy team fielded first and limited the British Embassy team to 32 runs and defeated the British Embassy by posting 74 runs, not out setting the highest record of the tournament, beating a previous record set by Bangladesh for 65 runs. For the second match, the Sri Lanka Embassy Team played against the Bangladesh Embassy, who had won the Champions Trophy for 2023, and defeated them with 58 runs against their 42 runs. The Sri Lanka Embassy then played in the semi-finals against the Commonwealth Team. The Embassy batted first posting 65 runs and lost to the Commonwealth Club Team who posted 66 runs, in a nail-biting finish down to one run from the last ball, to lose to the Commonwealth Club Team that won the Champions Trophy and The Sri Lanka Embassy won the Runner Up Trophy. The Sri Lanka Team Uniform was sponsored by Soloviaggi S.R.L. Travel agent in Rome.
The Embassy also took part in the Commonwealth Food Fair 2024 held alongside the tournament and provided Sri Lankan tea and some food with the participation of Mission staff and Sri Lankan restaurants in Rome-, Ceylon Chef, Suresh Food & Drinks, Seven Lanka and Manju Catering Service; that provided a variety of delicious Sri Lankan food ranging from Kottu Rotti, Cutlets, Chicken and Vegetable Samosas, Fried Prawns, Fish Rolls and Cupcakes by Sweet Heart Bakers that delighted participants and there were long lines at Sri Lanka Embassy Stall and the Embassy was awarded the Best Food Trophy for 2024, beating the Bangladesh Embassy that had won the previous year.
It was the first time the Sri Lanka Embassy in Rome had taken part in the Commonwealth Club Cricket Tournament with other diplomatic missions, organisations and Cricket Clubs Teams consisting of the British and Bangladesh Embassies, the British Army XI (London), UN Rome based agencies, the Commonwealth Club and JFC Naples (NATO). The Cricket Cup Tournament was started in 2017 by the Commonwealth Club of Rome to promote diplomacy, competitive spirit and the game of cricket in Rome, amongst the Commonwealth members, as well as with the larger international and diplomatic community in Italy.
The Ambassador and Staff of the Embassy deeply appreciated the support from various members of the Sri Lankan community in Rome to assist the Embassy take part in the event and was pleased to win two Trophies as a first-time participant. The Sri Lanka Embassy looked forward to start a Youth Cricket Team to raise more awareness of the game in Italy and to take part in the Tournament in 2025.
Embassy of Sri Lanka