By Janani Vithanage
Sri Lankan cricket may ot have been on its best footing over the past few years, but it’s clear by what we saw on the Saturday night at the Pallekale stadium that our boys are back – and they mean business! Wanindu Hasaranga’s four wicket haul in the fiercely fought over 2nd T20 was just a taste of the passion and spirit we would see in the final T20 match. Dasun Shanaka’s legendary captain’s knock of 54 off just 25 balls was nothing short of electrifying, as he hit 5 fours and 4 sixes to absolutely demolish the powerful Aussie bowling attack. Accompanied at the crease by Chamika Karunaratne, the pair scored 59 in the final 3 overs; the most runs any team has successfully chased in the history of T20 cricket!
Watching the crowds go crazy in the stands, while the rest of us went nuts in front of our TVs, it was obvious that this victory couldn’t have come at a better time, as the country crawls through the worst economic crisis it’s ever faced. The best news is that there’s more excitement to come! Our Lankan lions will square off against the men from down under in 5 ODI matches, scheduled to be held on the 14th and 16th at the Pallekale International Cricket Stadium, then on the 19th, 21st and 24th at the R. Premadasa Stadium, all from 2:30 pm onwards.
We all know that the best way to watch cricket is with friends and family, so we’ve compiled a list of 5 places you can go to enjoy the cricket alongside some excellent food and drink.
1. Ramada Colombo
Enjoy the live streaming of matches on a large projected screen and four smaller TVS while indulging in Happy Hours from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Secret Garden and Oasis Lounge Bar. They also offer some amazing all-day special bottle deals, including black or white Bacardi for LKR 7500, Kirov Vodka for LKR 7500, White Lake Vodka for LKR 14 250 and Finlandia Vodka for LKR 15 100! Pair these exciting offers with delicious bites, including staples like chicken wings, hot butter cuttlefish, fries and cheese platters, as well as more exotic options such as their Japanese-style crispy chicken and mutton fried in garlic. You can find them at 30, Sir Mohomad Macan Makar Mawatha, Colombo 3.
For more details, call 0112 422 001.
2. Movenpick Hotel Colombo
Vistas, Movenpick Hotel’s rooftop bar, with its large screen and special bottle deals, is definitely one of Colombo’s finest spots to enjoy game day. Their Happy Hours are from 4-7 PM. Vistas offers a special match deal of a Rockland bottle, with complimentary bottle cases, chicken buffalo wings, manioc chips and devilled pork, for just LKR 9500!
Contact them on 0117 450 450.
3. Playtrix Sports Bar and Grill
Located on the 1st floor of Colombo City Center, the screening here is sure to have you and your buddies celebrating every four, six, wicket and catch! Their Happy Hours are from 5 to 7 PM. Their main menu includes a wide range of burgers, sandwiches, rice and pasta. Their bites are most popular on match days, consisting of crowd favourites like chicken wings, pepper pork, cheese fritters, hot butter calamari, beer battered prawns and devilled cashew, at a price range of LKR 800-1900. The beverage menu is extremely extensive, ranging from mocktails, soft drinks and coffee to a variety of both local and international bottles priced at LKR 800-8000 per drink and LKR 9500-30 000 per bottle. What’s more, they house 20 different screens; 1 large projected screen and 19 TVs of various sizes.
Call 076 547 7577 for enquiries.
4. Virticle by Jetwing
Perched high above the Colombo skyline, Vertical by Jetwing, on the 30th floor of the Access Towers II, is the city’s highest open-air rooftop bar and restaurant. Home to one of the largest screens in Colombo, this is the perfect place to watch the matches while enjoying fancy cocktails, a plethora of local and international drinks and bar delicacies. Their mains menu includes burgers, sandwiches and wraps, pasta, rice and pizzas from LKR 1500-2300, while the bites menu is includes fried or devilled meat, baked cashew, chicken satay, mutton patties, chickpeas, hot butter calamari and tuna and cheese sticks at LKR 1000-2200. Their beverage menu is incredibly diverse, with fresh fruit juice, smoothies and coffee. The highlight of the menu is the plethora of bottles, ranging from LKR 9500-150 000. Also keep an eye out for their wines and signature cocktails priced at LKR 900-1800 per glass.
Contact them on 070 735 5355 if you have any enquiries.
5. The Cricket Club Cafe
Featuring walls lined with cricket memorabilia including caps, bats, balls and gloves from cricketing legends like Arjuna Ranatunga, Shane Warne, Sir Don Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar, the Cricket Club and Cafe, located at 12, Flower Road, Colombo 7, is every cricket enthusiasts dream destination. They serve a range of burgers, sandwiches, pastas, rice and stir fries in the LKR 1500-3000 range, and almost all the dishes are named after famous cricketers! Their drinks menu consists of smoothies, milkshakes, fresh fruit juice and coffee priced at LKR 500-900. You can watch the matches on either their large screen, or one of the 3 smaller TVs.
You can contact them on +94 112574394 / +94 11 4345854 for further details
6. Marino Mall Food Emporium
This makes for a fun-filled family outing, where kids and adults alike can enjoy the matched being streamed on a large projected screen, whilst digging into treats like burgers, pizzas, milkshakes and mocktails, all within the affordable price range of LKR 400-2000. They also have a super-cute Father’s Day offer for the 3rd ODI on the 19th, where Dads can bake their own pizzas at 25% off and serve it up to their families!
For further details, call them on 077 257 6526.
7. CHATZ
Located at 79, Horton Place, Colombo 7, CHATZ, with its relaxed, informal atmosphere is a convenient spot to meet up and cheer on our boys, while enjoying great food and drinks. They serve a range of bites including chicken buffalo wings, pork, beef, seafood and fries. If you’re feeling a bit more peckish, you can opt for something from their main menu, which includes pasta, sandwiches, kottu, grilled items and their signature 9-minute rice. They serve fresh juice and mocktails, while customers are allowed to bring in their own bottles if they wish. The price range is LKR 1000-2500.
Call them up on 0117 226 888 for more details.
Pick your place, gather your fellow cricket fans and support our lions as they do what they do best – ROAR!
