Exciting cricket on the cards as Galle’s top teams enter the fray

Text and pics by P.D. de Silva

An exciting two days of cricket is expected when Richmond College host Mahinda College at the Galle International Cricket Stadium for the 113th Lover’s Quarrel on 16th and 17th of March. Both teams boast of top players in the schools cricketing arena as well having performed creditably this season to be on par.

Mahinda College led by Reshan Kavinda lead group A of the Schools under 19 division one two day league tournament with 144.470 points registering five outright wins, 2 first innings wins and losing first innings in one game to be ranked the overall number one team in the division at the end of the first round.

Richmond College playing in group C of the tournament registered three outright wins three first innings wins while losing the first innings in one game and outright in another to be placed second in the group with 125.420 points and ranked overall seventh at the end of the first round of the division one tournament.

On the whole it is a remarkable performance as both schools had to play most of the tournament without the services of their best players who were called to represent Sri Lanka at the ICC under 19 Cricket World Cup this year.

Richmond College’s Kamindu Mendis led the Sri Lanka under 19 team while Richmond skipper Dhananjaya Lakshan and Mahinda’s Nipun Malinga were members of the 15 member squad.

The big match in Galle has a history dating back from 1905 according to the record books. The highest individual score 162 runs by P H K H Ranasinghe (Mahinda) while the best bowling performance in an innings 10/44 by S. Ambewatte also from Mahinda in 1953.

Best bowling performance in a match 8/09 and 7/06 was achieved by R M M de Silva of Richmond way back in 1922; while the best allround performance in a match 103 not out and 10/44 and 5/61 was performed by S Ambewatte of Mahinda in 1953.

Mahinda’s last win came in 2008 while the last Richmond victory was in 2015.

The Mahinda College team for the 113th confrontation will be selected from Reshan Kavinda, Vinura Dulsara, Ashen Kandambi, Hansika Welihinda, Navod Paranavithana, Kavindu Ediriweera, K. K. Kevin, Prameeth Thewarapperuma, Nipun Malinga, Pasan Pethangoda, Kalindu Edirisinghe, Subanu Rajapaksha, Chamika Lahiru, Ashen Shamika, Asela Priyadarshana.

Mahinda College team is coached by Anil Rideegammana while Aravinda Rathnayaka is the Master in Charge.

This year’s hosts Richmond College will be led by Dhananjaya Lakshan and will be selected from Avindu Theekshana, Kamindu Mendis, Thaveesha Abhishek, Adithya Siriwardena, Sandun Mendis, Vinuja Kiriella, Vishmitha Wijesiri, Dilum Sudeera, Amshi de Silva, Sammu Vimud Sapnaka, Akash Kavinda, Sugeeth Nimnada, Chamath Dilsara.

The Richmond team is coached by Dhammika Sudarshana and the Prefect of Games S R Nanayakkara is in charge of the team.

The Mahinda College team: Reshan Kavinda leads the Mahinda team to the 113th Lover’s Quarrel. He is a third year player who is a left hand batsman and right arm medium pace bowler.

Vinura Dulsara is a third year player and the Vice captain of the side. He is a left hand batsman and the wicket keeper of the side.

Ashen Kandambi is a third year player. He is a Right hand batsman and right arm off spinner.

Hansika Welihinda is a fourth year player and led the Mahinda team at the 112th Lover’s Quarrel. He is a right hand batsman who opens the innings for Mahinda.

Navod Paranavithana is a third year player who is a left hand batsman and left arm leg spinner.

Kavindu Ediriweera is a 2nd-year player and bats left hand and bowls right arm off breaks.

K. K. Kevin was a member of the Sri Lanka U-19 team for the Asia Cup in 2017. He is a second-year player; bats left hand and bowls right arm leg spin.

Prameeth Thewarapperuma is a second year player and is a right hand batsman and a right arm medium fast bowler.

Nipun Malinga is a second year player. He is a left hand middle order batsman and bowls right arm fast. He represented Sri Lanka at the U-19 World Cup and a member of the Sri Lanka Under 19 team that toured Australia in 2017.

Pasan Pethangoda is a 2nd year player who is a right hand batsman and left arm leg spin bowler.

Kalindu Edirisinghe is a 2nd year player and is a Right hand batsman. He also bowls right arm medium pace.

Subanu Rajapaksha is a Fresher and is a Right hand batsman and right arm off spinner.

Chamika Lahiru is a Fresher and is a Right hand batsman and right arm off spin bowler.

Ashen Shamika -- a Fresher and a right hand batsman and right arm off spin bowler.

Asela Priyadarshana is a Fresher. Right hand batsman is the second wicket keeper of the side.

The Richmond College team: Dhananjaya Lakshan is a fifth year player and will lead the Richmond team to the 113th Lover’s Quarrel. He is a Left hand batsman and a right arm fast bowler. He has a century to his credit at the last big match. Dhananjaya was also a member of the Sri Lanka under 19 team at this year’s ICC under 19 Cricket world cup.

Avindu Theekshana also a 5th year player is the vice-captain. He is a left hand batsman and bowls left arm orthodox spin.

Kamindu Mendis is a 6th year player. Kamindu has led the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket team in 2016, 2017 and the Sri Lanka under 19 team at the 2018 ICC under 19 cricket world cup. He is a left hand batsman and an ambidextrous spin bowler.

Thaveesha Abhishek is a 3rd year player who is a right hand batsman and right arm off spin bowler.

Adithya Siriwardena is a 3rd year player. He is a right hand batsman and bowls right arm fast.

Sandun Mendis is a 2nd year player and Kamindu’s younger sibling. He is a right hand batsman and bowls right arm off spin.

Vinuja Kiriella is a 2nd year player. Vinuja is a left hand batsman and bowls right arm pace.

Vishmitha Wijesiri is a 2nd year player who is a right hand batsman and bowls Right arm off spin.

Dilum Sudeera is a Fresher. He is a right hand batsman and a left arm leg spin bowler.

Amshi de Silva is a fresher. Amshi is a right hand batsman and bowls right arm pace.

Sammu Vimud Sapnaka is a fresher and the Wicket Keeper. He is a right hand batsman.

Akash Kavinda is also a fresher. Akash is a right hand batsman and a right arm fast bowler.

Sugeeth Nimnada is a fresher and a right hand batsman and bowls left arm leg spin.

Chamath Dilsara is a fresher. He is a right hand bat and bowls right arm leg spin.