Richmond lead 23 wins to 21...:

Toss will be vital factor in 106th Mahinda vs Richmond cricket clash

by Priyan de Silva - Matara Sports Corr.

106th Richmond vs Mahinda winning the toss will be of utmost importance to the under 19 schools division one champs Richmond College who have been deprived of a big match win for the past 44 years and would be looking forward to force a result when they meet for the 109th Lovers Quarrel at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on the 21st and 22nd March.

Richmond won the inaugural encounter in 1905 and lead the series by 23 wins to 21. The dispute as to who led the series was resolved amicably last year. Mahinda College first won in 1908 and also obtained the last result in the series by forcing a ten wicket win in 2008!

Cricket historian Rohitha Wickremasekera points out that as the match was not played in 1910, 1911, 1912 and 1942 this years encounter should be the 106th Lovers Quarrel which is being physically played!

P.H.K.H. Ranasinghe of Mahinda college scored 162 runs in 1972 to hold the record for the highest score in the series while fellow Mahindian Somsiri Ambawatta scored a century and captured all ten wickets of the Richmond innings in 1953 to hold the bowling record as well as the record for the best all round performance in the series which may never be equaled.

Richmond College

Richmond College are the under 19 division one champs with a mammoth 279 points obtained by registering ten outright wins against Dharmapala, S.Thomas' Mt.Lavinia, St Servatius, Dharmasoka, Prince of Wales, St Aloysius, Revatha, Wesley, S de S Jayasinghe and St Thomas' Matara and four first innings wins against Kingswood, Thurstan, Maliyadewa and Royal this season.

They were unfortunate to conceded first innings losses to Ananda and Nalanda.

Richmond is led by A.K. Tyron who has been a strength to the Sri Lanka under 19 team in 2013 and 2014. He represented the country in the under 19 Asia cup and world cup. Tyron missed most of the school matches this season and has only 27 wickets to his credit this year compared to the 96 he captured last season.

Vice captain Sithara Gimhanaa fourth year player led the Richmondites in most of their outings. A left hand batsman he has scored 810 runs with one century and has had more than 40 victims behind the stumps.Hasitha Madushan is a fourth year player who led the team to a record eleven out right wins and was named the best captain as well as the best fielder last season. A hard hitting left hand batsman Hasitha has more than 800 runs with three consecutive centuries to his credit.

Fourth year player Thisara Bhanuka bowls left arm leg spin and has captured more than 30 wickets while the other fourth year player in the team Chamod Piuman bowls left arm fast and both of them are right hand batsmen.

Right hand batsman Kelum Nanayakkara is a third year player. He has scored more than 800 runs with two centuries to his credit. Third year players Saveen Nanayakkara who has captured 55 wickets with his left arm leg spin, Charith Asalanka who has captured 35 wickets with his right arm off spin and also has 500 runs to his credit with one century, Wanidu Hasaranga who bowls right arm medium fast and right arm leg spin and has scored 700 runs with one century strengthen the team.Second year player Waruna Deshapriya is the most successful bowler in the team this season capturing 84 wickets with his right arm off spin. He has match bags of 10/102 against prince of Wales and 12/113 against St Josephs to his credit. Kamindu Mendis is a second year player who has 350 runs to his credit.

Pasindu Bimsara, Udara Kumarage, Harindu Hasintha and Hashan Chamikara strengthen the team

Mahinda College

Mahinda College are ranked fifth in the under 19 division one points table with 230.15 points. Mahinda registered six outright wins against Nalanda, Maliyadewa, Revatha, Rahula, St Alloysius and Presidents' College.

They won the first innings against St Thomas' Mt Lavinia, Dharmaraja, Dharmasoka, St Anthonys Katugastota and St Servatius College.

They conceded first innings losses to Ananda, Trinity St Josephs and Dharmapala and lost outright to Prince of Wales College.

The Mahindians are led by 4th year player Malith Mahela would go all out to break Richmonds winning streak in the schools tournament this year. Malith has captured 95 wickets including three ten wicket hauls with his right arm leg spin and scored 570 runs.

3rd year player Ishara Akalanka is the vice captain of the team. He keeps wickets for the side and has 40 victims this season.

He is a right hand batsman and has scored 450 runs.

Second year player Thamith Kalhara is a right arm off spin bowler and right hand batsman.

He has captured 70 wickets in the 16 matches and scored 230 runs Left hand batsman Nilanka Laksiri is a second year player.

Nilanka has scored 450 runs this season and is a safe fielder in any position. He is capable of keeping wickets if the need arises.

Allrounder Dulash Udayanga is a second year player who is a right hand batsman and right arm off spin bowler.

He has scored 970 runs with 3 centuries this season and has taken 26 wickets. He scored an unbeaten 150 against St. Aloysius College and he is expected to play a crucial role in this encounter.

Pasindu Dilshan is a second year player.

He bowls Right arm fast has captured 35 wickets. He is a right hand batsman and a safe fielder.

Thithira Sanuka, Vikum Dinuka, Krishan Rangajith are second year players who are a strength to the team.

Fresher Piyushan Kulathunga a former Rahulite is a right hand batsman and right arm fast bowler.

He has scored over 600 runs and taken 17 wickets.

Sachika Udara, Gihan Dhanushka, Tharuka Samarawickrama , Hiroshan Champika , Sajan Maduranga and Yohan Dilshan are freshers and have performed well this season.

Hasitha Rajapaksha and K M D Prasad continue as coach and master in charge of the team.