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Battle of the Lovers:
Mahinda have edge over Richmond
Mahinda P. Liyanage Our Galle Special corr.
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Richmond College Team
Seated from left: T. Nadeera, C. K. Hewamanna (coach),
Chinthana Wedamulla (V.C.), E. M. S. Ekanayake (Principal),
Yashoda Lanka (Captain), Ranjith Gamage (Master in charge)
and Hemi Sarathchandra. Standing from left: Charith
Priyadarshana, Pabasara Waduge, Suraj Palliyaguru, Isuru
Sampath, Danushka Jayawardene, Charinda Nanayakkara, Chamila
Ganegoda, Irosh Samarasooriya, Dananjaya De Silva, Kusal
Praboda and Sachintha Weerasuriya. |
Mahinda College, Galle with four outright victories this season will
have the edge over Richmond College, Galle in the 104th Battle of the
Lovers which takes place at the Galle International Stadium today and
tomorrow.
Mahinda has notched up victories over Wesley, Lumbini, Rahula and St.
Servatius in 15 outings and will go all out to make it two in a row
having won the Big Match last year.
The Richmondians have enjoyed mixed fortunes this season having
beaten Rahula and Dharmapala and losing to Royal, Ananda and Nalanda.
Mahinda has a strong batting line up with Skipper Rumesh Buddhika and
Denuwan Rajakaruna being the stars. Buddhika has scored over 850 runs
with centuries against Ananda, St. Sebastian's and S. Thomas', Matara.
Denuwan Rajakaruna has amassed over 750 runs inclusive of a century
against S. Thomas', Mount Lavinia. Sajith Kelumpriya (600 runs), Geeth
Hemal (600 runs) and Kaushalya Gajasinghe (400 runs) are the others who
are capable of making useful contributions.
Richmond will rely heavily on skipper Yasodha Lanka, Dananjaya de
Silva and Irosh Samarasuriya. Lanka and de Silva have scored over 800
runs while Samarasuriya has scored over 450 runs. Samarasuriya will also
share the new ball with T. Nadeera. Samarasuriya has captured over 50
wickets this season while Nadeera has taken 25 wickets. Spinner
Dananjaya de Silva with over 40 wickets for the season is their other
key bowler. Mahinda's bowling strength lies with their two off spinners
skipper Rumesh Buddhika and Kaushalya Gajasinghe who have taken over 50
wickets each while leg spinner Tharaka Nimesh has also excelled with 30
wickets.
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Mahinda College Team
First row (seated from left): Kaushalya Gajasinghe, Harsha
Munasinghe (coach), Geeth Hemal, K. Wimalasena (Deputy
Principal - Sports), Rumesh Buddhika (captain), R. M.
Weerahera (Principal), Denuwan Rajakaruna (V.C.), K. M. D.
Prasad (Master in charge) and Sajith Kalumpriya. Second row
(from left): Nirwantha Thikshila, Tharaka Nimesh, Nisala
Dulwin, Asitha Sandaruwan, Dimuthu Ruwan and Mayura Dilhan,
Sachith Lakmal, Udara Jayasanka, Nisala Tharaka, Onila
Dhanushka, Charith Chinthaka, Chatura Dias. Third row (from
left): Chandu Piripun, Ruchira Malalasekera, Prageeth
Chamara, Sohan Kariyawasam, Chanala De Silva and Hashan
Kumuditha. |
In 1939, Sirisena Hettige of Mahinda College scored 155 runs and held
the batting record that stood for 33 years till Richmond's Prasad
Kariyawasam scored 156 not out in 1972. However the record was broken by
Mahinda's P. H. K. H. Ranasinghe who made a huge 162 in the same game in
1972.
Mahinda Team:- Rumesh Buddhika (Captain), Denuwan Rajakaruna (Vice
Captain), Kaushalya Gajasinghe, Geeth Hemal, Sajith Kelumpriya,
Nirwantha Thakshila, Tharaka Nimesh, Nisala Dulwin, Asitha Sandaruwan,
Dimuthu Ruwan, Maura Dihan, Sachith Lakmal, Jayasanka, Nisala Tharaka,
Onila Dhanushka, Charitha Chintaka, Chathura Dias, Chandu Piripun,
Ruchira Malalasekera, Prageeth Chamara, Sohan Kariyawasam, Chalana de
Silva and Hashan Kumudhita.
Richmond Team:- Yasodha Lanka (Captain), Chintana Wedamulla (Vice
Captain), T. Nadeera, Emil Sarathchandra, Charith Priyadharshana de
Silva, Prabasara Waduge, Suraj Palliyaguru, Isuru Sampath, Dhanushka
Jayawardene, Charinda Nanayakkara, Chamil Ganegoda, Irosh Samarasooriya,
Dananjaya de Silva, Kaushal Praboda, Sachinta Weerasuriya. |
