Richmond - a well balanced team

Chris Dhambarage

Richmond College Galle with a well balanced team are determined to maintain their reputation as one of the pioneer cricket playing schools in the current inter-school under 19 cricket tournament.

The school has a proud history dating way back to 1888 where they played their first Inter College cricket match against All Saints College which comprised of masters and students.

In 1890 they were able to form their first student's team and on February 20, 1901 they played their inaugural inter school cricket match against Wesley College. They took on Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa for the first time on February 20, 1904 and played their inaugural Big Match against the traditional rivals Mahinda College on March 8, 1905.

The Lover's Quarrel has continued since then and this time their 105th annual Big Match will be worked off on March 19 and 20 at the Galle International Stadium. Richmond College also played their first inter school match against St. Aloysius College in 1906 and have been playing Royal since the year 1912.

This year too Richmond College have been able to maintain their true spirits on the field with some outstanding performances in their previous few outings. They have tasted success on two occasions this season when they recorded two outright victories against Kalutara MV and Holy Cross Kalutara respectively.

They of course had a major setback when they went down to Trinity College, Kandy outright and are set to take on Nalanda, Dharmapala MV, St. Aloysius and Wesley College as preparations for their important Big Match. In addition they played against Kingswood College Kandy, Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala and Ananda College. The team certainly can be quite pleased with the performances in the current season although they would have been delighted to have a couple of more outright victories under their belt.

The team will be captained by right hand middle order batsman Kusal Prabodha who has accumulated over 350 runs inclusive of three half centuries against Royal College (59 n.o), Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda (53 n.o) and S. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia.

Vice captain Irosh Samarasuriya is one of their key players having already scored over 500 runs with the help of one century and three fifties. The elegant right hander had the rare honour of completing a unique double hundred in the match against Revata MMV, Balapitiya. Samarasuriya also notched up three other half centuries against Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda (58), Maris Stella College Negombo (54) and Holy Cross College Kalutara. The off spinner is also one of their frontline bowlers with over 32 wickets to his credit.

The presence of last year's captain Yasoda Lanka is another huge advantage for Richmond College in the current inter school season.

The Sri Lanka under 19 poolist and stylish right hander has collected over 500 runs this season including three big hundreds against St. Anne's College Kurunegala (131 n.o), Revata MMV, Balapitiya (109) and Maris Stella College, Negombo (184).

Yasodha Lanka has been a fine all rounder in the side and has also captured over 25 wickets as a right arm medium pacemen.

Right hand batsman Dananjaya de Silva is another centurion in the side having reached the three figure mark twice this season against Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda (128) and Holy Cross College Kalutara (106 n.o) respectively. N addition he made a superb 74 in the game against S. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia.

Right hander Pabasara Waduge is another promising batsman having made a top score of 90 against Holy Cross College, Kalutara.

The rest of the members in the First Eleven Squad are Charith Priyadarshana, Suraj Palliyaguru, Dhanushka Jayawardena, Isuru Sampath, Dileepa Priyadarshana, Sanfaru Danthanarayana, Mahesh Sandaruwan, Supun Dissanayake, Gaminda Umagiliya, Kalana Sasanka, A. K. Tiran, Chamod Piyumal, Nethan Ramesh, Gihan Serasinghe, Hasitha Madushanka, Damith Lakmihira and Tharuka Eranda.