Sri Lanka junior stars in focus at Lovers’ Quarrel

Published : 10:20 am  March 24, 2011 |  No comments so far  |     |   (14)  |  

Two star Sri Lanka junior players from Richmond will be the focus as the 106th "Lovers' Quarrel" big match between Richmond and Mahinda which  begins tomorrow at the Galle International Cricket stadium.

Yasoda Lanka has been the star performer for Sri Lanka juniors against England last month scoring heavily including a magnificent double century while Richmond skipper Dhananjaya de Silva has also been a leading star for the country.

Mahinda skipper Kaushalya Gajasinghe has also been a member of the Sri Lanka junior team and the clash of two best school teams of the South looks to be a mouth-watering affair this year.

This cricket encounter which dates way back to 1905 has entered the cricketing annals of the country. During this long period Mahinda College has won 22 matches while Richmond College 20. Mahinda College last won in 2008 while Richmond's last win came in 1969, some 42 years ago.

Many records were shattered at these annual big matches. The 155 runs scored by Sirisena Hettige of Mahinda in 1939 was broken by Prasad Kariyawasam of Richmond in 1972 by scoring 156 runs. At the same match on the second day

P. H. K. H. Ranasinghe of Mahinda College scored 162 runs.

Among the milestones of these cricket encounters the following are worth mentioning. In 1953 Somasiri Ambawatta of Mahinda College captured 10 wickets for 53 runs against Richmond in the first innings and 6 wickets in the second and as a batsman he scored 103 runs without being dismissed. It is also a world record that 12 Amendra brothers were able to represent Mahinda College. Mahinda College has produced several outstanding cricketers in the Sri Lankan team namely Athula Samarasekara, Jayananda Warnaweera, D. L. S. De Silva, Upul Chandana, Lasith Malinga and Marvan Atapattu.

Champaka Ramanayake and Chamila Gamage were the products of Richmond College.

This year Richmond College team is led by Dananjaya De Silva and Mahinda College by Kaushalya Gajasinghe.

Mahinda College has played 12 matches and won against Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya and all the rest of the matches had been drawn. Richmond College out of 10 matches played had beaten St. Aloysius and lost to Ananda and Lumbini College in Colombo and had drawn the rest.

By Gamini Mahadura – Galle Corr