Intriguing battle on the cards 

118th Lovers’ Quarrel

A close contest is on the cards when arch-rivals Richmond and Mahinda meet in the 118th Lovers’ Quarrel Big Match today and tomorrow at the Galle International Stadium.  Although the two cricket powerhouses of Galle are playing in two separate Tiers in the Division I tournament the two educational institutions have proven beyond doubt that they are among the top cricket-playing schools of the country.

Richmond playing under the captaincy of Tharinda Nirmal were the champions of their group(Z) in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ tournament before their journey to the final was stopped by St. Benedict’s in the quarter-finals recently.

Mahinda playing in the Tier ‘B’ tournament were the runners-up to St. Aloysius’ Galle in their group (X). The team captained by Dhanuja Jayaweera are now just a single victory away from getting promoted to Tier ‘A’ of the tournament.

Skipper Dhanuja Jayaweera (over 500 runs for the season), Sri Lanka Under 19 cap Dinura Kalupahana, top order batsman Ranmina Hettiarachchi, all-rounder Hiruna Gallage, Tharusha Dilshan, Shehan Hasaranga, Hareen Achintha, and Pramesh Madubhashana are the leading players to watch in the Mahinda team.

For Richmond Maheesha de Silva, Thamindu Pradeeptha, left-arm spinner Yuri Koththigoda, who has taken over 40 wickets, Sri Lanka Under 19 player Malsha Tharupathi and Nirmal are expected to shoulder a greater share of the team’s responsibilities.