The weather gods will be the deciding factor if the strong Richmond team can force a decision at the 112th episode of the Lover’s quarrel which is to be played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium next Friday and Saturday (17 and 18).
The One day encounter will be played on the 25th at the same venue. Richmond College who emerged leaders of group A of the under 19 division one league tournament with 124.140 points take the field as the stronger team when they are hosted by Mahinda College for this year’s encounter.
Mahinda College ended one step above the bottom rung of group B with 60.170 points after Royal College were penalized. Richmond have four outright wins against St Mary’s College Kegalle,
Dharmapala College Pannipitiya, Dharmaraja College Kandy and Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda to boast about while Mahinda who were unable to force a decision this season seem to have regained their batting form by registering three hundred plus totals in their last four outings.
The Richmond outfit led by Sri Lanka Under 19 cap Kamindu Mendis will be picked form Chamikara Hewage (Vice Captain), Thilanga Udeeshana, Dhanjaya Lakshan, Avindu Theekshana, Sathsara Kumara, Duveen Kalansooriya, Vinuja Kiriella, Ravishkam Wijesiri, Thisara Divan, Adhithya Siriwardena, Kasun Tharaka, Thaveesha Abhishek, Sandun Mendis and Vishmitha
Wijesiri Head Coach Dhammika Sudarshana has Lakmal de Silva to assist him while Damith Prasanna is the Master in Charge of the team.
The powerful Richmond team has reached the semi-finals of the all-island under 19 division one limited over tournament and are quarter finalists in the two-day league tournament.
The Mahinda College team led by Hansika Welihinda will be selected from Roshan Kavinda (Vice Captain), Navod Paranavithana, Ashan Kandambi, Pasindu Hettiarachchi, Kasitha Sankesh, Kalindu Shresara,Kavindu Ediriweera, Aveska Kalupahana, Prameeth Thevarapperuma, Nupun Malinga, Pasan Pethiyagoda, K K Kevin, Thilina Nisansala, Prageeth Gunathilake and Chamara Sandaruwan.
Former junior coach at Richmond Dhanushaka Denagama is head coach of Mahinda College and is assisted by Raj Sriyawansha. The dispute as to who leads the series is still to be resolved with Richmond claiming they lead by 23 wins to 20 while the Mahindian’s claim that both teams have won 23 games each.