The reigning division one cricket champions Richmond College Galle with as many as ten coloursman in their ranks are confident that they could produce a repeat performance and retain the title in this year’s inter school under 19 cricket season.
Last year the team captained by Hasitha Madushan created a major sensation when they notched up a record equalizing eleven outright victories out of sixteen outings that helped them to emerge as undisputed under 19 cricket champions for the 2012/13 season.
This time they have once again got their act together well and are well on course towards achieving their goal having already recorded five outright victories for the season.
They had the distinction of recording a hattrick of victories while overcoming St. Servatius’ College Matara, Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda and Prince of Wales College Moratuwa in successive matches.
This was after they had routed Dharmapala College Pannipitiya and pulled off a thrilling one wicket outright victory over S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia while remaining unbeaten throughout the season.
In addition they had the satisfaction of taking first innings honours over Kingswood College Kandy, Royal College in a friendly encounter, Maliyadeva College Kurunegala, Thurstan College and St. Joseph’s College respectively.
Only Ananda College and Nalanda College have succeeded in obtaining a first innings lead against Richmond College in the matches played so far.
This is a tremendous performance from this talented team considering the fact that few of their senior players have been away from the side most of the period owing to national commitments and pool practices.
In fact off dynamic spinner and skipper A. K. Tyrone is a key member in the Sri Lanka Under-19 World Cup squad and was not available for several matches and there were at least two others in early Sri Lanka Under-19 World Cup pools namely Sithara Gimhana and Saveen Nanayakkara who were not available for matches for a better part of the third term.
Tyron has been in great form this season and has destroyed many top batting line ups having returned astonishing bowling figures of seven wickets for just six runs in the second innings against Dharmapala College Pannipitiya.
Tyron was also the key player in their success over the formidable S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia team where he captured six second innings wickets in that match. In his absence off-spinners Waruna Deshapriya and Charith Asalanka and left-arm spinner Saveen Nanayakkara have delivered for Richmond.
In the bowling department Waruna Deshappirya is the leading wicket taker with over 40 wickets. The off spinner was instrumental in their latest victory over Prince of Wales College Moratuwa with a match bag of ten wickets.
In addition spinners Saveen Nanayakkara with over 30 wickets to his credit and Charith Asalanka are the other leading wicket takers while Chamod Piyumal and Wanindu Hasaranga are the two new ball bowlers.
Hasaranga has the unique potential of bowling spin as well and has taken most of his wickets with his spinners this season. Richmond has a strong batting department as well, with four batsmen having scored centuries.
In fact senior coloursman Kelum Nanayakkara is their leading run getter with a tally of over 600 runs including a century. Sithara Gimhana has accumulated over 500 runs, Charith Asalanka over 350 runs while Wanindu Hasaranga also has over 500 runs this season.
With the team peaking close to the end of the tournament both their coach Dhammika Sudharshana and Master-in-Charge of Cricket, Damith Prasanna are optimistic that the team could match the excellence they exhibited last year.
But their biggest challenge is the annual inter school Big Match which will be played next month against their traditional rivals Mahinda College Galle.
The Richmond College First XI Cricket team:
A. K. Tyron (Captain) – Right arm off spinner
Sithara Gimhana – Wicket keeper
Hasitha Madushan – Right hand batsman
Kelum Nanayakkara – Leg spinner
Banuka Madurpiya – Right arm fast bowler
Charith Asalanka – Left hand batsman
Chamod Piyumal – Right arm fast bowler
Waruna Deshapriya – Right arm off spinner
Wanindu Hasaranga – Right arm fast bowler
Saveen Nanayakkara – Left arm spinner
Pasindu Bimsara – Left arm fast bowler
Kamindu Mendis – Wicket keeper
Sahan Samarasinghe – Right arm off spinner
Udara Kumarage – Right arm fast bowler
Dhammika Sudarshana – Coach
Damith Prasanna – Master in Charge
