The historical and remarkable lovers’ quarrel between Richmond College and Mahinda College, the two top schools in Galle have spread their colours all over the town and was worked off for the 110th consecutive time at the Galle International Cricket Stadium today (20th) and will continue tomorrow (21st).
Starting off with the first day with the stadium filled with spectators, Richmond won the toss and elected to field first bringing the Mahindian batsmen to the pitch to begin the quarrel whilst Richmond took the field under skipper Sithara Gimhan.
The Mahinda openers started aggressively with I Akalanka driving fours and what was to be the only six in their innings. But he was soon dismissed clean bowled by Chamod Piyumal for 21. P.Dilshan strode in but did not stay for long as he was sent back for a duck being caught by Saveen Nanayakkara. The run scoring slowed down with the fall of wickets with G.Dhanushka
notching up a sedate half century out of 109 deliveries. A magnificent catch by Sri Lanka U 19 captain Charith Asalanka sent Dhanushka back to the dressing room right at 51 induvidual runs. Suresh De Silva was able to put up a contribution of 30 runs to the scoreboard while the other batsman were all dismissed early.
In the 60th over the Richmondites were successful in dismissing all the Mahinda batsmen for 173 with only 10 extras given. Avindu Theekshana bowled brilliantly to take 4 wickets in 10.2 overs giving away 28 runs with an economy of 2.7 and Charith Asalanka took 3 wickets in 19 overs giving away 54 runs with an economy of 2.84.
The two openers for Richmond, Sithara Gimhan the captain and Charith Asalanka exhibited some mature cricket with classic cricket shots and built up a magnificent record breaking partnership between each other. The highest opening partnership score of 114 set way back in 1925 was broken when the pair notched up 162 runs in magnificent style. The partnership was then broken when Sithara was dismissed caught by Dhanushka bowled I Akalanka for 64. But Asalanka went on to score an elegant 102 runs.
Mahinda College was only able to remove 3 wickets off the Richmond batsmen at the end of the day allowing the Richmondites to have a score of 207 for 3 wickets in 34 overs bringing down the first day of the qurrel to an end. Akalanka did best with the ball for Mahinda taking 2 for 34. Having a current lead of 31 runs and first innings win, Richmond will look to go aggressively at the Mahindians in the morning with chance of setting up a positive outcome over this 110th Lovers Quarrel.
However, Mahinda is expected to give a great fight and tomorrow will no doubt bring about an enthralling day of cricket in Galle.
Chief Scores :
Mahinda 1st innings : 173 all out – (G Dhanushka 51, Suresh de Silva 30 – Avindu Theekshana 4/28 Charith Asalanka 3/ 54)
Richmond 1st innings: 207 for 3 (Charith Asalanka 102, Sithara Gimhan 64, I Akalanka 2/34. G Dhanushka 1/40)
