By P.D. De Silva

It will be an exciting two days of cricket when the experienced Mahinda College team host the multi-skilled Richmond College team to the 114th Lovers Quarrel at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Friday March 15.

The Mahinda team is packed with experienced players of the likes of Hansika Welihinda, Vinura Dulsara, Ashen Kandamby, Navod Paranavithana and Nipun Malinga while the Richmond team could be considered as the more skilled campaigners with the likes of Thaveesha Abhishek, Adithya Siriwardena, Sandun Mendis, Dilum Thilekerathne and Amshi de Silva. 

Of the above Navod Paranavithana, Nipun Malinga, Thaveesha Abhishek and Sandun Mendis have been members of the Sri Lanka Under-19 team while Amshi de Silva is said to be on the thresh-hold.

Comparing the performances at the ongoing schools Under-19 Division One cricket tournament it is evident that Mahinda College have done better than their rivals Richmond College who have been unlucky as the weather stood in their way on more than one occasion.

Mahinda playing in Group A of the school’s Under-19 Division One tournament registered outright wins over Isipathana College and Maris Stella College, lost to St. Benedict’s and drew five games to accumulate 114.230 points to finish second in the group while Richmond won outright against St. Thomas’ College, Matara and drew seven games to accumulate 107.610 points and end in third spot in Group D.
 
In the play-off games to qualify for the pre-quarter finals of the two-day tournament Mahinda defeated St. Peter’s College, Colombo while rivals Richmond were eliminated losing to Prince of Wales College.

The question still remains as to who leads the series with the diehard Richmondites claiming that they have more wins while the Mahindians claim that both schools have won 23 encounters each.

Mahinda’s last win was in 2008 while Richmond registered back to back wins in 2014 and 2015. As both schools have been producing national level cricketers almost every season it is time that the lovers quarrel take place over three days next year. 

Pix by: Pradeep Dilrukshana