After a successful contest in the 117th ‘Battle of the Lovers’ annual match played last April, once again Richmond College and Mahinda College will meet at their annual limited over game today (10) at the Mahinda College ground.
The match will be played for the Woodward-Small memorial Shield in honour of the two renown principals of the two colleges Frank Lee Woodward of Mahinda and Rev WJT Small of Richmond.
This match could not be held during the last two years because of the pandemic and the organisers made a successful effort to conclude the big match and now host Mahinda is making all efforts with arch rival Richmond to succeed in this one day game at a difficult time .
This season Mahinda played in the division one Tier B tournament and lost in the quarter-finals to St Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya while Richmond have a better record finishing Tier A as runners-up after losing to St Joseph’s College at Police Park .
Richmond is led by experienced Bhanuka Manohara while Mahinda is captained by Kushan Madusha and two National under 19 squad players Malsha Tharupathi and Tharinda Nirmal are part of the Richmond team.
But both players are yet to be released for this one day game as they are involved with the National under 19 selection trial matches in Colombo for the upcoming England tour.
Squads:
Richmond: Bhanuka Manohara (captain), Kalpa Nethsara (vice captain), Kavindu Nirmana, Vishara Fernando, Tharinda Nirmal, Ruwan Jayawardena, Janeth Kaushal, Maheesha Vethmin, Hansamana de Silva, Sharon Abishek, Malsha Tharupathi, Thamindu Pradeeptha, Chehan Subasinghe, Sihath Ramanayake, Imesh Sasindu, Seneth Sisan, Kaveesha Induwara, Sanahas Ramindu, Manuja Dulneth, Stephan Selvanayagam, Nuwan Jayasinghe (Master-in-charge), Lakmal de Silva (Head coach), Umal Durage (coach), Dinusha Jayasanka (coach)
Mahinda: Kushan Madusha (captain), Dhanuja Induwara (vice captain), Hiruna Mandila, Shakaya Prasanjana, Dinura Kalupahana, Danindu Chamikara, Kaveen Rukshan, Tharusha Dilshan, Shehan Hasaranga, Chandupa de Silva, Pramesh Madubhashana, Nikil Jayaweera, Deneth Kaushalya, Dulana Rajapakse, Ranidu Nimsara, Sewmina Dharaka, Arosha Udayanga, Pasindu Madushan, Y. Nishantha Kumara (Master-in-charge), Umega Chathuranga (Head coach), Pradeep Kumara (Assistant coach)