All rounder Malsha Tharupathi hit a superb knock of 80 in 84 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes and deputy skipper Kavindu Nirmana scored 50 in 73 balls with 7 fours as Richmond College fought back to challenge their ‘118th Battle of the Lovers’ cricket encounter against Mahinda College that ended in a draw at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
It was good cricket displayed by both schools in their first innings. Mahinda scored 316 for 8 wickets declared in 73.5 overs on the first day and Richmond replied with 220 all out in 52.4 overs. Sri Lanka under-19 all rounder Malsha Tharupathi and two fifties from opener Chehan Subadinghe and Kavindu Nirmana made useful contributions.
Mahindian Shehan Hasaranga and Dinura Kalupahana took three wickets each.
Mahinda in their second innings scored 170 for 8 declared. They somewhat slowed down their innings while Hiruna Mandila top scored with 35 while Malsha Tharupathi who claimed 4 for 70 won the best bowler’s award. Skipper Tharinda Nirmal also supported by taking 3 for 29. Richmond faced an impossible target of scoring 266 runs in 16 overs were 71 for 2 wickets to end this encounter in a draw.
Mahindian Dinura Kalupahana was adjudged man of the match and best all rounder while Mahinda skipper Dhanuja Induwara who scored a century was named best batsman. Malsha Tharupathi was named best batter and Richmond wicket keeper Janeth Kaushal won the best fielder award.
Mahindian distinguished old boy PHKH Ranasinghe who scored 162 runs in this series in 1972 was the chief guest and presented the main awards.
Chief scores
Mahinda: 316 for 8 declared and 170 for 8 wickets declared (Dinura Kalupahana 26, Pramesh Madubhashana 13, Hiruna Mandola 35, Ranmina Hettiarachchi 26, Tharusha Dilshan 24, Chandupa de Silva 15, Malsha Tharupathi 4/70, Tharinda Nirmal 3/29)
Richmond: 220 (Chehan Subasinghe 50, Tharinda Nirmal 16, Malsha Tharupathi 80, Kavindu Nirmana 50, Shehan Hasaranga 3/28, Dinura Kalupahana 3/39, Kaveen Rukshan 2/45) and 71 for 2 at close (Bhanuka Manohara 43)