As the southern sea breeze gently sweeps across the Galle Fort, the historic city braces itself for its most anticipated annual event. The spotlight will be on the Galle International Cricket Stadium this weekend (from 19th to 21st March), not for a school match, but for a spectacle of passion, heritage, and raw schoolboy spirit: the 121st ‘Lovers’ Quarrel’ Big Match between Richmond College and Mahinda College, Galle.
After its inception way back in 1905, the Lovers’ Quarrel big match stands as the sixth oldest big match of the island and the second oldest in the southern part just behind the Battle of the Blues (Matara) played between St Thomas’ College, Matara, and St Servatius’ College. For over a century, this alluring encounter stood as a cultural institution, a reunion of generations, and arguably the most vibrant school cricket fixture in the island’s southern part.
This legendary big match was a cradle to many international cricketers in the lights of Champaka Ramanayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Chamila Gamage, Suranga Lakmal, Martin de Silva, and Dhananjaya Lakshan by representing Richmond College, while Lasith Malinga, Marvan Atapattu (later moved to Ananda College), Upul Chandana, Thikshila de Silva, Navod Paranavithana, Stanley De Silva, Somachandra de Silva, Athula Samarasekera, Jayananda Warnaweera, Douglas Dias Jayasinha, Premachandra de Silva, D.H. de Silva, D.P. de Silva, and Neil de Silva represented Mahinda College. Further, another iconic figure and Sri Lankan cricket superfan, Percy Abeysekera, is also a former Mahindian.
So far Richmond College is nose ahead in the overall winning tally by securing 24 victories, while Mahinda College closely stands with 23 victories. For the last time, the encounter produced a result in 2019, when Richmond College, led by Thaweesha Abhishek, clinched a 6-wicket win. Mahinda College had their last success way back in 2008 under Rajitha Priyan’s leadership.
Coming into the 121st encounter, both sides have displayed flashes of brilliance throughout the current schools’ cricket season. Richmond College, under the astute leadership of Bevin Jayawardhane, has had a solid campaign, showcasing depth in their batting lineup and versatility in their bowling attack. Mahinda College, however, has been the team to watch, peaking at the right time with a series of commanding performances, largely driven by the all-round prowess of their captain, Arosha Udayanga.
Leading the Richmond College side this year is the dependable wicket-keeper batter, Bevin Jayawardhane. A right-handed stroke-maker with a cool head, Jayawardhane epitomises the modern Richmond cricketer by being calm under pressure but aggressive when the situation demands. As a wicket-keeper batter, he serves as the foundation of the team. His ability to marshal the troops behind the stumps and provide stability in the middle order makes him the pivot around which Richmond’s fortunes will turn. So far the skipper has been successful with 535 runs under his belt, including three half-centuries.
Though the skipper lived up to his billing, the most prolific batter of the lineup is the left-hander Ameesha Rasanjana, who has scored 626 runs, including a century and three half-centuries. Further, the right-hand opener, Risindu Rupasinghe, contributed 540 runs with two fifties by cementing a solid start in multiple games. Further, the all-rounders, Tenusha Nimsara and Minanga Ariyadasa, will also bat around their top contributors to give a cutting edge.
All-rounder triumph card, Minaga Ariyadasa, leads the Richmond bowling department by taking 39 wickets in this season. Further, Nethuja Basitha (30 wickets) and the vice-captain Thenusha Nimsara (26 wickets) will add further depth for the Richmond spin attack. Though Richmond heavily relied on their spin bowling, Tenura Dias and Ranindu de Silva are always capable of pulling out an upset at any stage of the game by flattening any batting lineup.
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Standing in Richmond’s way are the Lions from Mahinda College, led by the talented Arosha Udayanga. Udayanga is a cricketer of classic proportions, a right-handed batter with a penchant for long innings (with 222 runs) and a handy spinner (with 21 wickets) who can trap any batsman on any surface. His left-arm spin will be crucial on the Galle surface, especially as the match wears on and the pitch begins to deteriorate. He possesses the ability to extract turn and bounce, making him a potent threat to the Richmond batting line-up. Furthermore, his batting provides the stability Mahinda needs at the top of the order.
Left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Randula Mabarana leads the individual runs tally with 692 runs, including a century and four fifties. He had scored a magnificent 115 runs against the formidable S. Thomas’ bowling unit. The consistent batter, Thevindu Rashmika, has accumulated 680 valuable runs with a couple of centuries and four fifties, including the top-notch heroic innings of 151 runs against Nalanda. Further, the deputy skipper and Sri Lanka U17-capped player Dulnith Darshana had strengthened the Mahinda batting department by contributing 578 runs, including a century and two half-centuries. The rising talent, Dineth Pahasara, posted a mammoth innings of 175 runs against Nalanda College by securing 429 runs in this season. The other batters, Sehas Ashinshana (326), Kavindu Nimsara (220) and Sri Lanka U17-capped player Manitha Rajapaksha (326), will add further depth to the batting unit.
Manitha Rajapaksha is a nuclear weapon in the Mahinda bowling attack who can destroy an entire batting unit. So far 52 wickets have fallen against his bowling by recording six 5-wicket hauls and a couple of 10-wicket hauls. The other Mahinda allrounder Sehas Ashinshana has taken 26 wickets with a couple of 5-wicket hauls and a single 10-wicket haul. Rest of the bowling was handled by the emerging talents of Kavindu Nimsara (14 wickets) and Gasandu Bisath (11 wickets).
This year, Aviyana Ceylon Resort has come forward as the title sponsor of the 121st Battle of the Lovers, which promises to be a celebration of friendship and rivalry. While the players on the field will be striving for glory, the stands will be a sea of smiles, reunions, and nostalgia.
Richmond College Team
Seated (from left) Ravinu Randinu, Avindu Theekshana (Asst. Coach), Lahiru Maduwantha (Asst. Coach), P.A Dharmarathne (Asst. Principal), Bevin Jayawardena (Captain), Rusira Maddumahewage (Principal), Tenusha Nimsara (Vice Captain), Chamith Wickramasingha (MIC), Mahesh Sandaruwan (Head Coach), Sidath Priyankara (Asst. Coach), Nethuja Basitha.
Standing (from left) Hiruk Akalanka, Daham Sathsara, Ameesha Rasanjana, Chalindu Karunarathne, Punal Hansajith, Ranindu De Silva, Tenura Dias, Vihanga Indusara, Shevan De Soyza, Nethsara Akash, Minaga Ariyadasa, Risinu Rupasinghe, Senuk Dulmeth.
Mahinda College Team
Seated (from left) G.H. Sachith Lakmal (Asst. Coach), Jagath Samarakoon (Master in Charge – Junior), M.W. Ajith (PoG), Arosha Udayanga (Captain), Janaka Peduruhewa (Principal), Dulsith Darshana (Vice Captain), L.P. Weeraman (Deputy Principal – Sports), Y. Nishantha Kumara (MIC), T.D. Ajantha Kumara (Head Coach)
Standing (from left) Ruvinda Deshanjana, Kavindu Nimsara, Buddima Tharupathi, Naviru Nishitha, Kaveesha Githmal, Sehas Ashinsa, Thiyon Helika, Manitha Rajapaksha, Sadew Nethmina, Thevindu Rashmika, Randula Mabarana, Vishmitha Sathsara, Gesandu Bisas, Dineth Pahasara, Mandith Manodara, Rasanjaya Thisal
