COLOMBO :Richmond cricket team with officials: Seated from left: Thamindu Pradeeptha,Sidath Priyankara(Assistant coach), Lahiru Maduwantha (Assistant coach), Nuwan Jayasinghe (MIC), Malsha Tharupathi (Capt), P.S Pushpakumara (Principal), Sheron Abhishek (V .Capt), P.A Dharmarathne (Deputy Principal), Lakmal de Silva (Head coach),Chehan Subasinghe. Standing from left: Nethsara Akesh, Punal Hansajith, Chamod Punsara, Sachidu Nimsara, Tenusha Nimsara, Nikil Jayaweera, Pubudu Mihiranga, Rasanga Thejan, Malith de Silva, Seneth Sisan, Yuri Koththiogoda, Sineth Ramanayake, Bewin Jayawardene, Kaveesha Induwara, Shehan de Soyza, Minaga Ariyadasa
Two leading Southern schools Richmond and Mahinda will play their 119th “Battle of the Lovers” big match on March 15 -16 at Galle International Cricket Stadium. With the 119 big match the two schools wanted to build up their brotherhood.
Two schools joint organising committee already planned to make the event a success while they wanted to maintain very good discipline during this two day game.
Richmond Principal P.S Pushpakumara in his second consecutive big match as the Principal is always serious about college old boys’ and present boys’ discipline.
The Principal is not a Richmond old boy but he likes to continue all traditions during this big match and both schools should realize this. Two former Richmond coaches who also the Master in charges Nihal Gunawardena who was a former Assistant Secretary of the Schools Cricket Association and late Deputy Principal Asoka Mendis wanted to see high discipline those days and all wanted to see this on an off the field.
Today Richmond College is very proud to produce five National players who are in the same National cricket team. Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya Lakshan all having National caps while Dhananjaya de Silva is Test captain, Wanindu Hasaranga is T- 20 captain and Charith Asalanka is One day and T-20 captain. This is especial occasion for Richmond and all young Richmondites have to get inspired from this National players.
Suranga Lakmal is the first Test captain produced from Richmond and fast bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake is the first National player produced from Richmond and former National paceman Chamila Gamage who is present National under 19 fast bowling coach has very rare record of Test first ball wicket by Sri Lankan player against Bangladesh at SSC grounds. In fact Champaka Ramanayake former National fast bowling Academy head later joined as Bangladesh fast bowling Academy head and presently works as Oman team fast bowling coach under their head coach Duleep Mendis.
Apart from Richmond National players we couldn’t forget players like former Skipper Prasad Kariyawasam who captained the side in 1972 also established a new college record of unbeaten 156 in 1972 big match but following day that record was broken by Mahindian P.H K.H Ranasinghe who hit 162 which is the highest up to date after 52 years unbroken record. Prasad Kariyawasam was one of the best schools cricketers unfortunately couldn’t get chance to get National cap. Today he is a senior Diplomat based in USA having served as Indian High Commissioner, Foreign Ministry Secretary and Sri Lanka representative of UN in Geneva.
Late skipper Ruwan Korala, Late Jagath Perera, Mendis brothers Nishantha and Chandima, Kularatne Weerasinghe, Umesh Wijesiriwardena the present SLC coach, two coaches Dhammika Sudharshana, Anil Rideegammanagedera, A.K Tyrone, Pabasara Waduge, Sithara Gimhan, Thaveesha Abhishek,Tharindu Nirmal, former stylish wicket keeper and former Richmond coach late Lasantha Kaggodaarachchi all are good products from Richmond. Irosh Samarasooriya the Major Clubs present Best Batsman also from Richmond and latest addition to Richmond family this season is skipper Malsha Tharupathi. Meanwhile Richmond 2022 cricket skipper Bhanuka Manohara did rare achievement as he was selected to Medical Faculty from the first time and he is the first Richmond skipper to do so.
Malsha Tharupathi who crossed over from Madampe Central got good chance to lead the Richmond team but he couldn’t play more matches due to National duty. He is the present National under 19 deputy skipper while got chance to play two Youth Word Cups and Richmond cicket coach Lakmal de Silva has very high expectations on Tharupathi. He is the best leg spinner in this schools season played only 8 matches scoring over 200 runs and taking 25 wickets but his experience is vital for Richmond side. Tharupathi also played for Moors SC to get more exposure while deputy skipper Sheron Abhishek is the most successful spinner having more than 60 wickets with best figures of 6 for 16.
Two centurions in Richmond side and they are Thamindu Pradeeptha who has scored over 550 runs and Shehan de Soyza who has over 350 runs while Chehan Subasinghe who has scored over 500 runs, Seneth Sisan, Nikil Jayaweera also scored over 350 runs. The young spinner Yuri Koththiogoda who also last minute addition to National under 19 team as a standby player for South Africa under 19 World Cup missed few matches due to National duty but he is also one of the key bowlers of Richmond. Kaveesha Induwara, paceman Sineth Ramanayake and Malith de Silva also useful bowlers of Richmond team and their spin department is much more stronger than pace attack.
The team is having an unbeaten record this season while they got outright wins over Maliyadeva Kurunegala, St Ann’s Kurunegala and De Mazenod Kandana and rest of the eight matches ended with no decisions and their unbeaten record is a morale booster before the big match. The coach Lakmal de Silva always wanted to make positive approach while team has good commitment and Principal P.S Pushpakumara, Master in charge Nuwan Jayasinghe, college staff, parents and Old Boys blessings are always with the team. Richmond won their last big match in 2019 under the leadership of Thaveesha Abhishek and they will try to keep the winning trophy this time with a good morale and positive approach
