Richmond–Mahinda Cricket Encounter
Encyclopedia
The Richmond–Mahinda Cricket Encounter is an annual cricket
big match played between the first XI cricket teams of Richmond College and Mahinda College
in Galle
, Sri Lanka
. It is one of the longest cricket match series in Sri Lanka, having been played for 106 years. The match is also known as the "Lovers' Quarrel" in public and it is played at the Galle International Stadium
. Lovers' Quarrel was begun in 1905, under principals Rev. James Horne Darrel of Richmond and Frank Lee Woodward of Mahinda.
Mahinda College’s last victory in a big match was recorded in 2008, while Richmond College's last win was recorded 42 years ago, in 1969. Having broken a 30 year deadlock of draws, Mahindians registered an emphatic 10 wicket win over Richmondites in the 2008 encounter.
In 1953, Mahindian Somasiri Ambawatte captured all ten Richmond’s wickets in an innings
to claim the bowling record of the series and in the same match he scored a century to record the finest all round
feat in the history of the big match. In 1972, Mahindians piled up the highest score by a team, when they totaled 359 with their top order batsman P. H. K. H. Ranasinghe scoring 162. It is the highest individual score by a batsman in the big match series.
Mahinda College
Richmond College
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
big match played between the first XI cricket teams of Richmond College and Mahinda College
Mahinda College
Mahinda College is a Buddhist boys' school in Galle, Sri Lanka. It is a national school, which provides primary and secondary education. The school was established on March 1, 1892 by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott...
in Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. It is one of the longest cricket match series in Sri Lanka, having been played for 106 years. The match is also known as the "Lovers' Quarrel" in public and it is played at the Galle International Stadium
Galle International Stadium
Galle International Stadium is a cricket stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka, situated near the Galle fort and fringed on two sides by the Indian Ocean. It is considered to be one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world...
. Lovers' Quarrel was begun in 1905, under principals Rev. James Horne Darrel of Richmond and Frank Lee Woodward of Mahinda.
Series summary
Out of the big matches played up to 2011, Mahinda College has won 23 matches while Richmond College has won 21 matches. Richmond College won the inaugural match in 1905 and Mahinda College's first victory was registered in 1908.Mahinda College’s last victory in a big match was recorded in 2008, while Richmond College's last win was recorded 42 years ago, in 1969. Having broken a 30 year deadlock of draws, Mahindians registered an emphatic 10 wicket win over Richmondites in the 2008 encounter.
In 1953, Mahindian Somasiri Ambawatte captured all ten Richmond’s wickets in an innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
to claim the bowling record of the series and in the same match he scored a century to record the finest all round
All-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
feat in the history of the big match. In 1972, Mahindians piled up the highest score by a team, when they totaled 359 with their top order batsman P. H. K. H. Ranasinghe scoring 162. It is the highest individual score by a batsman in the big match series.
Notable players
Following cricketers who took part in Richmond–Mahinda cricket encounter during their school days, later went on to represent the national cricket team of Sri Lanka.Mahinda College
- Douglas Dias Jayasinha
- D. L. S. de SilvaStanley de SilvaDeva Lokesh Stanley de Silva was a former Sri Lankan cricketer, who played two ODIs in the 1979 Cricket World Cup....
- Athula SamarasekeraAthula SamarasekeraMaitipage Athula Rohitha Samarasekera is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played four Tests and 39 ODIs between 1983 to 1994....
- Jayananda WarnaweeraJayananda WarnaweeraKahakatchchi Patabandige Jayananda Warnaweera is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in 10 Tests and 6 ODIs from 1986 to 1994....
- Upul ChandanaUpul ChandanaUmagiliya Durage Upul Chandana is a former Sri Lankan cricketer. He was more specifically a leg spin bowler and was also an outstanding fielder....
- Lasith MalingaLasith MalingaSeparamadu Lasith Malinga is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He is a fast bowler with a rare round-arm action, sometimes referred to as a sling action, which leads to his nickname, "Slinga Malinga"...
Richmond College
- Champaka RamanayakeChampaka RamanayakeChampaka Priyadarshana Hewage Ramanayake is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in 18 Tests and 62 ODIs from 1986 to 1995....
- Chamila GamageChamila GamageChamila Gamage is a Sri Lankan cricketer...
- Suranga LakmalSuranga LakmalSuranga Lakmal is a Sri Lankan international cricketer. He is a right-arm medium-fast bowler and right-handed batsman. He was first included in the national squad for the tour of Pakistan in 2008-2009 and was reported to have been injured in the attack on the Sri Lankan team by terrorists...