Crowd invade ground, Richmond awarded win
The 109th ‘Lovers Quarrel’ between Richmond and Mahinda at the Galle International Stadium almost ended in a real quarrel when supporters supposed to be from Mahinda invaded the field which forced the umpires to call off the game due to the safety of the players.
However officials taking into consideration the report given by match commissioner Basil Perera decided to award the win to
An appeal made by Richmond College fielders against Mahinda College batsman Sachinthana Samarawickrama was turned down. - Pix by Susantha Liyanawatte
Richmond who were on the verge of pulling off a victory with nearly an hour’s play left and over 17 overs to be completed.
During the time of stoppage Mahinda batting the second time was struggling for survival with the score on 126 for 9 needing three more runs to avoid an innings defeat before Richmond was declared winners by an innings and three runs.
Thus the win saw Richmond break a 44 year old hoodoo as their last win was way back in 1969 under the leadership of Rohan Jayawardena.
Meanwhile earlier a fine all-round performance by Sri Lanka youth player and skipper A.K. Tyronne had laid the foundation for a Richmond win, when play was stopped for lunch on the second day yesterday.
Tyron followed his heroic act on the opening day where he made a fine knock of 137 in 147 balls which included 13 boundaries and four sixes and shone with a six wicket haul as well to send the Mahindians who were resuming on their overnight score of 82 for 3, reeling to a score of 128.
In fact Tyron came to his side’s rescue when they were struggling with five of their top order batsmen back in the pavilion with just 86 runs on the board.
Richmond skipper A.K. Tyronne spearheaded his team wih a six-wicket haul
He put on three valuable partnerships first of 35 runs with Saveen Nanayakkara for the sixth and two half tons stand of 68 runs for the seventh wicket with Pasindu Bimsara and a 65 runs stand for the ninth wicket with Bhanuka Madupriya before making a declaration with his dismissal.
The morning session of play on day two belonged to the right arm spinner Tyronne who had the Mahinda batting in disarray. Apart from Mahinda skipper Malith Mahela who made a top score of 38 the others failed to make any impression.