Kamindu stars in Richmond’s huge win
The victorious Richmond team
Richmond College powered by an unbeaten 86 off 96 balls by skipper Kamindu Mendis crushed Mahinda College by 8 wickets at the Galle International Cricket Stadium to be the first winners of the RCU Colombo Centenary Challenge Trophy which will be awarded for the limited over edition of the Lovers’ Quarrel.
Mahinda, electing to bat first, lost wickets at regular intervals, but an 80-run seventh wicket partnership between opener Navod Paranavithana (66) and Pramith Hansika (31) saw them reach a respectable score of 169. Navod’s 66 was scored off 127 balls with just two boundaries while Pramith’s 31 was scored off 55 balls with three hits to the ropes. Opener Nipun Malinga (10) and Vinura Dulsara were the only other batsmen to reach double figures. Sandun Mendis captured three wickets for Richmond while Avindu Theekshana captured two. Duveen Kalansooriya did well to hold on to three catches behind the stumps.
Mahinda made an early breakthrough by getting rid of big match centurion Dhananjaya Lakshan but skipper Mendis and Adithya Siriwardena shared a 93-run second wicket stand to take Richmond within sight of victory. Richmond won the game with 105 balls to spare.
Richmond claimed three of the four individual awards on offer when Kamindu Mendis was named the Man-of-the-Match, Sandun Mendis won the Best Bowler and Avindu Theekshana claimed the Best Fielder awards. Mahinda claimed the only award through Navod Paranavithana who was named the Best Batsman.
Mahinda 169 all out in 46.4 overs (Navod Paranavithana 66, Vinura Dulsara 21, Pramith Hansika 31, Avindu Theekshana 2 for 29)
Richmond 172 for 2 wickets in 32.3 overs (Kamindu Mendis 84n.o, Adithya Siriwardena 38, Thaveesha Abhishek 10n.o.)