Beware of this pack of warriors
After their resurgence as a frontline school cricket team last season, Richmond College Galle will be unquestionably eager to preserve
Hasitha Madushan (Capt)
their status or even move forward to being the best team in the island. Last season Richmond, one half of the legendary ‘Lovers’ Quarrel’ big match encounter which is over a century old, finished off as the second best school cricket team and this season are determined to improve their record. To accomplish this they will have to reach into their rucksack, which is well equipped with cricketers of all varieties, and consistently produce the brand of high quality cricket they are capable of.
After last season’s achievements Richmond Coach, Dhammika Sudarshana and his determined set of boys are firmer that things could favour their venture this season. Last year the boys from Richmond Hills won six encounters, and nearly won three more, to become the second best team of the year. With all players except two from last year’s team remaining, Richmond has a well experienced side under the leadership of
Sithara Gimhana
Hasitha Madushan, a leading allrounder. His deputy is the versatile allrounder A.K. Tyron, who ended with a tally of 86 scalps last season. With them, they have a set of players who have been sharing most of the pains and gains of school cricket since the Under-15 age group. But today, together they make Richmond one of the leading school cricket sides going around.
Richmond made a strong start to the school cricket season by beating S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia and Ananda College Colombo in two consecutive weeks. Interestingly, these wins were firsts in Richmond’s cricketing history against two of the strongest opponents in school cricket. With these successes in the third term, coach Sudarshana is confident that his team can go all the way to the top, recording more wins as they progress.
Richmond has six strong and highly capable allrounders and 10 batsmen who can bat well. This has been their main advantage this season, having the option of sending out batsmen who suit the situation.
A.K. Tyron
They also have a good choice of left-right combinations if they feel like spoiling the fielding team’s plans. In addition they are equipped with a couple of lethal pacemen and five strong spinners which makes them an equally-balanced and strong outfit.
Well-experienced Sithara Gimhana, the wicketkeeper of the side is one of their batting assets. So are skipper Madushan and deputy Tyron. Gimhana opens batting with Raveen Nanayakkara followed by Richmond’s Under-15 skipper Charith Hasalanka who is turning out to be a future batting prospect of the team. Next to come in is skipper Madushan followed by Tyron, Saveen Nanayakkara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamod Piumal, Prabath Nishantha, Thisara Bhanuka and Waruna Deshapriya.
To lead their seam attack are Nishantha and Piumal while Tyron and Madushan are their leading spinners. The coach expects Gimhana, Madushan and Tyron to reach personal milestones in batting and bowling while the trio has all possibilities of reaching the Sri Lanka Under-19 side.
Despite having so many plus points around them, the coach feels that it is healthier to leave the kids relax and enjoy the game while giving them the independence of making their own decisions in the middle. Sudarshana has been applying these values into the Richmond side for the past two seasons with his vast experience as a first class and a Sri Lanka ‘A’ cricketer. His belief is that these exercises could meek out the huge difference that exists between the school and club cricket structures and it will give the youngsters an easy passage when they explore the next step. Consequently, his attempts have also helped Richmond transform into a formidable side, from an average school cricket team, as they look out for more successes this season.
Mahinda College Cricket Squad – 2013
| Player | Batting style | Bowling style |
| Hasitha Madushan (Capt) | Left hand | Right-arm off-spin |
| A.K. Tyron (VC) | Right hand | Right-arm off-spin |
| Sithara Gimhana | Left hand | Wicketkeeper |
| Thisara Bhanuka | Right hand | Left-arm leg-spin |
| Chamod Piumal | Right hand | Left-arm fast |
| Prabath Nishantha | Left hand | Right-arm fast |
| Saveen Nanayakkara | Left hand | Left-arm leg-spin |
| Raveen Nanayakkara | Right hand | Right-arm fast |
| Sahan Ramesh | Left hand | Right-arm fast |
| Charith Asalanka | Right hand | Right-arm off-spin |
| Manula Goonawardena | Left hand | Right-arm fast |
| Hirusha Balapitiya | Right hand | Right-arm leg-spin |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Right hand | Right-arm fast |
| Waruna Deshapriya | Right hand | Right-arm off-spin |
| Kamindu Mendis | Left hand | Right-arm leg-spin |
| Chathura Madushanka | Right hand | Right-arm fast |
| Rasindu Bimsara | Right hand | Right-arm off-spin |
| Randula Ranaweera | Right hand | Wicketkeeper |
| Udara Kumarage | Left hand | Left-arm leg-spin |
| Randika Epa | Right hand | Right-arm fast |
Officials: Dhammika Sudarshana (Coach),
Prem Lakmal (Asst. Coach), Damith Prasanna (MIC).
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