Richmond opener Tharinda Nirmal scored a fluent knock of 67 taking batting honours while Mahinda were struggling 68 for 5 wickets after first days play in the 117th ‘Battle of the Lovers ‘cricket encounter played at Galle International cricket stadium yesterday.
Richmond scored 174 all out in the first innings while two leg spinners Nalaka Jayawardena and Sharon Abhishek made a tidy spells to take two wickets each to restrict Mahinda for 68 for 5 wickets at close. Nalaka 2 for 9 in 10 over spell with 4 madiens and Sharon the 16 year old leggie had 2 for 18 in 6 over spell to end the day.
Mahinda opener Pramesh Madubashana 22 in 45 balls striking 2 fours while number three batter Dinura Kalupahana added an unbeaten 25 in 70 balls with 5 fours. Others failed to impress with the bat with Richmond spinners fought back strongly.
Earlier Richmond choose to bat but their openers Vishara Fernando and Tharinda Nirmal couldn’t make a good start adding only 20 runs while inform opener Virasha Fernando was first to depart scoring only 7 runs in 17 balls at the fifth over bowled by paceman Shehan Hasaranga. When the total reached 33 Thamindu Pradeeptha the 15 year old number three batter was out scoring only one run in 17 balls.
The skipper Bhanuka Manohara and Tharindu Nirmal came to build up the innings until the lunch to get 80 for 2 wickets.
In the third over after lunch break skipper Manohara was out scoring 34 in 64 balls with five boundaries also added most successful partnership of 50 runs for the third wicket with Tharinda Nirmal. The left hander Nirmal was the highlight of the day scoring superb knock of 67 in 135 balls with 8 fours while both wickets of Manohara and Nirmal took by paceman Shehan Hasaranga who finished with best figures for Mahinda 3 for 53 in 16.4 overs. Two paceman Dinura Kalupahana and Dhanuja Induwara took two wickets each to restrict Richmond for 174 all out in 60.4 overs. Today the game will continued from 9.45 a.m
Chief scores
Richmond 174 all out (Tharinda Nirmal 67, Bhanuka Manohara 34,Janeth Kaushal 10,Malsha Tharupathi 14, Hansamana de Silva 15,Sharon Abhishek 12*,Dinura Kalupahana 2/27,Shehan Hasaranga 3/53, Dhanuja Induwara 2/23)
Mahinda 68 for 5 wickets at close (Pramesh Madubashana 22, Dinura Kalupahana 25*, Nalaka Jayawardena 2/9, Sharon Abhishek 2/18.
Monday, April 18, 2022 – 01:00