Richmond College powered by an unbeaten 86 off 96 balls with eleven fours by skipper by Kamindu Mendis crushed Mahinda College by eight wickets at the Galle International Cricket Stadium to become the first winners of the RCU Colombo Centenary Challenge Trophy which will be awarded for the limited over edition of the Lover’s 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 were scored off 127 balls with just two fours while Pramith’s 31 were scored off 55 balls with three hits to the ropes. Sandun Mendis captured three wickets for Richmond while 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 Dhanjaya Lakshan but skipper Kamindu 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.
Scores: Mahinda 169 in 46.4 overs (Navod Paranavithana 66, Vinura Dulsara 21, Pramith Hansika 31, Avindu Theekshana 2/29, Sandun Mendis 3/30)
Richmond 172-2 in 32.3 overs (Kamindu Mendis 84 n.o., Adithya Siriwardana 38)
Awards:
Best batsman – Navod Paranavithana (Mahinda)
Best Bowler – Sandun Mendis (Richmond)
Best Fielder - Avindu Theekshana (Richmond)
Man of the Match – Kamindu Mendis (Richmond)