Mahinda – Richmond Lovers’ Quarrel Battle is a colorful chapter in the history of school big matches in this country. The Lovers’ Quarrel which started in 1905 is a great platform to produce cricket stars in the world from both Mahinda and Richmond Colleges.
The Mahinda Richmond Lovers’ Quarrel, which has not been held for two years due to the Covid epidemic, will be held on April 8 and 9 this year. This year’s match is unique so that fifty years have passed since the record for most runs scored in a Mahinda-Richmond Lovers’ Quarrel match.
The owner of this historic record is P. H. K. H. Ranasinghe, the distinguished alumnus of Mahinda College who gave the glory of this record to Mahinda within 24 hours after Richmond College set the record.
Fifty years ago, until the 1972 Mahinda Richmond Big Match, Sirisena Hettige of Mahinda College, who had scored 155 runs in the 1939 Big Match, held the record for most runs in a cricket big match.
Sirisena Hettige’s record of 33 years was later broken by Richmond College’s No. 3 batsman Prasad Kariyawasam in the 1972 match.
Batting first, Richmond’s Prasad Kariyawasam broke Sirisena Hettige’s record scoring 156 for Richmond College, giving Richmond the upper hand.
Richmond College was bowled out for 274 in the first innings with Prasad Kariyawasam scoring 156.
P. H. K. H. Ranasinghe, the No. 3 batsman for Mahinda College, did not allow Richmond’s delight to continue.
P.H.K.H. Ranasinghe broke Prasad Kariyawasam’s record scoring 166 for Mahinda College by breaking the previous record which was 156 runs delighting all Mahindians.
Less than 24 hours after the pride loss from Mahinda College,
Ranasinghe returned with a massive 162 runs restoring Mahinda’s glory. Mahinda’s scoreboard became 359 runs with his contribution.
Although it has been 50 years until this match, Ranasinghe’s record has not been broken.
“I am very proud to be the highest individual scorer in our big match history. This year marks the 50th anniversary of this report. A special ceremony has been organized for me tomorrow (February 19) at the Mercantile Cricket Association in Colombo to commemorate my victory. Arjuna Ranatunga, the captain of the 96 Cricket World Cup winner, will be the chief guest. Mahinda College has a good team this time. Our hope is to win this match, ”said P. H. K. H. Ranasinghe, commenting on the Lovers’ Quarrel this time.
