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Countries | Sri Lanka |
---|---|
Format | Test, One-Day and Twenty20 |
First edition | 1879 |
Latest edition | 2023 |
Next edition | 2024 |
Number of teams | 34 (as of 2023) |
Most successful | Battle of the Blues (Colombo) (144 editions) |
TV | Dialog TV, Peo TV |
Website | ThePapare.com, Batsman.com |
2023 Big Matches |
In Sri Lankan cricket, a Big Match is an annual school cricket match often played between two rival schools in Sri Lanka. These schools have often competed against one another for many years, some for over a century. Big matches have become an important part of modern Sri Lankan culture, with school children and adults participating in the activity.
The oldest known example of a big match is the Royal–Thomian cricket encounter, played between S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and Royal College, Colombo since 1879. [1] [2]
Most big matches are played over two days. Three Big Matches; Battle of the Blues (Colombo), Battle of the Blues (Matara) and Battle of the North; are notably played over three days. [3] [4]
Annual Big matches are played between two rival school cricket teams in Sri Lanka. The majority of big matches are held at the end of the first school term, in March for most Sri Lankan schools. Big matches compete among schools and serve as a meeting place for many old boys. Many of these encounters have been played for several years, many over 100 years old. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
The Battle of the Blues (Colombo) is the oldest big match in Sri Lanka and has been played between Royal College, Colombo and S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia since 1879. [10]
The Hill Capital Battle of the Maroons has been played between Dharmaraja College, Kandy and Kingswood College, Kandy. It is the oldest cricket match series in the central province and second oldest in Sri Lanka, having been played since 1893. [11] [12]
The Battle of the Blues (Matara) has been played between St. Thomas' College, Matara and St. Servatius' College Matara since 1900. [13] [14] [15]
Continually, many other Big Matches were established in the following years.
The following is a list of Big Matches which are still held annually as of 2023. [5]
The following is a list of Big Matches which are no longer held as of 2023.
Series | Rival Schools | First Edition | Last Edition | Refs. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Battle of the Centralions | Piliyandala Central College vs Wadduwa Central College | 1975 | 2000 | |
Battle of Dematagoda | St. John's College vs St. Mathew's College | 1976 [lower-alpha 3] | 2010s | [75] [76] [77] |
Battle of the Golds (Kandy) | Sri Rahula College vs Sri Sumangala College | 1981 | 2010s | [78] [79] [80] |
Battle of Kelaniya | Gurukula College vs Sri Dharmaloka College | 1988 | 2010s | [81] [82] [83] |
Battle of Two Cities (The F. R Alles Trophy) | Rahula College vs St. Aloysius' College | 2003 | 2017 | [84] [85] [86] |
Battle of the Hindus | Jaffna Hindu College vs Kokuvil Hindu College | 2008 | 2010s | [87] [88] |
Battle of the Golds (Ruhuna) | Weeraketiya Rajapaksha Central College vs Dickwella Vijitha Central College | 2010 | 2010s | [89] [90] [91] |
Battle of the Greens | Arethusa College vs T. B. Jayah Zahira College | 2012 | 2010s | [92] [93] [94] |
Nikitha Grero Challenge Trophy | Lyceum International School vs Lyceum International School | 2015 | 2019 | [95] |
St. John's College is a private school in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Founded in 1823 by British Anglican missionaries, it is one of Sri Lanka's oldest schools.
Jaffna Central College is a national school in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Founded in 1816 by British Methodist missionaries, it is one of Sri Lanka's oldest schools.
St. Thomas' College is a government primary and secondary school for boys in Matara, Sri Lanka. The college was initially founded in 1844 as a private Anglican school by Rev. Fr. N. J. Ondatjee, a missionary of the Christian Missionary Society of England, in Wellamadama, Dondra. It presently has over 3,600+ enrolled students studying primary to secondary education.
Dharmaraja–Kingswood Cricket Encounter is the annual cricket match between two of the largest government-run national boys' schools in Kandy, Sri Lanka: Dharmaraja College, Kandy and Kingswood College, Kandy. It is the oldest cricket match series in the central province and second oldest in Sri Lanka, having been played for 131 years. It is also known as the Battle of the Maroons, referring to the school colours of the two schools.
The Battle of the Saints is the annual cricket contest between St. Joseph's College and St Peter's College in Colombo, Sri Lanka, which typically takes place in March. Inaugurated in 1933 by the Rectors of both schools and has since become a highly anticipated event, attracting significant media coverage and enthusiastic supporters. Since 2016, which is the 82nd encounter, both teams compete for the Reverend Father Maurice Legoc Trophy, named after the tournament's founder.
For the past 82 matches, St. Joseph’s college have recorded 12 wins, while the Peterites have registered 10. The rest of the matches have ended up as a draw with no wins for either team. In 2008 St. Joseph’s college won the match, which ended a 35-year drought, and in 2010 St. Peter’s won the match after 32 years.
In the series the highest score is recorded by St Joseph’s college, which is 382, made back in 1982, led by Ken Serpanchy, while St. Peter’s college best being 345 for 9 in 1938 under Percy Perera.
Angelo Kanishka Perera, or Angelo Perera, is a former professional cricketer, who played limited over cricket for Sri Lanka. He is a right-handed batsman and left-arm slow bowler who plays for Nondescripts Cricket Club. He was born in Moratuwa and attended to St Peter's College, Colombo. In 2019, he became only the second batsman after Arthur Fagg to score double centuries in both innings of any first class match. Perera retired from international cricket in January 2022, having last playing for the national team in 2019.
Subasinghe Mudiyanselage Ashan Priyanjan is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays for the national side in limited over formats. He is a middle-order batsman and occasionally a right-arm off break bowler.
The Battle of the Blues (Kandy), also referred to as the Trinity–Antonian Cricket Encounter or Hill Country Battle of the Blues, stands as the sixth oldest traditional school cricket match, commonly known as a Big Match, held annually in Sri Lanka. Dating back to 1914, this encounter sees Trinity College, Kandy, and St. Anthony's College, Kandy, engage in a two-day cricket contest. The John Halangoda Memorial Trophy is bestowed upon the victor of the match, determined by either an outright win or, failing that, a first innings triumph. It is noteworthy that a first innings victory does not formally register as a win for the respective team in the records.
Pinnaduwage Chaturanga de Silva, or Chaturanga de Silva, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays limited over cricket. Chathuranga de Silva was educated at St. Aloysius College, Galle, where he started his cricket career. He is primarily a left-handed batsman but bowls handy slow left-arm orthodox. He has represented the Sri Lanka national cricket team in limited over international matches. He is the elder brother of Sri Lankan All-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva.
The Prince of Wales'–St. Sebastian's Cricket Encounter is an annual cricket match played between Prince of Wales' College (PWC) and St. Sebastian's College (SSC) since 1933. It is known as The Battle of the Golds due to the colours of the two school's flags i.e. Purple, Gold and Maroon of Prince of Wales' College and Green, White & Gold of St. Sebastian's College.
Chandrasekara Arachchilage Kasun Rajitha is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, who plays all formats of the game in international level for Sri Lanka. He is an old boy of St. Servatius' College, Matara.
Edirimuni Chamika Dinushan Perera Karunaratne is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays all three formats as well as a national badminton player. He made his international debut for the Sri Lanka cricket team in February 2019. In November 2022, he was handed suspended one-year ban from all forms of cricket after violating and breaching several clauses of his player agreement during the aftermath of the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Koralegedera Nadeeja Ashen Bandara, known as Ashen Bandara, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays limited over internationals for Sri Lanka. He made his international debut for the Sri Lanka cricket team in March 2021.
Dushan Hemantha is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He is an all-rounder who is a right-handed batter and a right-arm legbreak bowler. He currently plays for Dambulla Aura in domestic cricket.
Battle of the Golds is an annual Big Match played between Sri Sumangala College and Moratu Maha Vidyalaya since 1934. It is known as The Battle of the Golds due to the colours of the two schools' flags i.e. Green, Gold and Blue of Sri Sumangala College and Maroon, Gold & Maroon of Moratu Maha Vidyalaya.
Shevon Daniel is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who currently plays limited overs cricket for the national team. His elder brother Jehan Daniel is also a cricketer.
63rd Battle of the Babes was the 2023 edition of Battle of the Babes a School Cricket Match Series played between St. Sylvester's College and Vidyartha College as part of the 2023 edition of Big Matches. It includes a Test match and a One-Day match. The One-Day Match is also known as 34th One-Day Encounter.
2023 Big Matches is the 2023 edition of Big Matches; A set of Annual School Cricket Match Series played between pairs of schools across the country.
Battle of the Babes is an annual Big Match played between Vidyartha College and St. Sylvester's College since 1958 Annually; except for 3 years due to unavoidable circumstances. Otherwise, it has been now played for 64 years.
Subasinghe Manchanayake Appuhamilage Dasis Kaveeja Manchanayake is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He has played four first-class matches representing Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club.