Big Match
Big Matches are annual cricket matches played between different schools in Sri Lanka. The same schools have played one another for many years, some for over a century, and Big Matches form an important part of modern Sri Lankan culture with both school children and adults taking part in much of the activity that is part of the annual matches.
Duration
Most big matches are played over two days. Three big matches – The Royal–Thomian, St. Thomas-St. Servatius and Central-St. John – are played over three days.List of Big Matches
Name | Schools | First match | |
Royal–Thomian | Royal College, Colombo v S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia | 1879 | |
Dharmaraja–Kingswood | Dharmaraja College, Kandy v Kingswood College, Kandy | 1899 | |
St. Thomas'–St. Servatius | St. Thomas' College, Matara v St. Servatius' College | 1900 | |
Battle of the North | Jaffna Central College v St. John's College, Jaffna | 1901 | |
Richmond–Mahinda | Richmond College, Galle v Mahinda College | 1905 | |
Trinity–Antonian | Trinity College, Kandy v St. Anthony's College, Kandy | 1914 | |
Battle of the Golds | Jaffna College v St. Patrick's College, Jaffna | 1917 | |
Ananda-Nalanda | Ananda College v Nalanda College, Colombo | 1924 | |
Prince of Wales–St. Sebastian's | Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa v St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa | 1933 | |
Battle of the Saints | St Peter's College, Colombo v St. Joseph's College, Colombo | 1933 | |
Sri Sumangala College, Panadura v Moratu Maha Vidyalaya | 1934 | ||
Battle of the Mangosteens | Kalutara Vidyalaya v Tissa Central College | 1949 | |
Battle of the Babes | St. Sylvester's College v Vidyartha College | 1958 | |
Battle of the Rocks | Maliyadeva College v St. Anne's College, Kurunegala | 1959 | |
Battle of the Brothers | Thurstan College v Isipathana College | 1964 | |
Battle of the Gold | Kegalu Vidyalaya v St. Mary's College, Kegalle | 1960s | |
Battle of the Blues | Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda v Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda | 1966 | |
Battle of Kotte | Sri Jayawardenepura Maha Vidyalaya v St. Thomas' College, Kotte | 1976 | |
Battle of Dematagoda | St. John's College, Colombo v St. Mathew's College, Dematagoda | 1976 | |
Battle of the Golds | St. Thomas' College, Matale v Government Science College, Matale | 1980 | |
Battle of the Golds | Sri Rahula College, Kandy v Sri Sumangala College, Kandy | 1981 | |
Battle of Kelaniya | Gurukula College v Sri Dharmaloka College | 1988 | |
Battle of Sri Jayawardanapura | St. John's College, Nugegoda Vs Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte | 1990 | |
Battle of Panadura | Panadura Royal College v St. John's College Panadura | 1992 | |
Battle of Raigam Korale | Piliyandala Central College v Taxila Central College, Horana | 2001 | |
Battle of Two Cities | Rahula College v St. Aloysius' College, Galle | 2003 | |
Battle of Greens | Royal College Wayamba, Kurunegala v Sir John Kotalawala College | 2005 | |
Battle of the Golds | D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo v Mahanama College, Colombo | 2007 | |
Battle of the Hindus | Jaffna Hindu College v Kokuvil Hindu College | 2008 | |
Battle of the Golds, Ruhuna | Weeraketiya Rajapaksha Central College v Dickwella Vijitha Central College | 2010 | |
Battle of Golden Lions | Dharmapala Vidyalaya v Rahula College | 2012 | |
Battle of the Greens | Arethusa College v T. B. Jayah Zahira College | 2012 | |
Battle of the Seagulls | St. Peter's College, Negombo v St.Sebastian's College, Katuneriya | 2012 | |
Nikitha Grero Challenge Trophy | Lyceum International School, Nugegoda v Lyceum International School, Panadura | 2015 |