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

NameSchoolsFirst
match
Royal–Thomian
Royal College, Colombo v S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia1879
Dharmaraja–Kingswood
Dharmaraja College, Kandy v Kingswood College, Kandy1899
St. Thomas'–St. Servatius
St. Thomas' College, Matara v St. Servatius' College1900
Battle of the NorthJaffna Central College v St. John's College, Jaffna1901
Richmond–Mahinda
Richmond College, Galle v Mahinda College1905
Trinity–Antonian
Trinity College, Kandy v St. Anthony's College, Kandy1914
Battle of the GoldsJaffna College v St. Patrick's College, Jaffna1917
Ananda-Nalanda
Ananda College v Nalanda College, Colombo1924
Prince of Wales–St. Sebastian'sPrince of Wales' College, Moratuwa v St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa1933
Battle of the SaintsSt Peter's College, Colombo v St. Joseph's College, Colombo1933

Sri Sumangala College, Panadura v Moratu Maha Vidyalaya1934
Battle of the MangosteensKalutara Vidyalaya v Tissa Central College1949
Battle of the BabesSt. Sylvester's College v Vidyartha College1958
Battle of the RocksMaliyadeva College v St. Anne's College, Kurunegala1959
Battle of the BrothersThurstan College v Isipathana College1964
Battle of the GoldKegalu Vidyalaya v St. Mary's College, Kegalle1960s
Battle of the BluesSri Devananda College, Ambalangoda v Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda1966
Battle of KotteSri Jayawardenepura Maha Vidyalaya v St. Thomas' College, Kotte1976
Battle of DematagodaSt. John's College, Colombo v St. Mathew's College, Dematagoda1976
Battle of the GoldsSt. Thomas' College, Matale v Government Science College, Matale1980
Battle of the GoldsSri Rahula College, Kandy v Sri Sumangala College, Kandy1981
Battle of KelaniyaGurukula College v Sri Dharmaloka College1988
Battle of Sri JayawardanapuraSt. John's College, Nugegoda Vs Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte1990
Battle of Panadura
Panadura Royal College v St. John's College Panadura1992
Battle of Raigam KoralePiliyandala Central College v Taxila Central College, Horana2001
Battle of Two Cities
Rahula College v St. Aloysius' College, Galle2003
Battle of Greens
Royal College Wayamba, Kurunegala v Sir John Kotalawala College2005
Battle of the GoldsD. S. Senanayake College, Colombo v Mahanama College, Colombo2007
Battle of the HindusJaffna Hindu College v Kokuvil Hindu College2008
Battle of the Golds, RuhunaWeeraketiya Rajapaksha Central College v Dickwella Vijitha Central College2010
Battle of Golden LionsDharmapala Vidyalaya v Rahula College2012
Battle of the GreensArethusa College v T. B. Jayah Zahira College2012
Battle of the SeagullsSt. Peter's College, Negombo v St.Sebastian's College, Katuneriya2012
Nikitha Grero Challenge TrophyLyceum International School, Nugegoda v Lyceum International School, Panadura2015