Cricketers from St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s will march into the ground at the SSC ground to battle in their 91st edition of the iconic ‘Battle of the Saints’ cricket encounter from April 3 to 5.
Now that it has been extended to a three day affair a result is possible and the winning team will be awarded the Rev. Fr. Maurice J. Lee Goc Trophy.
This match will be followed by the 51st limited over encounter for the Rev. Fr. Peter A. Pillai Trophy to be played on April 26 also at the SSC ground.
The rectors of both schools Rev. Fr Ranjith Andradi of St. Joseph’s and Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo of St. Peter’s expressed their happiness and the spirits in which this game will be played.
They said that this traditional game unites the generations of cricket lovers who will rebel in the spirit of competitiveness and sportsmanship.
“This milestone reflects our commitment to celebrate this encounter to new heights giving our talented young cricketers the grand stage to showcase their skills, endurance and strategic brilliance. Over the years this rivalry has delivered more magic, nail biting finishers, bread taking centuries and match defining”, they said. By expanding the match to three days the players are exposed to even greater opportunities to test their resilience, capability and team work.
Leading St. Joseph’s will be Kenath Liyanage, while the Peterite squad will be under the leadership of Oween Salgado.
With St. Joseph’s leading the series with 12 victories – their last triumph under Ruwantha Fernandopulle in 2008 – and St. Peter’s with 10 wins, including their 2016 success under Vinu Mohotty, the Rev. Fr. Maurice J. Le Goc Trophy remains a symbol of cricketing supremacy. Sixty-seven encounters have ended in draws, underscoring the rich and competitive history of this legendary rivalry.
In the one-day series, St. Joseph’s leads with 25 wins compared to St. Peter’s 22, with two matches yielding no result and one ending in a tie. In last year’s edition, St. Peter’s emerged victorious, with a thrilling three-wicket win in the 50th encounter.
“The Big Match season is a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s sporting heritage and we are thrilled to continue our support for this significant cricketing spectacle, which fosters future champions destined to represent our nation,” stated Harsha Samaranayake, Vice President of Brand and Media at Dialog Axiata PLC.
