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.[1]

For the upcoming South Korean film, see Big Match (film).

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.[2][3]

List of Big Matches
St. Thomas'–St. Servatius Cricket Encounter (2015)
Battle of the Rocks (2009)
Dharmaraja–Kingswood Cricket Encounter (2010)
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Name Schools First
match		 Refs.
Royal–Thomian
(also Battle of the Blues)		Royal College, Colombo v S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia1879[4]
Dharmaraja–Kingswood
(also Hill Capital Battle of the Maroons)		Dharmaraja College, Kandy v Kingswood College, Kandy1899[5]
St. Thomas'–St. Servatius
(also Battle of Ruhuna, Battle of Nilwala
or Battle of the Blues) 		St. Thomas' College, Matara v St. Servatius' College1900[6][7][8]
Battle of the NorthJaffna Central College v St. John's College, Jaffna1901[lower-alpha 1][9][10][11][12]
Richmond–Mahinda
(also The Lovers' Quarrel)		Richmond College, Galle v Mahinda College1905[13][14][15][16]
Trinity–Antonian
(also Hill Capital Battle of the Blues)		Trinity College, Kandy v St. Anthony's College, Kandy1914[17][18][19]
Battle of the GoldsJaffna College v St. Patrick's College, Jaffna1917[20][21]
Ananda-Nalanda
(also Battle of the Maroons)		Ananda College v Nalanda College, Colombo1924[22][23][24]
Prince of Wales–St. Sebastian'sPrince of Wales' College, Moratuwa v St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa1933[25][26][27][28][29]
Battle of the SaintsSt Peter's College, Colombo v St. Joseph's College, Colombo1933[lower-alpha 2][30][31]
Sumangala - Moratu
(also Battle of the Golds)		Sri Sumangala College, Panadura v Moratu Maha Vidyalaya1934[32]
Battle of the MangosteensKalutara Vidyalaya v Tissa Central College1949[33][34]
Battle of the BabesSt. Sylvester's College v Vidyartha College1958[35][36][37][38]
Battle of the RocksMaliyadeva College v St. Anne's College, Kurunegala1959[39][40]
Battle of the BrothersThurstan College v Isipathana College1964[41][42][43]
Battle of the GoldKegalu Vidyalaya v St. Mary's College, Kegalle1960s[44][45][46]
Battle of the BluesSri Devananda College, Ambalangoda v Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda1966[47]
Battle of KotteSri Jayawardenepura Maha Vidyalaya v St. Thomas' College, Kotte1976[48]
Battle of DematagodaSt. John's College, Colombo v St. Mathew's College, Dematagoda1976[lower-alpha 3][49][50][51]
Battle of the GoldsSt. Thomas' College, Matale v Government Science College, Matale1980[52]
Battle of the GoldsSri Rahula College, Kandy v Sri Sumangala College, Kandy1981[53][54][55]
Battle of KelaniyaGurukula College v Sri Dharmaloka College1988[56][57][58]
Battle of Sri JayawardanapuraSt. John's College, Nugegoda Vs Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte1990[59]
Battle of Panadura
(also Battle of the Greens)		Panadura Royal College v St. John's College Panadura1992[60][61][62][63]
Battle of Raigam KoralePiliyandala Central College v Taxila Central College, Horana2001[64][65]
Battle of Two Cities
(The F. R Alles Trophy)		Rahula College v St. Aloysius' College, Galle2003[66][67][68]
Battle of Greens
(also Battle of Wayamba)		Royal College Wayamba, Kurunegala v Sir John Kotalawala College2005[69][70]
Battle of the GoldsD. S. Senanayake College, Colombo v Mahanama College, Colombo2007
Battle of the HindusJaffna Hindu College v Kokuvil Hindu College2008[71][72]
Battle of the Golds, RuhunaWeeraketiya Rajapaksha Central College v Dickwella Vijitha Central College2010[73][74][75]
Battle of Golden LionsDharmapala Vidyalaya v Rahula College2012[76][77]
Battle of the GreensArethusa College v T. B. Jayah Zahira College2012[78][79][80]
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[81]

Notes
  1. Intermittently played due to the civil war.
  2. 30-over matches.
  3. Intermittent.

References
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