Schools Cricket

85th JOSEPHIAN-PETERITE BATTLE OF THE SAINTS (2019) Beyond the Boundary Lines By Algi Wijewickrema The press has done its reporting on the 85th Battle of the Saints within the normal bounds of reporting on a cricket match but there’s a lot more that can be written beyond those boundaries about …

By Susilough de S Wijeyeratne The limited-over schools’ cricket tournament was started in 1970, when eight schools were invited to play in a knock-out tournament which was played in three consecutive days, as quarter-finals, semi-finals and final respectively. St Joseph’s College was first invited to this tournament in 1972 under …

112th Lovers’ Quarrel, Galle Richmond Mahinda   The star-studded and champion Richmond College First XI had to settle for a draw against arch rivals Mahinda College in their 112th big match at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. Though humbled in the first inning as they were dismissed for a below-par …

83rd Battle of the Saints The 83rd Josephian-Peterite Battle of the Saints ended in a draw at the P. Sara Stadium. Coming in to the game, the Peterites, coached by former skipper and Sri Lanka player Malinda Warnapura and led by their dashing right-hand batsman Lakshina Rodrigo, were the favourites …

100th Kandy Battle of the Blues The much-anticipated Centennial Battle of the Blues in Kandy, the Trinity-Antonian 100th cricket encounter for the John Halangoda Trophy, fizzled out to a draw as rain interrupted both days’ play at Pallekelle Stadium on March 10 and 11. Leading up to the encounter, there …

138th Battle of the Blues Royal College, thanks to a spirited batting display by the lower middle-order batsmen and with the help of rain, forced a draw against S. Thomas’ College at the S.S.C Grounds in Colombo in their 138th Battle of the Blues played for Rt.Hon. D.S. Senanayake Shield. …

  By David Heyn Spectators at the 1962 Josephian-Pe terite Big Match were taken on a bumpy roller-coaster ride as the teams experienced highs and lows over the two days. Only 444 runs were scored and 38 wickets fell but there were some outstanding performances with bat and ball, and supporters were kept on the edge of …

BY NEIL WIJERATNE It was the early 1960s. I was a primary school student at St Joseph’s College, and my father accompanied me daily to school. During that period, classes began at 9am and ended at 3.30pm. Since my father was a government servant working at the Census and Statistics Department, I …

  It was a big celebration, a golden milestone in the blue ribbon schools cricket match in Sri Lanka. The Royal-Thomian, known as the Battle of the Blues, was celebrating its centenary encounter. Since its inception, this big match has been played with so much pride and passion, and with a tradition of its own – much to …

Another epic battle, unearthed thanks to veteran writer and our Quadrangle columnist Neil Wijeratne. As we were looking for “Great Escapes” he mentioned having watched this match and making short notes of the game, especially the bowling brilliance of multi-talented Benedictine Ravi Irugalbandara. He was one of my childhood heroes. He was equally good or better in hockey and football. …