In Sri Lankan cricket, a Big Match is an annual school cricket match typically played between two rival schools in Sri Lanka. Said schools often have a long history of competition, with some rivalries lasting over a century. Big matches have become a significant part of modern Sri Lankan culture, involving both school children and alumni.
History
Annual Big matches are played between two rival school cricket teams in Sri Lanka. Most of these matches are held at the end of the first school term, typically in March. Big Matches are not only competitions between schools but also serve as gatherings for alumni, known as "Old Boys." Many of these encounters have been played for several years, many over 100 years old.Trinity in command in Kandy’s Battle of the Blues
The oldest known big match is the Battle of the Blues (Colombo) cricket encounter, played between S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and Royal College, Colombo since 1879. The Battle of the Maroons (Kandy) has been played between Dharmaraja College, Kandy, and Kingswood College, Kandy. It is the oldest cricket match series in the central province and the second oldest in Sri Lanka, having been played since 1893. The Battle of the Blues Ruhuna(Matara) has been played between St. Thomas' College, Matara, and St. Servatius' College Matara since 1900.
Most big matches are played over two days. However, three notable Big Matches–the Battle of the Blues (Colombo), the Battle of the Blues (Matara) and the Battle of the North–are played over three days. Also from 2025 onwards, Sri Lanka Cricket and Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association have decided that the annual Big Matches between the country's top schools, traditionally held over two days, will now be played as three days encounters.School Big Matches to be played for three days Accordingly, Battle of the Brothers (Colombo) big match between Thurstan College and Isipathana College Colombo is played as a 3-day encounter this year. So as the Battle of the Saints (Colombo) between St Josephs College and St Peters College and the Battle of the Maroons (Colombo) between Ananda College and Nalanda College, Colombo is also played as a 3-day encounter.
List of Big Matches Current The following is a list of Big Matches which are still held annually as of 2025. #SeriesRival SchoolsFirst EditionLatest EditionLast Played Location1Battle of the Blues (Colombo)Royal College, Colombo vs S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia1879147th (2026)Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground2Battle of the Maroons (Kandy)Dharmaraja College, Kandy vs Kingswood College, Kandy1893119th (2026)Pallekele International Cricket Stadium3Battle of the Blues Ruhuna (Matara)St. Thomas' College, Matara vs St. Servatius' College1900126th (2026)Uyanwatte Stadium4Battle of the NorthJaffna Central College vs St. John's College19012026Jaffna Central College Grounds5The Lovers' QuarrelRichmond College, Galle vs Mahinda College Galle1905121th (2026)Galle International Stadium6Battle of the Blues (Kandy)Trinity College, Kandy vs St. Anthony's College, Kandy1914107th (2026)7Battle of the Golds (Jaffna)Jaffna College vs St. Patrick's College, Jaffna1917107th (2026)Jaffna College Grounds8Battle of Uva (Badulla)Dharmadutha College, Badulla vs Uva College, Badulla192075th (2026)Badulla Cricket Ground9Battle of the Maroons (Colombo)Ananda College Colombo vs Nalanda College, Colombo192495th (2025)Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground10Battle of the Saints (Colombo)St Peter's College, Colombo vs St. Joseph's College, Colombo193391st (2025)Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground11Battle of the Golds (Moratuwa)Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa vs St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa193373rd (2025)De Soysa Stadium12Battle of the Golds (Panadura and Moratuwa)Sri Sumangala College, Panadura vs Moratu Maha Vidyalaya193474th (2026)De Soysa Stadium, Panadura Esplanade13Battle of the MangosteenKalutara Vidyalaya vs Tissa Central College194966th (2026)De Soysa Stadium14Battle of the BabesSt. Sylvester's College Kandy vs Vidyartha College Kandy195864rd (2025)Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Asgiriya Stadium15Battle of the RocksMaliyadeva College Kurunegala vs St. Anne's College, Kurunegala195941th (2025)Welagedara Stadium16Battle of the Brothers (Colombo)Thurstan College Colombo vs Isipathana College Colombo196462th (2025)Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, R. Premadasa Stadium and Thurstan Grounds17Battle of the Blues (Ambalangoda)Sri Devananda College Ambalangoda vs Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda19662025Ambalangoda Urban Council Grounds Ambalangoda18Battle of KotteSri Jayawardenepura Maha Vidyalaya Kotte vs St. Thomas' College, Kotte19762025Colts Cricket Club Ground19Battle of the Golds (Matale)St. Thomas' College, Matale vs Government Science College19802025Police Ground in Kandy20Battle of the HindusHindu College Colombo vs Jaffna Hindu College19812025P. Sara Oval Ground and Jaffna Hindu College Ground21Battle of the Golds (Kandy)Sri Sumangala College Kandy vs Sri Rahula College Kandy198126th (2025)Pallekale International Cricket Stadium22Battle of the KalaniyaGurukula College Kalaniya vs Sri Dharmaloka College Kalaniya198835th (2025)P. Sara Oval Ground23Battle of Sri JayawardanapuraSt. John's College, Nugegoda vs Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte19902025P. Sara Oval Ground24Battle of the Greens (Panadura)Royal College Panadura vs St. John's College Panadura199226th (2025)Panadura Sports Club and De Soysa Stadium25Battle of the Raigam SalpitiPiliyandala Central College vs Taxila Central College, Horana200123th (2025)De Soysa Stadium26Battle of The TuskersMaliyadeva Adarsha Maha Vidyalaya vs Ibbagamuwa Central College, Ibbagamuwa200214th Edition (2026)Welagedara Stadium27Battle of Blue and GoldNugawela Central College vs A. Rathnayake Central College200422th (2026)Pallekele International Cricket Stadium28Battle of Greens (Wayamba)Royal College Wayamba, Kurunegala vs Sir John Kotalawala College20052024Welagedara Stadium29Battle of the Golds (Colombo)D. S. Senanayake College vs Mahanama College200719th (2025)P. Sara Oval and R. Premadasa Stadium30Battle of the RathranPrasident's College Kotte vs Asoka College Colombo200817th (2025)P. Sara Oval and R. Premadasa Stadium31Battle of Golden LionsRahula College vs Dharmapala Vidyalaya201212th (2025)Uyanwatte Stadium32Battle of the SeagullsSt. Peter's College Negombo vs St.Sebastian's College Katuneriya20122025BOI Sports Complex Katunayake33Battle of the Raigam PasdunC.W. W. Kannangara Central College, Matugama vs Sri Palee College,Horana20188th (2026) Bandaragama Ground34Battle of Glory of Galle EncounterVidyaloka College vs St. Aloysius' College, Galle20182025(5th)Galle International Stadiumhttps://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20120223/29466052796696335Battle of the Blues and MaroonsMahinda Rajapaksha College, Homagama vs Defence Services School, Colombo20184th (2025)Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground36Battle of Ran DamRoyal College Horana vs Siri Piyarathne Vidyalaya, Padukka20213rd (2025)Poojitha Uduwana Ground, Horana37The Pride of GalleVidyaloka College vs All Saints College, Galle20262026 (1st)Galle International Stadiumhttps://cricheroes.com/scorecard/24532041/big-matches-2026/vidyaloka-college-galle-vs-all-saints-college-galle/livehttps://ceylontoday.lk/2026/05/07/all-saints-and-vidyaloka-set-for-historic-pride-of-galle-big-match/38Battle of Gold, KegalleSt. Mary's College, Kegalle vs Kegalu Vidyalaya196066th (2026)Public Ground, Kegalle
Former The following is a list of former Big Matches which are no longer held regularly as of . SeriesRival SchoolsFirst EditionLast EditionBattle of the CentralionsPiliyandala Central College vs Wadduwa Central College19752000Battle of DematagodaSt. John's College vs St. Mathew's College19762010s Battle of Friends Vidyaloka College, Galle vs Meepawala Amarasuriya College, Galle19982012Battle of Two Cities (The F. R Alles Trophy)Rahula College vs St. Aloysius' College20042011Battle of the HindusJaffna Hindu College vs Kokuvil Hindu College20082010sBattle of the Golds (Ruhuna)Weeraketiya Rajapaksha Central College vs Dickwella Vijitha Central College20102010sBattle of the GreensArethusa College vs T. B. Jayah Zahira College20122010sNikitha Grero Challenge TrophyLyceum International School Panadura vs Lyceum International School Nugegoda20152019Battle of Minipura ( Ratnapura )St.Aloysius' College Ratnapura vs Sivali Central College Ratnapura 19312000
Notes
References
External links at ThePapare.com