90th ‘Battle of the Saints’ powered by Dialog

From left: St. Josephs College Joint Chairman Terrence Fernando, Prefect of Games Rev. Fr. Priyan Tissera, Rector Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi, Dialog Axiata Group Chief Marketing Officer Lasantha Theverapperuma, St. Peter’s College Rector Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo, Sports Coordinator Rev. Fr. Milan Bernard, Joint Chairman Michael Elias  

In its steadfast dedication to nurturing future sporting stars and powering the champions of tomorrow, Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, is once again fuelling the 90th edition of the prestigious ‘Battle of the Saints’ between St. Joseph’s College and St. Peter’s College, two esteemed Catholic schools in Colombo. The much-anticipated match, vying for the Rev. Father Maurice J. Le Goc Trophy, will take place in all its grandeur at the SSC on 22 and 23 March.

As the primary sponsor, Dialog Axiata has made provisions to broadcast the Big Match and the Limited Overs match LIVE on Dialog Television - ThePapare TV HD (Channel Number 126), as well as a live stream on ThePapare.com and the Dialog ViU App.

Renowned for its thrilling and competitive cricket, the ‘Battle of the Saints’ stands out as the only annual two-day cricket encounter that strategically restricts the first innings to 60 overs each, intensifying interest and outcome orientation. In this year’s clash, the Darley Road squad will be led by fifth-year colorsman Lahiru Amarasekera, while the Bambalapitiya contingent will be under the Captaincy of Sri Lanka Under-19 player Vishen Halambage. 

“The Joe-Pete encounter is a highlight in Sri Lanka’s school cricket calendar, and I am delighted that the 90th edition of this cherished rivalry will uphold its glorious tradition,” expressed hosting school – St. Peter’s College Rector Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo. “I extend my gratitude to our longstanding partner, Dialog Axiata, for their unwavering support through thick and thin.” 

Echoing the sentiment, St. Joseph’s College Rector Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi remarked, “The Battle of the Saints holds a rich history as a pinnacle event between St. Peter’s and St. Joseph’s, two esteemed Catholic institutions. I am confident that both teams will showcase exciting cricket, captivating both young and old Peterites and Josephians alike. My best wishes go out to both schools and their respective captains for two days of exhilarating cricket.” 

“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 Lasantha Thevarapperuma, Dialog Axiata Group Chief Marketing Officer. “I extend my heartfelt wishes to all teams and players for a thrilling cricket season.” 

With St. Joseph’s College leading the series with 12 victories, their last triumph led by Ruwantha Fernandopulle in 2008, and St. Peter’s College securing 10 wins, including the 2016 victory under Vinu Mohotty’s Captaincy, the Rev. Father Maurice J. Legoc Trophy remains a coveted prize. Sixty-seven encounters have resulted in draws, adding to the historic rivalry’s allure.  In addition to the two-day battle, the eagerly awaited Josephian-Peterite limited-overs match, played for the ‘Fr. Peter A. Pillai Memorial Trophy,’ marks its 50th edition this year, becoming the first school rivalry to achieve this milestone since its inception in 1975. Scheduled for 6 April, at the SSC Grounds, Colombo, this match traditionally garners the highest attendance for a school’s 50-over cricket fixture.

St. Joseph’s currently leads the one-day encounter with 25 victories against St. Peter’s 21, with 2 matches concluding with no result and one game ending in a tie. Last year witnessed a closely contested match with the Darley Road boys clinching victory over their counterparts from Bambalapitiya.

Both schools boast a legacy of producing national cricketing stars. Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Chaminda Vaas, Dunith Wellalage, Shevon Daniel, Thisara Perera, Ashley De Silva, Michael Van Dort, Roshen Silva, Priyamal Perera and Sadeera Samarawickrama are the Josephians who represented Sri Lanka while the Peterites are Roy Dias, Rumesh Ratnayake, Vinodhan John, Amal Silva, Russel Arnold, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Malinda Warnapura, Angelo Perera, Janith Liyanage and Dushan Hemantha. 

Dialog Axiata is the proud sponsor of the National Cricket, Volleyball, Netball and Esports teams. Dialog is also the primary sponsor of the Sri Lanka Golf Open and Paralympic sports by powering the National Para Games, and the Sri Lankan contingent to the World Paralympic Games. Further, in line with its commitment towards empowering the champions of tomorrow, the company continues to power the President’s Gold Cup Volleyball, National Junior and Senior Netball tourneys, and School Rugby.