Dialog-powered 91st Battle of the Saints unfolds on 3 April

Dialog Axiata Brand and Media Vice President Harsha Samaranayake handing over cheque to two Heads of the Schools St. Joseph’s College Rector Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi and St. Peter’s College Rector Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo, along with Joint Organising committee Co-Chairmen Terrence Fernando (St. Josephs College) and Michael Elias (St. Peter’s College) 

Continuing its unwavering commitment to fostering future sporting talent, Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, proudly sponsors the 91st edition of the iconic ‘Battle of the Saints.’ This historic cricket encounter between two esteemed Catholic institutions in Colombo—St. Joseph’s College and St. Peter’s College will unfold in all its grandeur at the SSC on 3, 4, and 5 April, with the coveted Rev. Fr. Maurice J. Le Goc Trophy at stake and the 51st Joe-Pete Limited Over Encounter for the Rev. Fr. Peter A. Pillai Trophy on 26 April at the SSC. Leading the charge for St. Joseph’s College this year is Mast. Kenath Liyanage, while the Peterite Squad will take the field under the leadership of Mast. Oween Salgado.

With St. Joseph’s College leading the series with 12 victories—their last triumph under Ruwantha Fernandopulle in 2008—and St. Peter’s College boasting 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. The 2024 edition, contested as a two-day affair, concluded in a draw. Beyond the traditional battle, the highly anticipated Josephian-Peterite limited-overs clash for the ‘Rev. Fr. Peter A. Pillai Memorial Trophy’ is scheduled for 26 April.

In the one-day format, 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, reclaiming the Rev. Fr. Peter A. Pillai Memorial Shield with a thrilling three-wicket win in the 50th annual encounter. 

Both schools have a rich legacy of producing cricketing icons who have proudly represented Sri Lanka on the international stage. The Josephian alumni include 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. Meanwhile, St. Peter’s College has nurtured stars like Roy Dias, Rumesh Ratnayake, Vinodhan John, Amal Silva, Russel Arnold, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Malinda Warnapura, Angelo Perera, Janith Liyanage, and Dushan Hemantha.

“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 Dialog Axiata Brand and Media Vice President Harsha Samaranayake. “I extend my heartfelt wishes to both teams and players for a thrilling cricket encounter.”

Spectators can immerse themselves in the thrilling spectacle on ThePapare TV – Channel Number 126, through Dialog Television, or stream the vibrant action live via ThePapare.com and the Dialog ViU app. ThePapare’s exceptional live coverage will illuminate over 40 schools nationwide throughout this captivating season. As the Dialog Big Match season unfolds, Dialog Axiata PLC warmly invites the public to witness the exhilarating Joe-Pete cricket encounter, powered by the most advanced 5G Ready network in Sri Lanka by Dialog.