Dialog powers 89th Battle of Saints on 28-29 April at SSC

Dialog Axiata PLC Group Chief Operating Officer and Group Business Operations Lasantha Theverapperuma handing over the sponsorship cheque to St. Joseph’s College Rector Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi and St. Peter’s College Rector Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo Others from left: St. Joseph’s College Captain Sadesh Jayawardane, St. Joseph’s College Prefect of Games Rev. Fr. Priyan Tissera, St. Joseph’s College Joint Organising Committee Co-Chairman Terrence Fernando,  St. Peter’s College Joint Organising Committee Co-Chairman Michael Elias, St. Peter’s College Sports Coordinator Rev. Fr. Milan Bernard, St. Peters College Captain Nimuthu Gunawardana

One of the most competitive big matches played in Sri Lanka, the 89th edition of the ‘Battle of the Saints’, powered by Dialog Axiata PLC, played between premier Catholic boys’ schools, St. Joseph’s College, Colombo and St. Peter’s College, Colombo for the Rev. Father Maurice J. Le Goc Trophy, will be battled in its full glory at the SSC on the 28 and 29 April 2023.

Due to the unprecedented times in the last two years owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the matches were played behind closed doors for the safety of players, however with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions the Joint Match Organising Committee of the ‘Battle of the Saints’ under the guidance of the Rector/Principal of the two respective schools have decided to play the 89th edition in full attendance of students, old boys and well-wishers.

Dialog Axiata has made arrangements to broadcast the matches live on Dialog Television channel number 70, and via live stream on Thepapare.com and the Dialog ViU app. The ‘Battle of the Saints’, which is renowned for its exciting and competitive brand of cricket is the only annual two-day cricket encounter that strategically limits the first innings to 60 overs each to create greater interest and result orientation. 

In the 2023 encounter the lads from Darley Road will be led by wicketkeeper-batsman and Sri Lanka U-19 player Sadeesh Jayawardena, while the boys from Bambalapitiya will be under the captaincy of batting allrounder, Nimuthu Gunawardana.

“The Joe-Pete is one of the most anticipated annual encounters in Sri Lanka’s schools’ cricket calendar and I’m pleased that 89th edition of our beloved encounter will be played in its past glory,” hosting school St. Peter’s College, Colombo Rector Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo said. “I take this opportunity to thank our long-term partner Dialog Axiata for being with us during good and challenging times.”

St. Joseph’s College Colombo Rector Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi said: “The Battle of the Saints between St. Peter’s and St. Joseph’s has a long and rich history of tradition as two of the leading Catholic schools in Sri Lanka. I am sure both teams will play exciting cricket to bring excitement for both young and old Peterites and Josephians.  “I wish both the schools and their respective captains the very best to deliver two days of exhilarating cricket. St. Joseph’s College leads the series tally with 12 wins, their last win coming under the captaincy of Ruwantha Fernandopulle in 2008, while St. Peter’s College were the winners of the 2016 encounter under Vinu Mohotty, bringing their tally to 10 wins, which ensured the Rev. Father Maurice J. Legoc Trophy was kept securely in the trophy cabinet at Bambalapitiya.”  The highly anticipated Josephian-Peterite limited-overs match played for the ‘Fr. Peter A. Pillai Memorial Trophy’ which was the first one-day encounter among schools commencing in 1975, has always attracted the highest number of spectators for a school’s 50-over cricket match scheduled to be played on the 30 April at the SSC Grounds, Colombo. The Josephians lead the one-day encounter 24-21 with 2 matches ending with no result and one game with a tie. In last year’s encounter, the boys from Bambalapitiya edged out the Josephians in a closely contested game.

The two schools have produced many National Caps. Current Sri Lanka test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Chaminda Vaas, Dunith Wellage, 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 and Janith Liyanage.

This year Janatha Steel has strengthened the JoePete as the Platinum Sponsor for the 2023 edition. JoePete 2023 edition has also attracted many other sponsors Keells Krest, Elephant house, CBL, Maggie, Daraz, HNB, Uber and Singer Sri Lanka for its vibrant brand of schools cricket. Currently, Josephinas are the Under -19 Inter School Division One Tier A 2 Day Joint Champions.