- 10,000-15,000 spectators expected at the SSC
The much anticipated Battle of the Maroons will unfold its 94th edition tomorrow (2 March) as the two premier schools in the island nation, Ananda College and Nalanda College are set to take the field at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC). This year 2024 is a groundbreaking year as the Battle of the Maroons series celebrates 100 years since its inception in 1924.
The two day encounter is set to be a carnival atmosphere with much fanfare as thousands of crowds are expected at the venue. Played for Dr. N.M. Perera Memorial Challenge Trophy, the Anandians are led by Iruth Gimshan with Sajith Vithanage leading the Nalanda outfit who are the current holders of the trophy after winning it in 2022 breaking a 69-year hoodoo. Ananda with 12 wins leads the tally with Nalanda’s 7.
Speaking at the pre-big match press conference, Co-Chairman of the Joint Organising Committee Upali Dharmadasa said that back in the days about 3,000 came to witness the big match. But this time they are expecting a packed crowd between 15,000–16,000 to flock to the SSC.
Nalanda having come into existence as it branched out of Ananda in 1924, a ‘Big Match’ was initiated between the two brotherly schools with the aim of building relations between students of the two institutions and developing their cricket in the sporting arena. Thus the first Battle of the Maroons was played between Ananda and Nalanda in 1924.
Since the 1970's the Battle of the Maroons has blossomed to become the most productive schools cricket encounter in the Island producing national cricketers of extraordinary talent and cricketing intellect. Two of the most noteworthy cricketers the Maroons have produced that have brought glory to Sri Lanka Cricket are Bandula Warnapura of Nalanda – the first Test captain and Arjuna Ranatunga of Ananda – the captain of the world cup winning team of 1996. This is only a glimpse of the contribution that the two schools have made to Sri Lanka Cricket as they continue to provide the largest contingent of players to the Sri Lankan National Cricket squad.
A joint organising committee representing leading personalities from the two schools was formed in 2009. This annual cricketing encounter will now continue to be organised jointly by this committee, thus demonstrating the brotherhood of these two leading schools in Sri Lanka.
The 47th Battle of the Maroons one day encounter will be played on Sunday 10 March at the SSC. Last year the match was spoilt by rain and the trophy was shared by both schools.
Blast from the past- Here’s the scores brief from 2022 where the Battle of the Maroons saw the last clear result in the 9-decade long series. Before this win the last Nalandian victory was recorded in 1953 under the leadership of W.W. Silva. In 2022, the victorious Nalanda College was led by Dineth Samaraweera along with the coaching staff headed by ex Nalandian Malinga Surappulige.
2022 - Match scores
Toss won by Ananda
Nalanda 1st innings 289 for 9 declared (62 overs)
Chanul Athukorala 88
Raveen de Silva 40
Shakthi Udara 5 for 90
Pulindu Kiriella 3 for 56
Ananda 1st Inning , 139 all out (42.4 overs)
Iruth Gimshan 70 not out
Shakthi Udara 21
Vinuja Ranpul 4 for 33
Raveen de Silva 3 for 33
Ananda 2nd innings 180 all out (58 overs)
Hansaja Jayasinghe 48
Lakshitha Gunaratne 32
Raveen de Silva 4 for 83
Vinuja Ranpul 2 for 40
Nalanda 2nd innings 31 for 1 wicket ( 5.1 overs)
Raveen de silva 15 not out
Result - Nalanda won by 9 wickets
Incidentally Iruth Gimshan the Ananda skipper this year was the highest run-scorer in the 2022 encounter. Iruth with 492 runs in 9 matches in this season including two fifties and a century will lead the Ananda College team in this year’s encounter with heavy hopes within their fraternity to bring back the lost glory. Meanwhile Sajith Withanage the Nalanda College skipper has 244 runs in 7 matches in this season including one half century. He has also scalped 15 wickets with a season best of 5 wickets for 48 runs.