Dialog Axiata PLC will power the 92nd “Battle of the Saints” cricket encounter between St. Joseph’s College and St. Peter’s College, continuing its support for the annual schools’ cricket fixture.
The match will be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo from 19 to 21 March for the Rev. Fr. Maurice J. Le Goc Trophy.
The 52nd Joe-Pete Limited Overs Encounter for the Rev. Fr. Peter A. Pillai Trophy will be played on 25 April at the SSC.
St. Joseph’s College will be led by Mast. Rishma Amarasinghe this year, while the St. Peter’s College team will be captained by Mast. Enosh Peterson, who was the Man-of-the-Match in the 51st limited overs fixture.
St. Joseph’s College leads the series with 12 victories, with their last win recorded in 2008 under Ruwantha Fernandopulle. St. Peter’s College has 10 wins, with their last victory coming in 2016 under Vinu Mohotty. A total of 68 encounters have ended in draws.
The 2025 edition, which was played as a three-day encounter for the first time, ended in a draw.
In the limited overs format, St. Joseph’s College leads with 25 wins compared to St. Peter’s College’s 23 wins, while two matches produced no result and one ended in a tie. In last year’s match, St. Peter’s College won by four wickets to retain the Rev. Fr. Peter A. Pillai Memorial Shield in the 51st encounter.
Both schools have produced several cricketers who have represented Sri Lanka at international level. St. Joseph’s College 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.
St. Peter’s College has produced players including Roy Dias, Rumesh Ratnayake, Vinodhan John, Amal Silva, Russel Arnold, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Malinda Warnapura, Angelo Perera, Janith Liyanage and Dushan Hemantha.
“The 92nd Battle of the Saints proudly continues a historic tradition that has shaped generations of young sportsmen through excellence, discipline and mutual respect. This iconic three-day encounter, together with the 52nd edition of the longest standing One Day encounter reflects the enduring spirit and heritage shared by two premier Catholic institutions, St. Joseph's College and St. Peter's College.
Beyond competition, this fixture symbolizes brotherhood, character and the highest standards of school cricket. May this year’s contest be played with courage, integrity and pride, honoring the rich tradition we are privileged to uphold”, stated Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo of St. Peter’s College Colombo.
“The 92nd Annual Josephian–Peterite Cricket Encounter is more than just three days of fun and excitement. It is a celebration of a proud cricketing tradition that brings together friendly rivalry, cherished memories, and great entertainment.
It also reminds us of the deeper values of the game – brotherhood, discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship, and good fellowship. The match unites generations of players and supporters, honoring the legends of the past who brought pride and glory to their Alma Mater and to the Motherland”, noted Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi of St. Joseph’s College Colombo.
“The Dialog 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. I extend my heartfelt wishes to both teams and players for a thrilling cricket encounter.” stated Dialog Axiata PLC Group Chief Marketing Officer Lasantha Theverapperuma.