Battle of the Maroons (Colombo)
Logo used since 2024 | |
| Native name | සුලෝහිත සංග්රාමය |
|---|---|
| Other names | Ananda-Nalanda Cricket Encounter |
| Sport | Cricket |
| Type |
|
| Teams | |
| First meeting | 1924 |
| Latest meeting | 2025 |
| Next meeting | 2026 |
| Broadcasters | ThePapare, Dialog TV |
| Stadiums | Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground |
| Trophy |
|
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 95 |
| Most wins | Ananda College (12 wins) |
| Results | |
| |
The Battle of the Maroons (also known as Ananda-Nalanda Cricket Encounter, Sinhala: ආනන්ද-නාලන්දා සුලෝහිත සංග්රාමය) is an annual big match played between Ananda College, Colombo and Nalanda College, Colombo, since 1924.[1]
History
The first Battle of the Maroons was played in 1924, where the Nalanda College playing team was led by B. S. Perera while K. A. P. Rajakaruna led the Anandians, which was subsequently abandoned due to heavy rain.[2] Nalanda won the next match held in 1925, led by B. S. Perera again, while Ananda was led by N. M. Perera.[3] Since then, the match has been held every year, excluding 1943, 1944, and 1945 during the World War II and 1948.
Previously a two-day test format, the match is now played as a three-day[4] format since the 2025 edition, accompanied by a one-day limited overs match. The match is predominantly held at the Singhalese Sports Club grounds. Nalanda are the current holders of the trophy, having won it in 2022 under the captaincy of Dineth Samaraweera.[5][6] The recent 95th encounter ended in a draw[7] while the 48th one-day encounter was abandoned due to rain.[8]
Sri Lanka's first Test cricket captain, the late Bandula Warnapura, was an alumnus of Nalanda College,[9][10] while Arjuna Ranatunga, who captained the Sri Lankan Cricket Team in the World Cup victory in 1996, is an alumnus of Ananda College, both having played in the Battle of the Maroons in their respective college teams.[11] In 1951, Stanley Jayasinghe became the first Nalandian [12] to represent All Ceylon Cricket Team while still being a schoolboy playing against Pakistan in Pakistan [13]
Trophy
The match is contested for the Dr. N. M. Perera Memorial Trophy.[14] The one day 50 overs match is played for P de S Kularatne trophy.[15]
Results of the last Big Match in 2025
- 95th three-day match[16]
28 March–2 April 25
|
Ananda College, Colombo
|
v
|
Nalanda College, Colombo
|
324/6 d (92.2 overs)
Dinada Athalage 131 Kenul de Zoysa 73 Punsara Rajakarauna 2/69 Osanda Pamuditha 2/80 |
325/6 d (88.4 overs)
Nadul Jayalath 111 Nemindu Akmeemana 43 Sadew Samarasinghe 40 Sharada Jayarathna 4/58 | |
27/1 (7 overs)
|
- Nalanda won the toss and elected to field
- 48th limited overs match
16 March 2025
|
Ananda College, Colombo
249 for 9 (50 overs) |
v
|
Nalanda College, Colombo
62/2 (12.2 overs) |
Kenul de Zoysa 39
Nethula Edirimanne 34 Hasith Ratnayake 4/46 Sadew Samarasinghe 2/41 |
Lithum Wijekumara 29 n.o
|
- Nalanda won the toss and elected to field.
References
- ^ "95th Battle of the Maroons Teams evenly balanced, close contest expected". dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
- ^ "Battle of the Maroons - The Greatest Cricketing Encounter Ananda vs Nalanda". www.battleofthemaroons.lk. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
- ^ Dr. N.M. a cricket icon of Ananda
- ^ 95th Ananda-Nalanda Battle of the Maroons today Historic first-ever 3-day encounter
- ^ "95th Ananda-Nalanda Battle of the Maroons today". The Morning. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
- ^ Nalanda College secures Dr. N.M. Perera Challenge Trophy after 69 years
- ^ Ananda-Nalanda 95th ‘Battle of the Maroons’ Annual Cricket Encounter Ends in a Draw
- ^ Battle of the Maroons 48th one day encounter abandoned due to rain
- ^ Nalanda Vikings champs at Bandula Warnapura Memorial Trophy 2024
- ^ Old Nalandians’ Sports Club to host inaugural Bandula Warnapura Memorial Lecture
- ^ Ananda-Nalanda to battle it out at 93rd Battle of the Maroons
- ^ Stanley Jayasinghe honoured by ONSC
- ^ Stanley Jayasinghe the nonagenarian: going strong
- ^ Nalanda out to retain Dr. N.M. Perera Trophy
- ^ Nalandians retain the P de S Kularatne Challenge Trophy as rain washout 2nd innings
- ^ "95th Battle of the Maroons ends in a draw". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 2026-02-14.