DIALOG POWERS 83RD BATTLE OF THE SAINTS

Joe-pete Big Match on March 3, 4

Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, Dialog Axiata has come forward to sponsor the 83rd Annual Battle of the Saints Inter-schools Big Match scheduled to be played on March 3 and 4 at the P. Sara Stadium.

In this year’s encounter, the team from Darley Road will be led by their main strike bowler Harin Cooray while the Peterites will play under the captaincy of prolific batsman and former National youth player Lakshina Rodrigo.

St. Joseph’s lead the series tally with 12 wins, and their last win came under the captaincy of Ruwantha Fernandopulle in 2008 while St. Peter’s were the worthy winners of the 2016 encounter under Vinu Mohotty bringing their tally to 10 wins.

The two schools will battle it out for the Rev. Fr. Maurice J. Legoc Trophy.

The Chief Guest at the 83rd Battle of the Saints will be Kito Fernandopulle who captained the Peterites in 1979.

The Josephian-peterite encounter had produced many cricketers who have the distinction of representing the National Team, with Angelo Mathews, Chaminda Vaas, Thisara Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Ashley de Silva and Michael van Dort from St. Joseph’s, while Roy Dias, Rumesh Ratnayake, Russell Arnold, Vinothan John, Amal Silva, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Malinda Warnapura and Angelo Perera donning the National cap from St. Peter’s.

Meanwhile, the Josephian-peterite limited overs match which is the longest running encounter in the country and played for the Fr. Peter A. Pillai Trophy will be worked off on March 25 at the SSC Grounds in Maitland Place.

The Joe-pete limited over commenced in 1975 under the Rectorship of Rev. Fr. Quintus Fernando of St. Joseph’s and Rev. Fr. Claver Perera of St. Peter’s with the first game of the series being played at Darley Road on March 16, 1975.

Interestingly, the Big Match returns to the SSC Grounds after 1994.

The Josephian-peterite two-day encounter as well as the one-day match will be telecast live on Dialog Television channel one, live-streamed on The Papare.com and on the Mobile TV streaming platform MYTV.

Apart from Dialog Axiata, Nestle, Elephant House, Keells Krest and Jetwing Hotels have also come forward to support the Saints encounter. (MSA)

PIC BY INDRARATNE BALASURIYA Rev. Fr. Anton Ranjith (fourth from left) of St.joseph’s and Rev. Fr. Trevor Martin (fourth from right) of St. Peter’s receiving the main sponsorship from Dialog Enterprise Group Chief Officer Jeremy Huxtable at the press conference held at the...