A “Clash of Titans” as D.S. and Mahanama meet for landmark 20th encounter at SSC

The much-anticipated “Battle of the Golds” returns for its landmark 20th edition, promising a spectacle of skill, passion, and rivalry. The top-tier cricketing giants, D. S. Senanayake College (The Dons) and Mahanama College, are set to lock horns once again in a series of encounters that have captivated fans for nearly two decades. 

The focal point of this rivalry, the three-day Big Match, will unfold from May 8th to 10th at the prestigious Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Grounds, Colombo 07. The festivities will continue with the 50-over encounter for the Aravinda de Silva Trophy on May 17th at the same venue, before the carnival moves to the Colombo Cricket Club (CCC) grounds on May 22nd for the exhilarating T20 battle. 

The rivalry began in 2006 when the inaugural cricket encounter was played between these two institutions. Since its inception, the Battle of the Golds has evolved significantly. What started as a two-day affair was expanded to a three-day encounter last year (2025), allowing for a more comprehensive test of endurance and skill. However, the head-to-head tally in the longest format tells a story of the Dons’ historical dominance. D. S. Senanayake College currently leads the standings with one victory, a win achieved back in 2014 under the captaincy of current Sri Lanka pace bowler Binura Fernando. Mahanama College, despite their prowess in other formats, is yet to clinch the Big Match silverware. All other encounters have ended in draws, meaning the trophy remains retained by the Dons heading into this year’s game. 

Conversely, the limited-overs history paints a different picture. The One Day encounter, named after the legendary Aravinda de Silva, has been contested 17 times. Here, Mahanama College holds a distinct upper hand, leading with 12 wins against D. S. Senanayake’s four, with one match ending in no decision. Notably, the lads from Mahanama have won the trophy for the past eight consecutive years, establishing a psychological stronghold in the white-ball format. Adding a new dimension to the rivalry last year (2025), the T20 encounter was introduced, contested for the K. N. P. De Silva Memorial Trophy. Mahanama College drew first blood in this shortest format, winning the inaugural encounter. 

Both schools boast a rich tradition of producing cricketing talent that has gone on to grace the international stage. D. S. Senanayake College has been the nursery for legends such as Aravinda de Silva, Hashan Tillakaratne, and Isuru Udana, alongside modern stars like Binura Fernando. The list also includes Kosala Kuruppuarachchi, Naveed Nawaz, Pubudu Dassanayake, and Pulasthi Gunaratne. 

Mahanama College, too, has contributed significantly to the sport, producing the likes of Danushka Gunathilaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Lalithamana Fernando, Sonal Dinusha, and the promising Pavan Rathnayake. These alumni serve as inspiration for the current generation stepping onto the field. 

This year, the boys from Duplication Road (Mahanama College) will be led by the national youth-capped all-rounder, Dulnith Segera. They face a D. S. Senanayake College is from Gregory’s Road, captained by Randisha Bandaranayake. 

Mahanama heads into the fixture with momentum. They finished the recent school 2-day league tournament with an unbeaten record in the group stages, posting an outright win, six first-innings wins, and a no-decision game. Their run was finally halted in the quarterfinals by Royal College, but only in a first innings victory. Their squad depth is evident with three national youth capped players: Dulnith Sigera (U19), Chamika Heenatigala (U19), and Sanul Weerarathne (U17). This trio will undoubtedly provide the cutting edge needed to challenge the Dons. 

The Dons, however, have had a mixed but competitive season. They secured an outright win and three first-innings wins but suffered two first-innings losses. They fell short of the quarterfinals stage by a whisker, meaning they will be eager to prove their mettle in this high-profile encounter to salvage their season. 

As the teams take the field at SSC on May 8th, the narratives will be distinct. In the three-day affair, Mahanama College will be desperate to end their hoodoo and level the winning tally, while D. S. Senanayake College will be focused on retaining the trophy, aiming to post at least another draw to maintain their historical lead. When the action shifts to the 50-over battle on May 17th, the pressure will be on the Dons to end Mahanama’s dominant eight-year winning streak. For Mahanama, the motivation will be to defend their trophy for yet another year and extend their supremacy in the format. As for the T20 encounter at CCC on May 22nd, predicting the outcome is a fool’s errand. The shortest format levels the playing field, promising entertainment and uncertainty in equal measure. 

One thing is certain: the “Battle of the Golds” is more than just a cricket match; it is a celebration of schoolboy spirit, talent, and tradition. As May approaches, the stage is set for another chapter in this storied rivalry. 

Mahanama College Cricket Squad & Officials – Dulnith Sigera (Captain), Chamika Heenatigala (Vice-captain), Sanul Weerarathne,Venura Kaveethra, Thaviru Perera, Nithum Gunasekara, Vimash Madanayaka, Yashen Dilusara, Sanuka Ganepola, Thenuja Rashmin, Geeth Sandaruwan, Sithum Vihanga, Sineth Weerarathne, Dulneth Algawatta, Eshan Withanage, Gimantha Dissanayake, Navindu Rodrigo, Kaushika Thilakarathne  Sonal Dulshan (Head Coach), Rumesh Milroy Silva (Asst. Coach), Kaveen Silva (Asst. Coach), Akila Rajapaksha (MIC), 

D.S Senanayake College Cricket Squad & Officials – Randheesha Bandaranayake (Captain), Shaanal gamage (Vice-captain), Haamid Afdhal, Chithun Baddage, Sithru Gunarathne, Ranumitha Sehas, Bihan Gamage, Ludeesha Ravindu, Savain Kalansooriya, Miyuru Bandara, Basuru Kalhara, Kiran Perera, Pamula Lokuliyana, Janidu Ranasinghe, Shevan Welgama, Oshadha Manara, Ivan Zholobitskyi, Chanul Athale, Senuja Wanninayake Dilan Ramanayaka (Head Coach), Kaveesha Devinda (Asst. Coach), Binura De Silva (Asst. Coach), Wajira Abeywickrama (MIC), Kapila Munasinghe (Trainer), Chaminda Rathnayake (Physio), Ruchira Adhikari (Scorer)