It’s that time of the year again when Sri Lanka is taken over with ‘big match fever’! Having been played behind closed doors for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Big Matches in 2023 will be played in front of packed crowds starting from the last weekend of February to late April, all over the island.
With the return of crowds, the excitement within the school’s fraternity will increase as the Big Matches present a unique opportunity for everyone to get together with old friends and batchmates.
What we call “March Madness”, the Big Match season will commence on the 24th of February at the SSC Grounds with the 60th Battle of the Brothers between Thurstan College, Colombo and Isipathana College, Colombo.
The Blue Ribbon of Schools Cricket – the Royal-Thomian annual encounter, which is the second longest uninterrupted cricket match series in the history of cricket, will be renewed for the 144th time in the third weekend of March.
Read – COVID-19 Update: Dark clouds over March Madness
Plenty of other Big Matches in Colombo, such as the Ananda-Nalanda, Wesley-Bens, DS Senanayake-Mahanama, POW-SEBS, Joe-Pete has already been scheduled through the next 6-8 weeks.
Big Matches out of Colombo generate massive crowds as well as quality cricket is on display for one and all. Big Matches such as the Battle of the North in Jaffna, Lovers’ Quarrel in Galle, Battle of the Rocks in Kurunegala, Hill Country Battle of the Blues and Ruhunu Battle of the Blues in Matara could well be very exciting fixtures in March.
As always, ThePapare.com will be on the ball with extensive coverage of the Big Matches al l over the island, with many games being televised and captured through photos.
The March Madness big match fixtures are as follows!
| Match Details | Venue | Dates |
| Thurstan College vs Isipathana College – 60th Battle of the Brothers | SSC Grounds | 24th and 25th February |
| St. Patrick’s College vs Jaffna College – 106th Battle of the Golds | Jaffna College Grounds | 24th and 5th February |
| Ananda College vs Nalanda College – 93rd Battle of the Maroons | SSC Grounds | 4th and 5th March |
| Thurstan College vs Isipathana College – 43rd Limited Overs Encounter | R. Premadasa Stadium | 5th March |
| Ananda College vs Nalanda College – 47th One Day Encounter | SSC Grounds | 12th March |
| Royal College vs S .Thomas’ College – 144th Battle of the Blues | SSC Grounds | 16th, 17th & 18th March |
| Wesley College vs St. Benedicts College – 3rd Rev. James Cartman Cup | P. Sara Oval | 17th and 18th March |
| Dharmaraja College vs Kingswood College – 115th Battle of the Maroons | Pallekelle | 17th and 18th March |
| Richmond College vs Mahinda College – 118th Lovers’ Quarrel | Galle | 17th and 18th March |
| Royal College vs S .Thomas’ College – 46th One Day Encounter | SSC Grounds | 24th March |
| Trinity College vs St Anthony’s College – 104th Hill Country Battle of the Blues | Katugasthota | 24th and 25th March |
| Maliyadeva College vs St. Anne’s College – 39th Battle of the Rocks | Welagedara | 24th and 25th March |
| DS Senanayake College vs Mahanama College – 17th Battle of the Golds | P. Sara Oval | 24th and 25th March |
| St.Thomas’ vs St. Servatius College – 117th Battle of the Blues Ruhuna | Uyanwathta | 24th, 25th & 26th March |
| Thurstan College vs Isipathana College – 16th T20 Encounter | Thurstan Grounds | 25th March |
| Wesley College vs St. Benedicts College – 2nd Rev. Bro. Luke Gregory Shield | SSC Grounds | 25th March |
| Dharmaraja College vs Kingswood College – 33rd Limited Overs Encounter | Pallekelle | 26th March |
| Maliyadeva College vs St. Anne’s College – 25th One Day Encounter | Welegedara | 26th March |
| Rahula College vs Dharmapala College – 7th Battle of the Golden Lions | Uyanwathta | 31st March and 1st April |
| Piliyandala Central College vs Taxila Central College Horana – 21st Battle of Salpiti Rayigam Korala | Tyronne Fernando Stadium | 31st March and 1st April |
| St. Sylvester’s College vs Vidyartha College – 63rd Battle of the Babes | Pallekelle | 31st March and 1st April |
| Trinity College vs St Anthony’s College – 41st One Day Encounter | Asgiriya | 1st April |
| Piliyandala Central College vs Taxila Central College Horana – 21st One Day Encounter | Tyronne Fernando Stadium | 2nd April |
| Rahula College vs Dharmapala College – 7th Limited Overs Encounter | Uyanwathta | 2nd April |
| DS Senanayake College vs Mahanama College – 17th Limited Overs Encounter | R. Premadasa Stadium | 8th April |
| St. Sebastian’s College vs Prince of Wales’ College – 73rd Battle of the Golds | Tyronne Fernando Stadium | 21st and 22nd April |
| St. Sebastian’s College vs Prince of Wales’ College – 37th Limited Overs Encounter | SSC Grounds | 23rd April |
| Moratu Maha Vidyalaya vs Sri Sumangala College – Big Match | Tyronne Fernando Stadium | 28th and 29th April |
| St. Joseph’s College vs St. Peter’s College – 89th Battle of the Saints | SSC Grounds | 28th and 29th April |
| St. Joseph’s College vs St. Peter’s College – 49th One Day Encounter | SSC Grounds | 30th April |
| Moratu Maha Vidyalaya vs Sri Sumangala College – L/O Match | Tyronne Fernando Stadium | 30th April |
Stay with ThePapare.com as we bring you the coverage from March Madness 2023!
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