• Historic first-ever 3-day encounter
• Ananda in a 22-year winless drought

Today (28) is a historic day in Sri Lanka’s schools cricketing arena. For the first time in history, the Ananda-Nalanda ‘Battle of the Maroons’ will be played as a three-day encounter starting from this year, with its 95th edition set to see its showdown at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) Grounds on 28 February and 1-2 March. The two teams, led by 3rd year all-rounders Ashinsa Nainayaka (Ananda) and Sadew Samarasinghe (Nalanda), will battle it out for the Dr. N.M. Perera Memorial Challenge Trophy.   

The inaugural encounter was played in 1924, with Ananda led by A.P. Rajakaruna and Nalanda led by B.S. Perera. Nalanda College are the current holders of the trophy after winning it in 2022 breaking a 69-year hoodoo. In 2022, the victorious Nalandians were led by Dineth Samaraweera, along with the coaching staff headed by ex-Nalandian Malinga Surappulige. The Anandians last won the encounter in 2003 under Daminda Kularatne. 

Win tally:

Ananda: 12

Nalanda: 7

Drawn: 75

Last year’s game ended in a draw, with both teams sharing honours.

Team info: Battle of the Maroons 2025

Nalanda:

Top run-scorer – Manupa Manmitha – 646 (best 81)

Top wicket-taker – Malsha Fernando – 45 (best 7/49)

Ananda:

Top run-scorer – Kithma Withanapathirana – 467 (best 99)

Top wicket-taker – Ashinsa Nainayaka – 55 (best 6/52)

Centurions – Mihin Munasinghe (118) 

Blast from the past:

• Highest wins in a row: 1937, 1938,1939,1940 and 1941 (Ananda)
• Lowest score: Nalanda – 48 (1939)

                        Ananda – 54 (1963) 

• Highest score: Ananda – 329 (2006) 

                         Nalanda – 307/4 (2020)      

• Highest runs in the series: Chandrasiri Weerasinghe – 444 (1952-57) – Nalanda

                                                        Avishka Gunawardene – 328 (1992-96) – Ananda     

• Highest wickets in the series: W.J. Jayasooriya 24 (1949-53) – Nalanda

                                                 Lalith Gunaratne – 21 (1963-67) – Ananda

                                                 Priyal Perera – 21 (1973-77) – Ananda

• Before 2022, the last Nalandian victory was in 1953 under W.W. Silva     
• The match was not played in 1943, 1944, and 1945 due to World War II and in 1948    
• In 1973, Ananda collapsed to 15 for 5 in their 2nd innings, but rain prevented further play
• The first half century Arjuna Ranatunga (1982), first century Sidath Wettimuny (1982) and the first double century Brendon Kuruppu (1987) for Sri Lanka in Test cricket were scored by three Anandians who have played the Battle of the Maroons

Meanwhile the 48th Limited-overs game will be played on 15 March at the SSC. Last year, Ananda broke an 8-year drought to win the Title.