Prince of Wales–St. Sebastian's Cricket Encounter


The Prince of Wales'–St. Sebastian's Cricket Encounter is an annual cricket match played between Prince of Wales' College and St. Sebastian's College since 1933. It is known as The Battle of the Golds due to the colours of the two school's flags i.e. Purple, Gold and Maroon of Prince of Wales' College and Green, White & Gold of St. Sebastian's College.

History

The encounter is considered to be one of the oldest big matches in Sri Lanka as it dates back to 1933. The first match in the sequence was played in 1933 under captain, Eugine Silva of St. Sebastian's College and Duncan Fernando of Prince of Wales College. The inaugural match however ended in a low scoring draw. In 1935 the Cambrians made history by recording the first win of the series with Ernie F. de Mel leading the side. De Mel's side went on to register a thrilling 4-wicket win against their rivals lead by Earl Wijesinghe. The Cambrians led by KM Jayasekara went on to register back-to-back win in the following two years by a thrilling 43-runs in 1936 and a comfortable innings and 87 runs in 1937. On both occasions K.A.S Perera captained St. Sebastian's. There was a break in the series from 1938 to 1953.
The series resumed in 1954 with the match ending in a high-scoring draw. In 1955 Raymond de Silva's Sebastianites lost to the Cambrians for the fourth time by 9 wickets. Prince of Wales' was led by Stanley de Alwis. Draws followed for the next three years and Prince of Wales' expanded their winning tally to 5–nil in 1959 with an emphatic innings and 56-run win. The winning side was led by Suranjith Mendis while his counterpart was Sirimal Fernando. The encounter continued in stalemates for two year and in 1962 St. Sebastian's tasted their firstever victory under Priyantha Fernando. They beat the Cambrians led by Hyasti Aponso by 5 wickets. After three consecutive draws St. Sebastian's recorded their second win under Sarath Perera. Perera's side beat the Cambrians captained by Leslie de Silva by a massive innings and 152 runs. Deadlocks followed for a decade until the Cambrians lead by Pemlal Fernando recorded an 8-wicket win in a low-scoring encounter against Walter Fernando's Sebastianites.
Since the start the Cambrians have six wins while the Sebastianites have won thrice in the series with the rest ending in draws. St Sebastian's had their last victory in 2011 under the guidance of Captain Saneetha De Mel and was unable to take 2012 which ended in a draw. Prince of Wales's has not won a match since 1977.
Among the outstanding performances in the encounter Nilantha Bopage from Prince of Wales holds the record for the highest run scorer in a match with 179 not out in 1991. For the Sebastian's Nalin Peiris was a highest scorer with two centuries in years 1957 and 1958. Among the leading wicket takers, the record for most number of wickets in the series is held by Roger Wijesuriya takin 22 wickets for St. Sebastians from 1975 to 1979.
Limited Over match started in 1981. It wasn't played between 1983 and 1987.
Highest Aggregate of Runs in the Big Match Series is by Sahan Wijeratne. Sahan Wijeratne representing Cambrians from 2000 to 2003 scored 441 runs including two centuries and two half centuries with his series aggregate of 73.5. He is the first centurion of the Limited Over Match with a score of 116 runs in 2003.
During their rich history of nearly 100 years of cricket both schools have produced prominent cricketers to the national stream. Beginning from Anton Sethupathy, Duleep Mendis, Prasanna Jayawardene, Amal Silva, Somachandra de Silva, Dr. O.L.F. Senaratne, H.I. Femando, Nisal Senaratne, Stanley de Alwis, Lasantha Rodrigo, Anura Polonowita, D.S. de Silva, Sarath Fernando, Lantra Fernando, Granville de Silva, Chaminda Mendis, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Amila Aponso, Shehan Jayasuriya to Lahiru Thirimanne and Kusal Mendis.

Atmosphere

The "Battle of the Golds" is filled with pageantry. With decorated tents, flags and baila singing and dancing groups present all around the Moratuwa city and the ground itself during the match days and in the days leading up to it. The test match is held on Friday and Saturday, The limited over match is held on Sunday. By tradition, the schools are closed on match days to allow students to attend the Big Match. Souvenirs published by the both schools. Before the match, the students of each school take Vehicle parade with bands and decorations and other colorful items showing support for their team. Overloaded cars with supporters singing and careering along the streets is a familiar sight during match days.
The match is looked forward to by both the young and old, male and female and even those who had no connection with either school would turn up and enjoy the celebrations. It is more of an occasion for the old boys and present students of both schools coming together for 3 days of fun and revelry. It is quite normal to see elderly alumni from either schools coming to the "Big Match" to relive old times and meet old friends.

Past Results

Test matches

Results of the Test matches
Prince of Wales' College
St. Sebastian's College:

Limited Over matches

Results of the Limited Over matches
Prince of Wales' College
St. Sebastian's College:

Captains of Series

Batting and Bowling Records

Prince of Wales' College Team

Batting and Bowling Records by Prince of Wales' College team's Players in Test matches.

Batting

Centuries
Jagath de Soysa is the first centurion for Cambrians in the big match series.
Scores of Fifty & Over

Bowling

Suranga Wijenayake is the highest wicket-taker for Prince of Wales' College in single inning. He took 7 wickets for 33 runs in 1995.
Four Wickets & Over in an Inning

St. Sebastian's College Team

Batting and Bowling Records by St. Sebastian's College team's Players in Test matches.

Batting

The highest individual total by a Sebastian came in 1966 off the bat of Gerald Mendis as the batsman notched up 148.
Centuries
Scores of Fifty & Over

Bowling

Anuk De Alwis is the highest wicket-taker for St. Sebastian's College in single inning. He took 8 wickets for 53 runs in 1995.
Four Wickets & Over in an Inning

Best Partnership records in Limited Over Matches

Cricket Coaches

Prince of Wales' College

List of Prince of Wales' College Cricket Coaches from 1876 to Date

Family Members Who Played In The Series

Brothers In The Series

Prince of Wales' College

Brothers who played for the Prince of Wales' College team between 1933 and 2006
K.M. Jayasekera
Lloyed Peiris
Ranjan Rodrigo
Sudharman Silva
Shantilal Fernando
Sarath De Silva
Manjusiri De Silva
Bandula De Silva
Everie Perera
Nilmal Fernando
Vere Fernando
Priyantha Jayasekera
Savindra Samararatna
Lakdasa Cooray
Srinath Cooray
Mahes Cooray
Hemal Mendis
Laksiri Bharethi
Shalin Ferdinando
Hemal Mendis Snr.
Ajith Mendis
Rohana Jayakody
Eraj Ratnapala
Nalaka Wijesuriya

Fathers & Sons In The Series

Prince of Wales' College

Fathers & Sons who played for the Prince of Wales' College team between 1933 and 2006
Sunil De Silva
Lakshantha De Silva
Nisal Senaratne

Venues