The Battle of the Maroons (also known as Ananda-Nalanda Cricket Encounter, Sinhala: ආනන්ද-නාලන්දා සුලෝහිත සංග්රාමය) is an annual big match played between Ananda College, Colombo and Nalanda College, Colombo, since 1924.
History
The first Battle of the Maroons was played in 1924, where the Nalanda College playing team was led by B. S. Perera while K. A. P. Rajakaruna led the Anandians, which was subsequently abandoned due to heavy rain. Nalanda won the next match held in 1925, led by B. S. Perera again, while Ananda was led by N. M. Perera.Dr. N.M. a cricket icon of Ananda Since then, the match has been held every year, excluding 1943, 1944, and 1945 during the World War II and 1948.
Previously a two-day test format, the match is now played as a three-day95th Ananda-Nalanda Battle of the Maroons today Historic first-ever 3-day encounter format since the 2025 edition, accompanied by a one-day limited overs match. The match is predominantly held at the Singhalese Sports Club grounds. Nalanda are the current holders of the trophy, having won it in 2022 under the captaincy of Dineth Samaraweera.Nalanda College secures Dr. N.M. Perera Challenge Trophy after 69 years The recent 95th encounter ended in a drawAnanda-Nalanda 95th ‘Battle of the Maroons’ Annual Cricket Encounter Ends in a Draw while the 48th one-day encounter was abandoned due to rain.Battle of the Maroons 48th one day encounter abandoned due to rain
Sri Lanka's first Test cricket captain, the late Bandula Warnapura, was an alumnus of Nalanda College,Nalanda Vikings champs at Bandula Warnapura Memorial Trophy 2024Old Nalandians’ Sports Club to host inaugural Bandula Warnapura Memorial Lecture while Arjuna Ranatunga, who captained the Sri Lankan Cricket Team in the World Cup victory in 1996, is an alumnus of Ananda College, both having played in the Battle of the Maroons in their respective college teams.Ananda-Nalanda to battle it out at 93rd Battle of the Maroons In 1951, Stanley Jayasinghe became the first Nalandian Stanley Jayasinghe honoured by ONSC to represent All Ceylon Cricket Team while still being a schoolboy playing against Pakistan in Pakistan Stanley Jayasinghe the nonagenarian: going strong
Trophy
The match is contested for the Dr. N. M. Perera Memorial Trophy.Nalanda out to retain Dr. N.M. Perera Trophy The one day 50 overs match is played for P de S Kularatne trophy.Nalandians retain the P de S Kularatne Challenge Trophy as rain washout 2nd innings
Results of the last Big Match in 2025
95th three-day match
48th limited overs match
References
External links Battle Of the Maroons Official Website