JAFFNA, Sri Lanka — Jaffna Central College secured a dramatic three-wicket victory over St. John's College Jaffna in the 119th edition of the “Battle of the North,” one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most celebrated school cricket rivalries.
Chasing 248 for victory, Jaffna Central found themselves in deep trouble at the end of the second day, struggling at 120 for 6 and staring at the prospect of defeat. The match, however, took a dramatic turn on the final day when Murali Thison and Jesuthasan Nitharsan came together in the lower order, steadying the innings and gradually pulling their side back into contention and eventually guiding Jaffna Central to victory.
The two then added a crucial 91 runs for the eighth wicket, turning the match in Jaffna Central’s favour. Murali Thison played the anchor, compiling 81 runs from 126 balls with two fours, while at the other end Jesuthasan Nitharsan made a lively 44 from 33 balls, hitting one boundary and picking up most of his runs through sharp running between the wickets. The pair remained unbeaten as Jaffna Central reached the target with three wickets in hand.
Earlier in the match, St. John’s College had taken the early advantage. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, they were bowled out for 119 in their first innings. Jaffna Central struggled against St. John’s disciplined bowling attack and were dismissed for 95, conceding a 24-run first-innings deficit.
In their second innings, St. John’s mounted a strong response. The innings was anchored by a commanding 121-run century from Uthayanan Abijoyshanth, helping the team reach 223 all out and setting Jaffna Central a challenging fourth-innings target.
Despite the pressure of the chase, Jaffna Central’s lower order held firm to seal victory in a match that swung repeatedly between the two sides.
For his match-winning innings, Thison was named Player of the Match.
Thison’s All-Round Brilliance Drives Jaffna Central to Victory
Cricket observers in Jaffna said the victory ultimately revolved around the all-round performance of Murali Thison, who played a decisive role throughout the three-day match.
The left-arm spinner had already made a significant impact earlier in the match, taking four wickets for 39 runs from 17 overs in the first innings. He returned with an even stronger spell in the second innings, claiming seven wickets for 78 runs from 26 overs.
When Jaffna Central’s top order collapsed during the chase, leaving the side struggling at 120 for 6, Thison remained at the crease overnight and resumed the innings on the third morning with the match still delicately poised.
His unbeaten 81 ultimately proved decisive, capping a rare all-round performance that saw him influence the match with both ball and bat across all three days of play.
A Rivalry More Than a Century Old
The “Battle of the North” is among the longest-running school cricket encounters in Sri Lanka and a major sporting event in the Northern Province. The rivalry began in 1904, when the two leading educational institutions of Jaffna — Jaffna Central College and St. John’s College — first faced each other in an annual cricket match.
Over more than a century, the encounter has evolved into one of the most significant cultural and sporting occasions in northern Sri Lanka, drawing large crowds of students, diaspora alumni, and cricket enthusiasts each year. During the “Big Match” season, many former students from both schools travel to Jaffna from across Sri Lanka and abroad, often timing their reunions and alumni gatherings to coincide with the match. Like other historic Sri Lankan school cricket fixtures — most notably Colombo’s Royal–Thomian — the contest has become a powerful symbol of school pride, tradition, and enduring community ties.
