136 years on, Mustang Cup still going strong

Updated on: 27 March,2011 08:01 AM IST |
Sai Mohan |

While the Sri Lankans were doing battle with England in the World Cup quarter-final here at Premadasa Stadium, a 136-year old tradition in the form of the Mustang's Trophy was unfolding at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC).

Royal College and St Thomas ufffd the two oldest schools in the city ufffd have been battling it out in fierce battles in front of packed houses at the SSC in what are hailed as 'the big match' by the locals here. The Mustang's Cup is also the second oldest school-level cricket tournament in the world, behind only the traditional battle between Eton and Harrow in the British Isles.

Every year, the two schools play a three-day game (for the Battle of the Blues) over one weekend, followed by a 50-over game (Mustang's Cup) in the next. They are also televised in Sri Lanka's national network.

Royal College has produced former Sri Lanka captain Ranjan Madugalle while St Thomas has produced Sri Lanka's first-ever ODI captain Anura Tennekoon.u00a0 "People from all over the world, especially from places like England, Australia and America watch these games during the holiday season," Sanjaya Wijesinghe, an old boy of Royal College, and member of SSC, says.

"School cricket is still very big here. Every year, we also have the Battle of the Maroons when Ananda and Nalanda, two of the country's leading Buddhist school have tough battles. They are also played at the SSC," adds Wijesinghe.