Battle Of Uva

The annual big match between Dharmadutha College and Uva college was started in 1920, in the period of former principal R.H. Gunawardana. However, there was not any written evidence of the big match between 1920 and 1970 consequently.

However, in the period of principal D.L Jayasinghe in 1964s Dharmadutha college won the “9th big match” Victory against Uva college under the captaincy of Senaka Stembu who scored 108. It was considered one of the greatest matches in Duthian cricket history.

Till 1970 “The battle of Uva” had been held 50 times continuously. There had been no matches held from 1971 to 1984 ie for 14 years. In 1985 the battle was resumed but it was named as 39th battle which was wrongly calculated. Actually, it should be 51 instead of 39. This means that 11 matches were not taken into account. In 2006 the annual match was held as the 51st one which really ought to be 63rd. match. No matches were held in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 also this was calculated wrongly as 52. The truth is that this match was the 64th one. The wrong news about the numbers has gone to the contemporary English and Sinhala newspapers as well which is sad. According to a souvenir published in 1968, the number of matches so far held was 73. Of the matches so far held Uva College has won 14 times and Dharmaduta 12 times. 47 has ended in a draw.