Pallekele International Cricket Stadium of Sri Lanka is one of the largest cricket stadiums in the world. It was established on 27 November, 2009.The stadium is located in the city of Central province of Sri Lanka called Kandy. Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is constructed with a seating capacity of 35,000 and so, it is one of the largest stadiums. At Pallekele, the largest border extends to 74 meters, while the shortest is 65 meters. Although they weren’t there at first, floodlights were added in 2010 to improve the stadium’s ability to host games both during the day and at night. Asitha Wijesinghe is now Pallekele’s pitch curator.Natural beauty adorns the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The stadium was constructed for the 2011 ODI World Cup. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India co-hosted the ODI World Cup at the time.
An Overview of the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
| Venue Name | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium |
| Also Known as | Muttiah Muralitharan International Cricket Stadium |
| Established | 27 November 2009 |
| Location | Pallekele, Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| Seating Capacity | 35,000 |
| Shortest Boundary Distance | 65 meters |
| Longest Boundary Distance | 74 meters |
| Bowling Ends | Hunnasgiriya End, Rikillagaskada End |
| Flood Lights | Yes |
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium History
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, one of the largest stadiums constructed for the Cricket world cup in 2011 with Hambantota International cricket stadium. To honour the legendary Srilankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan, In July 2010, Central province council announced renaming of the stadium in his name but officially it has not been done yet.
The first ever match in Pallekele International Cricket Stadium was played between Sri Lanka and West Indies from 1 Dec 2010 to 5 Dec 2010. The first ever One day match at the stadium was played on 8 March 2011 between New Zealand and Pakistan. The host of the Kandurata cricket team was also Pallekele. The Srilankan, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium announced to host Nine 2012 ICC World 20-20 Matches on 21 september 2011.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium pitch is famous for its balancing. The stadium offers equal opportunities for batsmen and bowlers . Fast bowlers always have the advantage in swing as the surface of the stadium is new which in turns makes the first over difficult for the batters. When the ball loses its luster , the batsman finds it easy to score well. The pitch tends to slow down as the game goes on, which forces spinners into play and makes it harder for batsmen to score runs at will. Cricket is made lively and competitive by the pitch’s dual nature.
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Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Dimensions
The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is 80 m long and 75 m wide.The largest stadium has a total area of 6000 meters.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Image Gallery
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Test Stats & Records
Nine test matches have been played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. the different outcomes for teams that choose to bowl or bat first. The following lists the important statistics:
| Total Matches | 9 |
| Matches won batting first | 4 |
| Matches won bowling first | 1 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 323 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 317 |
| Average 3rd innings Score | 273 |
| Average 4th innings Score | 241 |
| Highest total recorded | 648/8 (179 Ovs) By SL vs BAN |
| Lowest total recorded | 117/10 (34.2 Ovs) By SL vs AUS |
| Highest score chased | 382/3 (103.1 Ovs) By PAK vs SL |
| Lowest score defended | 161/10 (88.3 Ovs) By AUS vs SL |
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium ODI Stats & Records
In the 42 ODIs played at the venue, teams that bowled first won a sizable portion of the games. The following lists the important statistics:
| Total Matches | 42 |
| Matches won batting first | 17 |
| Matches won bowling first | 23 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 253 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 204 |
| Highest total recorded | 381/3 (50 Ovs) By SL vs AFG |
| Lowest total recorded | 70/10 (24.4 Ovs) By ZIM vs SL |
| Highest score chased | 314/6 (49.4 Ovs) By SL vs AFG |
| Lowest score defended | 206/9 (36 Ovs) By WI vs SL |
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium T20 Stats & Records
With a noteworthy record for teams batting first, Pallekele has hosted 23 Twenty20 International matches. The following lists the important statistics:
| Total Matches | 23 |
| Matches won batting first | 12 |
| Matches won bowling first | 8 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 168 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 149 |
| Highest total recorded | 263/3 (20 Ovs) By AUS vs SL |
| Lowest total recorded | 88/10 (16 Ovs) By NZ vs SL |
| Highest score chased | 178/2 (18.4 Ovs) By PAK vs BAN |
| Lowest score defended | 125/8 (20 Ovs) By SL vs NZ |
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium has modern high standard design and is well equipped with all the facilities for views, players and media. This stadium is very famous and favourite among cricket players and fans. The stadium has top notch facilities and has a picturesque location and balanced pitch.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Location
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many seats are in Pallekele Stadium?
Pallekele Cricket Stadium of Sri Lanka has 35,000 seats.
Where is Pallekele Cricket Stadium located?
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is located in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Pallekele Stadium pitch favours batting or bowling?
The stadium offers equal opportunities for batsmen and bowlers . Fast bowlers always have the advantage in swing as the surface of the stadium is new which in turns makes the first over difficult for the batters.
What is the highest score by a team in T20Is?
Australia’s 2016 tour of Sri Lanka saw the visitors reach 263/3 in 20 overs, the greatest score in T20I history at the Pallekele.
Travis Head added a finishing touch with 45 runs off just 16 balls, while Glenn Maxwell, who started the batting, hammered a record-breaking 145 runs off only 65 balls.
What is the lowest score by a team at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in T20Is?
In the second innings of Zimbabwe’s 2022 tour of Sri Lanka, the tourists were dismissed for 70 runs while attempting to reach a target of 254.
In Twenty20 Internationals, what is the greatest individual score ever recorded at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium?
The highest individual score ever achieved in Pallekele in Twenty20 Internationals is Glenn Maxwell’s undefeated 145 runs off 65 balls. His brilliant innings contributed to Australia’s 263 for 3 total. During his record innings, Maxwell smashed nine sixes and fourteen fours.
