The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, also known as the Sooriyawewa International Cricket Stadium, is a cricket stadium that is located in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.
Established in 2009 and the second-largest stadium in Sri Lanka, the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium has the capacity to house 35,000 spectators.
Built during the lead-up to the 2011 ODI World Cup, the first official international match at the stadium took place between Sri Lanka and Canada in February 2011.
Two matches during the 2011 ODI World Cup were held at this venue and three 2012 T20 World Cup matches also took place on this ground.
This venue also hosted the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in 2020 and the playoff matches during the 2021 LPL season were hosted at this venue as well.
Here we take a closer look at all the ODI stats and records at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium.
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium ODI records and stats
Highest total: A high-scoring stadium by tradition, the highest total in ODIs at Hambantota was made by Sri Lanka against Pakistan in the fifth ODI of a five-match series in 2015. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Sri Lanka posted 368/4 with the help of a Kusal Perera century. In reply, Pakistan could manage only 203 as Sri Lanka registered a 165-run win.
Lowest total: The lowest total on this ground in ODIs was made by Kenya against Pakistan during the 2011 World Cup. Batting first, Pakistan put 317/7 on the scoreboard thanks to fifities from Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Umar Akmal. In reply, Kenya was bundled out for 112, which is the lowest 50-over total at this venue.
Most runs: Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara has scored the most ODI runs at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium. He made 721 runs in 13 innings at an average of 65.54 and a strike rate of 92.43. Sangakkara also registered six half-centuries and a hundred n ODIs on this ground with a highest score of 133.
Most wickets: Thisara Perera with 18 scalps in 12 matches has taken the most wickets in ODIs on this ground. He claimed his ODI wickets in this stadium at an average of 17.22 and an economy of 4.84 with best bowling figures of 3/19.
Highest individual score: Kumar Sangakkara’s 133 against India in the first ODI of a five-match bilateral series is the highest individual score at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium. After India had set Sri Lanka a target of 315 to chase, Sangakkara made 133 but his knock went in vain as the Lankans could manage just 293/9 and suffered a 21-run loss.
Best bowling figures: Pakistan’s legendary all-rounder Boom Boom Shahid Afridi has the best ODI bowling figures at this venue. Afridi’s 5/16 against Kenya in the 2011 World Cup reduced the African nation to 112 all out, which as mentioned above is the lowest ODI score here.
Highest partnership: In the second ODI of a three-match series against West Indies in 2020, Sri Lanka’s Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis strung together the highest partnership on this ground with a 239-run stand for the third wicket. The duo came together with the score reading 2/9 and both players made centuries as Sri Lanka went on to score 345/8 and register a 161-run win to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.Photo credit: Alamy
