The R Premadasa Stadium is one of the most iconic cricket venues located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Also known as Khettarama Stadium or Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium, the R Premadasa Stadium has a seating capacity of 35,000.
It has hosted several marquee ICC tournaments including the ICC Champions Trophy 2002, the ICC World Cup 2011 and the ICC World T20 2012.
The R Premadasa Stadium staged its first T20 international match between Sri Lanka and India in 2009 and the Men in Blue won that contest by three wickets. Since then, it has hosted more than 40 T20Is.
Considered the largest stadium in Sri Lanka, it has also staged several Lanka Premier League (LPL) matches.
Let’s have a look at R Premadasa Stadium T20 records and stats:
R Premadasa T20I records and stats
Highest team total
The Bangladesh cricket team holds the record for the highest team total at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20I cricket. During a tri-series encounter in 2018, Bangladesh recorded 215/5 in 19.4 overs while chasing Sri Lanka’s 214/6. Wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim’s unbeaten 72 off 35 balls, Tamim Iqbal’s 29-ball 47 and Litton Das’ 43 off 19 balls helped Bangladesh chase down the mammoth total and register a five-wicket win in Colombo.
Lowest team total
The Afghanistan cricket team registered the lowest team total at the R Premadasa Stadium in the T20I format. Chasing 197 against England, Afghanistan were bowled out for 80 in 17.2 overs during an ICC World T20 clash in 2012. Gulbadin Naib (44) was the only Afghan batter to score in double digits. For England, Jade Dernbach, Stuart Broad, Samit Patel and Graeme Swann scalped two wickets each.
Most runs
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera has scored the most runs at this cricket venue in T20I cricket. Between 2013 and 2021, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter accumulated 425 runs in 14 matches at an average of 30.35 and a strike rate of 139.34. He has slammed four fifties in the T20I format at this ground. India’s Shikhar Dhawan is second on the list with 284 runs in eight matches.
Most wickets
Legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Lasith Malinga picked up the most wickets at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20I cricket. The right-arm pacer bagged 17 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 26.76 and an economy of 8.22. He registered best bowling figures of 3/34 on this ground in the T20I format. Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga features second on the list with 14 wickets in eight matches.
Highest individual score
Former England cricketer Luke Wright has the record for the highest individual score at this venue in the T20I format. During an ICC World T20 group match in 2012, Luke Wright slammed an unbeaten 99 off 55 balls against Afghanistan to power his side to 196/5 in 20 overs. Wright’s knock included eight fours and six maximums. England later bundled out Afghanistan for 80 to secure a massive 116-run victory.
Best bowling figures
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga holds the record for the best bowling figures at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20I cricket. In the third T20I of a three-match series against India n 2021, the star leg-spinner registered impressive figures of 4-0-9-4. Hasaranga dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Varun Chakravarthy to restrict India to 81/8 in 20 overs. Sri Lanka chased down the target in 14.3 overs to win the match by seven wickets and seal the series 2-1.
Highest partnership
Australia’s Aaron Finch and David Warner hold the record for the highest partnership at the R Premadasa Stadium in the T20I format. Chasing 129, Finch and Warner stitched a match-winning 134-run stand for the opening wicket to help Australia register a thumping 10-wicket win in Colombo in 2022. Finch remained unbeaten on 61, while Warner was 70 not out as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
R Premadasa T20 records and stats
Highest team total
Chilaw Marians Cricket Club recorded the highest team total at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20 cricket. Chilaw Marians Cricket Club posted 227/6 in 20 overs against Colts Cricket Club during the final of a domestic T20 Tournament in 2004. Chilaw Marians Cricket Club later bowled out Colts Cricket Club for 124 in 12.5 overs to register a 103-run victory in Colombo.
Lowest team total
Combined Provinces have the lowest team total at this cricket venue in the T20 format. During the Sri Lanka Cricket Inter-Provincial Twenty20 Tournament in 2011, Combined Provinces could only manage 61/8 in a shortened encounter against Kandurata. Captain of Kandurata Tharanga Paranavitana and Kumar Sangakkara later stitched an unbeaten 63-run opening stand to register a 10-wicket win.
Highest individual score
Former Sri Lankan cricketer Upul Tharanga holds the record for the highest individual score at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20 cricket. The southpaw scored an unbeaten 124 against Galle during a SLC T20 League clash in 2018. Tharanga’s innings was laced with five fours and 11 sixes, helping Colombo to a total of 197/5 en-route to an eventual 90-run win over Galle.
Best bowling figures
Sri Lanka’s Jeffrey Vandersay has the best bowling figures at this cricket ground in cricket’s shortest format. Playing for Colombo Stars, the leg spinner registered brilliant figures of 4-1-25-6 against Kandy Warriors during a Lanka Premier League clash in 2021. His spell restricted Kandy Warriors to 124 runs in the chase as Colombo Stars won the match by 58 runs having posted 182/6 in the first innings of the game.
Most runs
Former Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal has scored the most runs at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20 cricket. The right-handed batter has amassed 1,312 runs in 48 matches at an average of 33.64 and a strike rate of 126.51 between 2011 and 2023. He’s smashed nine fifties in T20 cricket at this venue while representing the likes of B-Love Kandy, Colombo, Colombo Stars, Galle Guardians, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Ruhuna, SLC Greens, Sri Lanka, Uthura Yellows and Wayamba United..
Most wickets
Sri Lankan fast bowler Isuru Udana has scalped the most wickets at this venue in cricket’s shortest format. Between 2011 and 2023, the left-arm pacer has claimed 34 T20 wickets in 35 matches at an average of 26.20 while representing the likes of B-Love Kandy, Basnahira Greens, Combined Provinces, Dambulla, Galle Gladiators, Galle Guardians, Kandy Falcons, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Sri Lanka and Wayamba United. His best bowling T20 figures at R Premadasa Stadium is 3/39.
Highest partnership
Kamran Akmal and Tamim Iqbal recorded the highest partnership at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20 cricket. Representing Wayamba United, Kamran Akmal and Tamim Iqbal forged a match-winning 176-run stand against Uthura Rudras during a Sri Lanka Premier League clash in 2012. Iqbal’s 93 and Akmal’s 79 guided Wayamba United to a nine-wicket win as they made light work of the 180-run target set by Uthura Rudras.
Photo credit: Alamy
