Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium is one of the newest cricketing venues in Sri Lanka situated in the North Central Province near Dambulla. 

The 16,800-seater stadium was constructed in just 167 days and made its international debut with an ODI between Sri Lanka and England on March 23, 2001 with the home side winning the contest by five wickets.

From then on the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium has hosted more than 50 ODIs.

The venue has also hosted more than 10 women’s ODIs and almost 20 women’s T20Is, including the Women’s Asia Cup in July 2024.

The Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium also made its bow in T20Is in men’s international cricket in February 2024 when Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by four runs.

With that let us dive into the details of all the T20I records and stats at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, T20I records and stats

Most runs

Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis has scored the most runs at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium with a tally of 116 runs from two matches. 

The left-handed batter averages an astonishing 116 with a healthy strike rate of 146.83 from the two matches played at this venue so far. The Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for the middle-order batter as he has gone past the 50-run mark twice. 

Mendis’ unbeaten 65 off just 39 balls in Sri Lanka’s narrow three-run defeat to Afghanistan in a T20I in February 2024 is his best individual effort on this ground.

Most wickets

Matheesha Pathirana leads the T20I bowling charts at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium with 10 wickets from just four matches. The Sri Lankan pacer has an impressive average of 11.50 and picks up a wicket every 8.50 balls at this venue.

Pathirana has been a part of the Sri Lanka team in all the four matches the side has played at this venue, picking up two wickets or more in all the matches.

Pathirana’s 4/24 against Afghanistan in the first T20I at this venue in February 2024 is his best figures recorded at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Sri Lanka won the contest by four runs.

Highest Total

Afghanistan’s 209/5 against Sri Lanka in the final T20I of a three-match series in February 2024 is the highest team total in the format at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. 

Electing to bat first, the Afghan openers got the team off to a flying start as they raced to 72 runs at the end of the powerplay. Hazratullah Zazai scored a 22-ball 45 while opening partner Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored in the match with 70 off just 43 balls to power Afghanistan to the highest total at this venue.

In reply, Sri Lanka came close but could manage 206/6 and fell short by three runs. Incidentally, this is the second-highest total by a team at this venue in T20Is. 

Lowest Total

Afghanistan’s tally of 115 runs in the second T20I against Sri Lanka in a three-match series in February 2024 is the lowest total recorded at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. 

Chasing 188, the visitors endured a batting collapse as they were reduced to 31/5 within the fifth over. Though the lower order showed some resistance, it only delayed the inevitable as the Afghan innings folded for 115 in 17 overs.

It was an all-round bowling performance from Sri Lanka with Angelo Mathews, Binura Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana all picking up two wickets. Dasun Shanaka and Maheesh Theekshana also chipped in with a scalp each as the home side cantered to a 72-run win to seal the series.

Highest individual score

Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 43-ball 70, en route to powering Afghanistan to the highest team total at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, is the highest individual score by a batter at the venue in T20Is. 

Having already lost the series, the Afghan openers came out all guns blazing in the third and final T20I against Sri Lanka in February 2024. Gurbaz smashed seven fours and a six during his knock and added 88 runs together for the opening wicket with Hazratullah Zazai in 44 balls.

On the back of Gurbaz’s exploits, Afghanistan posted 209/5 which proved insurmountable for the hosts as they fell short by three runs. Gurbaz who headlined Afghanistan’s solitary win in the series was adjudged the Player of the Match.

Best bowling figures in a match

Matheesha Pathirana, the top wicket-taker at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, also registered the best T20I bowling figures with his 4/24 in the first T20I played at this venue between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in February 2024.

Pathirana’s efforts helped Sri Lanka pocket a close contest against the visitors by four runs to start the series on a winning note. The Sri Lankan pacer’s career-best T20I figures also won him the Player of the Match award.

Highest Partnership

Brandon King and Evin Lewis’ 107-run partnership for the opening wicket in West Indies’ five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in October 2024 is the highest partnership for any wicket in T20Is played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

In pursuit of a target of 180, the West Indies duo got the team off to a bright start. adding 107 runs in just 55 balls. Both openers scored quickfire half-centuries and their association produced 14 fours and five sixes. Lewis struck five four and four sixes during his 55 off 28 balls, while King made a 33-ball 66 that included 11 fours and a six. As a result, the visitors got to the target rather comfortably with five balls to spare.

Photo credit: Imago