The PBB Rajapaksa T20I strike rate at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Sooriyawewa reflects a venue defined by extreme scoring variances rather than consistent averages. The ground has hosted only seven T20I matches, creating a niche statistical profile where individual performances heavily skew overall team totals.
Records from 2012 to 2013 show the highest team total of 182/4 and the lowest of 46/5, both achieved by Sri Lanka within a four-day span. This volatility, combined with standout individual records like F du Plessis’s 85-run innings, characterizes the stadium’s brief but distinct T20I history.
Overview
The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka, has hosted a concise series of T20I encounters. The venue's T20I history is defined by a specific window of activity, with the first match taking place on 2012-06-01. The most recent contest recorded at this ground occurred on 2013-08-06, marking a span of just over a year for the league's presence at this location.
Across this period, the stadium has hosted a total of 7 T20I matches. Sri Lanka has been the most active team at the venue, featuring in 6 of these 7 contests. This dominance by the home side highlights the venue's primary role in Sri Lanka's T20I schedule during the 2012-2013 timeframe.
The statistical record at Sooriyawewa reveals significant variance in team performances. The highest team total recorded is 182/4, achieved by Sri Lanka on 2012-09-18. In contrast, the lowest team total is 46/5, also by Sri Lanka, recorded on 2012-09-22. These figures illustrate the pitch's capacity to produce both high-scoring chases and low-scoring thrillers within a short span of matches.
Individual brilliance has also been documented at the venue. The highest individual batting score is 85, scored by F du Plessis on 2013-08-06. On the bowling front, the best figures are 6/8, bowled by BAW Mendis on 2012-09-18. These records stand as the definitive benchmarks for individual performance at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in T20I cricket.
What is the highest team total at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium?
The highest team total recorded at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium is 182/4, achieved by Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe on 2012-09-18. This performance stands as the peak scoring output among the seven T20I matches held at the venue between 2012 and 2013. The chase or defense of this total highlights the scoring potential of the Sooriyawewa pitch during that specific encounter.
Individual Records at the Venue
Individual Records at the Venue
The batting performance by F du Plessis stands out as the highest individual score recorded at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium. On 2013-08-06, du Plessis amassed 85 runs, setting the benchmark for individual contributions in T20I matches at Sooriyawewa. This innings occurred during the most recent match documented in the venue's statistical record, highlighting the scoring potential available to batsmen on this surface.
On the bowling front, BAW Mendis delivered the best figures at the ground, claiming 6 wickets for just 8 runs. This exceptional performance took place on 2012-09-18, a date that also marks the highest team total recorded at the venue. Mendis's spell of 6/8 represents the most dominant individual bowling effort in the seven T20I matches held at Sooriyawewa between 2012 and 2013.
These individual milestones frame the extremes of performance at the stadium. The contrast between du Plessis's 85-run chase and Mendis's 6/8 spell illustrates the variance in match dynamics at this venue. With Sri Lanka participating in six of the seven matches, these records reflect the team's frequent exposure to the conditions at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.
Team Performance and Hosting Frequency
Sri Lanka established clear dominance at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium during its initial T20I tenure. The national side accounted for six of the seven total matches played at the venue between 2012 and 2013. This high frequency of hosting underscores the stadium's role as a primary home ground for the Sri Lankan T20I setup during that specific two-year window. The concentration of fixtures in Sooriyawewa allowed for a compact statistical sample, with the first match taking place on 2012-06-01 and the most recent recorded contest occurring on 2013-08-06.
The venue's hosting period was brief but statistically significant. With only seven matches in the Cricsheet record, the data reflects a concentrated era of T20I cricket rather than a long-term franchise model. Sri Lanka's presence in six of these games highlights the strategic importance of the Sooriyawewa strip for the home team's scheduling. The gap between the first and last match spans just over a year, indicating a burst of activity before the venue saw further T20I action.
How does Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium compare to other T20I grounds?
The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Sooriyawewa presents a distinct statistical profile within the T20I format, defined by extreme variance rather than consistency. With only seven matches recorded between 2012 and 2013, the venue offers a compact dataset that highlights sharp contrasts in team performance. The highest team total of 182/4 by Sri Lanka on 2012-09-18 stands in direct opposition to the lowest team total of 46/5 by the same side on 2012-09-22. This spread of 136 runs between the venue’s peak and trough totals underscores the unpredictable nature of conditions at Sooriyawewa during its active hosting period.
Individual records further illustrate the volatility of the pitch. F du Plessis scored the highest individual batting score of 85 on 2013-08-06, demonstrating that high-scoring chases were possible despite the limited sample size. Conversely, BAW Mendis delivered the best bowling figures of 6/8 on 2012-09-18, indicating that the surface could also reward disciplined bowling attacks. These individual milestones frame the extremes of performance at the ground, where both batsmen and bowlers could achieve standout results within a short timeframe.
Sri Lanka established clear dominance at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, appearing in six of the seven matches. This frequency allowed the home side to accumulate the venue’s most significant statistical achievements, including both the highest and lowest team totals. The brief hosting period from 2012 to 2013 means that the record book remains static, with no subsequent matches to alter the established benchmarks. For analysts tracking T20I venue trends, Sooriyawewa serves as a case study in how a small number of games can produce wide-ranging outcomes, from dominant batting displays to crushing bowling performances.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest team total at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium?
The highest team total is 182/4 by Sri Lanka, recorded on 2012-09-18.
What is the lowest team total at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium?
The lowest team total is 46/5 by Sri Lanka, recorded on 2012-09-22.
Who holds the record for the highest individual score at the venue?
F du Plessis holds the record with 85 runs, scored on 2013-08-06.
Who has the best bowling figures at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium?
BAW Mendis has the best bowling figures with 6/8, achieved on 2012-09-18.
How many T20I matches have been played at this venue?
A total of 7 T20I matches have been played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, between 2012 and 2013.
Summary
The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium has hosted 7 T20I matches since its first game on 2012-06-01. The venue’s most recent match was on 2013-08-06, with Sri Lanka being the most active team, appearing in 6 of the 7 contests.
Key records include a highest team total of 182/4 by Sri Lanka and a lowest of 46/5, also by Sri Lanka. F du Plessis holds the highest individual score with 85 runs, while BAW Mendis recorded the best bowling figures of 6/8.
See also
- T20I Records at West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha
- T20I Records at Grange Cricket Club Ground, Edinburgh
- T20I Records at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
- T20I Records at the Singapore National Cricket Ground
- T20I records at the Happy Valley Ground
- T20I Records at Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, St Lucia