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Rangiri International Stadium
A centre of religion, Dambulla is Sri Lanka's fifth international venue.
Capacity: 30,000
Sri Lankans have always associated Dambulla with kings and a centre of religion. But for all the cricket lovers it is their latest destination. It is Sri Lanka's fifth international venue, following the SSC and Premadasa grounds in Colombo, Galle International Stadium and the Asigiriya at Kandy.
The Stadium is situated in the North Central Province, close to Dambulla, an agricultural trading town also famous for its ancient UNESCO protected Buddhist Cave Temples which date back to 85 BC. The ground is built on land that was owned by a temple, called the Rangiri Dambulu Viharaya and therefore the name is reminiscent of it.
It was built in a record time of 167 days with the inaugural one-day international match played between Sri Lanka and England in March 2000. But after the inaugural match international cricket returned only in May 2003.
It boasts of a huge grandstand, an up to date press box and magnificent dressing room facilities for the players. Apart from this the outfield is lush and green, but promises to be lightning quick. . The pitch is bowler friendly – for the seamers in the morning because of the high water table and heavy sweating and in the afternoon for the spinners when the pitch can crumble.
Total Games: 11
Highest Scorer: 93, Mathew Hayden (2003-04) Best Bowling: 5/23, M Muralitharan (2002) Highest Team Innings: 262, Australia Vs Sri Lanka (2003-04)
Lowest Team Innings: 88, England Vs Sri Lanka (2003-04)
Highest Run Chase Achieved: 144/5 by Sri Lanka Vs England (2000-01)
