Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Introduction '''Pallekele International Cricket Stadium''' (, ) is a cricket stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The stadium opened on 27 November 2009 and became the world's 104th Test venue in December 2010.
Location and background The stadium is located about  east of Kandy on the A26 highway. The stadium is wholly owned by Sri Lanka Cricket and has a capacity of 35,000.
History The stadium was built for the 2011 Cricket World Cup along with Hambantota International Cricket Stadium. In July 2010, The Central Provincial Council in Kandy announced plans to rename the stadium to honour the legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan, but hasn't officially done so yet. The first Test match on this stadium between Sri Lanka and the West Indies was played from 1 to 5 December 2010.The first One Day International match at the venue was played between New Zealand and Pakistan on 8 March 2011.Pallekele is also the host for the Kandurata cricket team.On 21 September 2011, it was announced that the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium would host nine 2012 ICC World Twenty20 matches.
Notable events * Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga added a 282-run partnership for the first wicket against Zimbabwe on 26 March 2011.This is the '''highest partnership for the first wicket in a Cricket World Cup''' match. * By dismissing Chris Gayle of West Indies, Sri Lanka's Suranga Lakmal became the third bowler to take a wicket with the first ball bowled in a Test match at a new venue, joining Kapil Dev of India and Imran Khan of Pakistan. * Shaun Marsh and Mike Hussey added 258 runs for the 4th wicket, the highest fourth wicket partnership in Sri Lanka vs Australia test matches. * Tillakaratne Dilshan scored a Twenty20 International century against Australia, becoming the second Sri Lankan to score centuries in all formats. This is the '''highest individual innings by a Sri Lankan in T20Is''', and made Dilshan the '''first ever cricketer to score centuries in all formats as a captain'''. * Highest individual Test score at the venue is 176 scored by Kusal Mendis against Australia in 2016. * While attempting to bat time for a draw on the fifth day, the ninth and tenth-wicket partnerships featuring Steve O'Keefe, Peter Nevill and Josh Hazlewood (Aus) faced a Test cricket record 25.4 consecutive overs without scoring a run. *Bowling figures of 7/107 by Lakshan Sandakan in the match is the best by a slow left-arm wrist-spin bowler on Test debut. * Pallekele has witnessed 3 Twenty20 International centuries, '''most at any venue''' - Dilshan (104), McCullum (123) and Maxwell (145). * On 7 September 2016, Australia recorded the '''Highest Twenty20 International total ever''' by scoring 263/3 against Sri Lanka, who previously held the record (260/6). * On 14 August 2017, India defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 171 runs and with that, India whitewashed Sri Lanka for the first time in Tests. * On 6 September 2019 against New Zealand, Lasith Malinga took four-in-four wickets in T20Is. It was his second four-in-four in international formats. He also took his 100th wicket in T20Is in the same match, becoming the first cricketer to take 100 wickets in all three formats. * On 9 February 2024, Pathum Nissanka made unbeaten 210* runs, becoming first Sri Lankan to score a double hundred in ODI history.
Ground Figures ===Key===* '''Played''' Matches Played* '''Bat''' Matches Won by Batting First* '''Bowl''' Matches Won by Bowling First '''Ground Figures'''  Format  Played  Bat  Bowl  Inaugural Match Test matches  9  4  1  1 December  2010 One-Day Internationals  41  17  22  8 March 2011 Twenty20 Internationals  23  12  8  6 August  2011Updated 14 February 2024
2011 Cricket World Cup The following 2011 Cricket World Cup matches were played in Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The first official international match was between Pakistan and New Zealand on 8 March 2011.A total of three matches were played at the venue during the 2011 World Cup.
2012 ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka hosted the 2012 ICC World Twenty20.Nine matches were played in Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. ;Group matches;Super 8sFile:Sri Lanka Cricket Team Practicing.jpg|The Sri Lankan cricket team practisingFile:Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.JPG|The stadium under lightsFile:Pallekele 1.JPG|During the 106th Dharmaraja–Kingswood Cricket EncounterFile:Pallekele 2.JPG|Main pavilionFile:Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (4).JPG|Practice sessions before the match between Sri Lanka and India
See also * List of international cricket grounds in Sri Lanka
References
External links *  Cricinfo profile on Pallekele