Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (Sinhala: පල්ලෙකැලේ ජාත්යන්තර ක්රිකට් ක්රීඩාංගනය, Tamil: பல்லேகல சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட் மைதானம்) 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.[1]
Location and background
The stadium is located about 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) east of Kandy on the A26 highway. The stadium is wholly owned by Sri Lanka Cricket and has a capacity of 35,000.[2]
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,[3] 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.[4] Pallekele is also the host for the Kandurata cricket team.[5][6][7]
On 21 September 2011, it was announced that the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium would host nine 2012 ICC World Twenty20 matches.[8]
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.[9]
Shaun Marsh and Mike Hussey added 258 runs for the 4th wicket, the highest fourth wicket partnership in Sri Lanka vs Australia test matches.[11]
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.[12]
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.[13]
Pallekele has witnessed 3 Twenty20 International centuries, most at any venue - Dilshan (104), McCullum (123) and Maxwell (145).[15]
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).[15]
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.[16]
On 9 February 2024, Pathum Nissanka made an unbeaten 210 runs, becoming first Sri Lankan to score a double hundred in ODI history.[17]
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.[4] A total of three matches were played at the venue during the 2011 World Cup.
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