Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium

Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.
Ground information
Location Sooriyawewa, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Coordinates 6°21′23″N 81°1′35″E / 6.35639°N 81.02639°E / 6.35639; 81.02639Coordinates: 6°21′23″N 81°1′35″E / 6.35639°N 81.02639°E / 6.35639; 81.02639
Establishment 2009
Capacity 35,000
Owner Sri Lanka Cricket
Operator Sri Lanka Cricket
Tenants Sri Lanka Cricket,
2011 Cricket World Cup,
2012 ICC World Twenty20,
2017 Asian Youth Games
End names
Thanamalwila End
Sooriyawewa End
International information
First ODI 20 February 2011:
 Sri Lanka v  Canada
Last ODI 26 July 2015:
 Sri Lanka v  Pakistan
First T20I 1 June 2012:
 Sri Lanka v  Pakistan
Last T20I 6 August 2013:
 Sri Lanka v  South Africa
As of 27 July 2015
Source: ESPNCricinfo

Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium (Sinhalese: මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ ජාත්‍යන්තර ක්‍රීඩාංගනය, Tamil: மகிந்த ராஜபக்ச சர்வதேச விளையாட்டு மைதானம்), or abbreviately as MRIC Stadium, is an international cricket stadium in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. It was built for the 2011 Cricket World Cup and hosted two matches, the first being Sri Lanka against Canada, on 20 February 2011. The stadium has a capacity of 35,000 people making It the second largest stadium in Sri Lanka.

However it has come under extreme criticism and has been called a white elephant as only a few matches are held in it and the extreme costs for construction and maintenance.[1]

History

The proposal for a new International Cricket Stadium at Sooriyawewa was part of the government's programme to develop sports in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka as part of the government's plan to transform Hambantota into the second major urban hub of Sri Lanka, away from Colombo.[2]

The following 2011 Cricket World Cup matches were held at Hambantota International Cricket Stadium in February, 2011. The first official international match was between Sri Lanka and Canada on 20 February 2011, which Sri Lanka won by 210 runs. Two matches were played at the venue during the World Cup.

The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium hosted three 2012 ICC World Twenty20 matches.[3] The curator of the ground is Ravi Dissanayake and Manager is Colonel Shanaka Ratnayake.

Trivia

World Cup Cricket

In 2011, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium hosted two successful world cup matches.

2011 Cricket World Cup

20 February 2011 (D/N)
Scorecard
Sri Lanka 
332/7 (50 overs)
v
 Canada
122 (36.5 overs)
Mahela Jayawardene 100 (81)
John Davison 2/56 (8 overs)
Rizwan Cheema 37 (35)
Nuwan Kulasekara 3/16 (6 overs)
 Sri Lanka won by 210 runs
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Ian Gould and Shavir Tarapore
Player of the match: Mahela Jayawardene (SL)
  • Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first.
23 February 2011 (D/N)
Scorecard
Pakistan 
317/7 (50 overs)
v
 Kenya
112 (33.1 overs)
Umar Akmal 71 (52)
Thomas Odoyo 3/41 (7 overs)
Collins Obuya 47 (58)
Shahid Afridi 5/16 (8 overs)
 Pakistan won by 205 runs
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Tony Hill and Nigel Llong
Player of the match: Umar Akmal (Pak)
  • Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.

ICC World Twenty20

Sri Lanka hosted the 2012 ICC World Twenty20. Three matches were played at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium. Other matches were played at R. Premadasa Stadium and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

2012 ICC World Twenty20

18 September 2012 (D/N)
Scorecard
Sri Lanka 
182/4 (20 Overs)
v
 Zimbabwe
100 (17.3 Overs)
Kumar Sangakkara 44(26)
Graeme Cremer 1/27 (4 Overs)
Hamilton Masakadza 20 (23)
Ajantha Mendis 6/8 (4 Overs)
 Sri Lanka won by 82 runs
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Ian Gould and Rod Tucker
Player of the match: Ajantha Mendis (SL)
  • Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first.
20 September 2012 (D/N)
Scorecard
Zimbabwe 
93/8 (20 overs)
v
 South Africa
94/0 (12.4 overs)
Craig Ervine 37 (40)
Jacques Kallis 4/15 (4 overs)
Richard Levi 50* (43)
 South Africa won by 10 wickets
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Steve Davis and Richard Kettleborough
Player of the match: Jacques Kallis (SA)
  • South Africa won the toss and elected to field
22 September 2012 (D/N)
Scorecard
South Africa 
78/4 (7 overs)
v
 Sri Lanka
46/5 (7 overs)
AB de Villiers 30 (13)
Nuwan Kulasekara 1/9 (1 over)
Kumar Sangakkara 13 (11)
Dale Steyn 2/10 (2 overs)
 South Africa won by 32 runs
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (Eng) and Rod Tucker (Aus)
Player of the match: AB de Villiers (SA)
  • Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hambantota White Projects Eat Up Economy | The Sunday Leader". Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  2. ↑ Fernando, Andrew Fidel (April 5, 2013). "SLC expects financial assistance from government". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "England to start ICC World Twenty20 title defence against qualifier". Retrieved 21 September 2011.
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