Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium (Sinhala: පාකියසොති සර්වනමූත්තු ක්රීඩාංගනය, Tamil: பாக்கியசோதி சரவணமுத்து மைதானம்; aka Colombo Oval or P. Sara) is a multi-purpose stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is currently used mostly for cricket matches. The stadium holds 15,000 and hosted its first Test match in 1982. It is named after Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, a former civil servant and first President of the Board of Control for Cricket. The venue is the home ground of the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club. The P.Sara Oval hosts one test match per year in Sri Lanka's summer test calendar, but lost out to Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in 2011 to host Sri Lanka v Australia Tests. The stadium is equipped with a swimming complex and badminton arena for multiple sports activities.
History
The P. Saravanamuttu Stadium hosted Sri Lanka's first Test, against England in 1982. Aravinda de Silva, on 3 November 1984, against New Zealand scored 50* runs, took 2 catches and with this effort he made this ground important to Sri Lanka. In 1985, Sri Lanka won their first Test match at this ground, against India. It is a relatively small ground, half surrounded by lower-level stands and half by grass banks. The most famous feature is the ivy-covered scoreboard and in 1948 Don Bradman brought his Australian side to the ground en route to England.
The ground had regularly hosted international matches until 1994, but that was followed by an eight-year lull. In 2002, the ground was used as neutral soil for an Australia vs Pakistan Test Series. The stadium has hosted 15 Test matches, 12 ODIs and one T20.
Records
- Stephen Fleming (274 not out) holds the record for highest Test score at this ground.
- Best Bowling figures by Shane Warne,7/94 Australia vs Pakistan in 2002.
See also
References
External links
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