Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium is one of the new cricket venues located in Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka.
Established in 2009, the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium is Sri Lanka’s second-largest stadium and has a seating capacity of 35,000.
Also known as Sooriyawewa International Cricket Stadium, the Hambantota cricket stadium was built for the 2011 Cricket World Cup. It later hosted two matches in the marquee 50-over tournament.
The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium staged its first international cricket match, a one-day international (ODI) played between hosts Sri Lanka and Canada in the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Led by Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka won the ODI by 210 runs.
Since then, it has hosted multiple ODIs and T20s in men’s cricket.
The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium hosted its first women’s international match in March 2019 when the Sri Lanka women’s cricket team played an ODI against England. The visitors won the game by 154 runs (D/L method).
It later staged its first women’s T20 international between Sri Lanka and West Indies in June 2024. Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka won the T20I by four wickets.
With that being said, let’s have a look at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium women’s T20 records and stats:
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium women’s T20 records and stats
Highest total
The Sri Lanka women’s cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in women’s T20 cricket. During the first T20I of the West Indies Women’s tour of Sri Lanka, the Chamari Athapaththu-led hosts scored 137/6 in reply to the visitors’ 134/8 to register a four-wicket win in Hambantota. Chasing a tricky target, Sri Lanka Women rode on contributions from opener Vishmi Gunaratne (35) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (35) to successfully chase down the target in 18.4 overs.
Lowest team total
The West Indies women’s cricket team recorded the lowest total at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in women’s T20 internationals. Put in to bat, West Indies were restricted to 134/8 in their 20 overs against Sri Lanka in the first T20I of a three-match series. Hayley Matthews was the top-scorer for the Windies with run-a-ball 30. For Sri Lanka, captain Chamari Athapaththu led from the front with 4/29. In reply, Sri Lanka chased down the target with eight balls to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
Most runs
Sri Lanka’s Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama share the record for the most runs at the venue in women’s T20 cricket. Both Gunaratne and Samarawickrama scored 35 each in the solitary women’s T20I played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium. West Indies’ Hayley Matthews features second on the list with 30 she scored in the same T20I.
Most wickets
Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu has bagged the most wickets at this ground in women’s T20I cricket. The right-arm off-spinner picked up four wickets in the only T20I that she has played against West Indies at this venue so far. Compatriot Inoshi Priyadharshani is second on the list with three wickets she scalped in the same game against the Windies.
Highest individual score
Sri Lanka Women’s duo of Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama registered the highest individual score at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in women’s T20 internationals. Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama scored 35 each against West Indies Women in the solitary T20I played at this venue.
Best bowling figures
Sri Lanka Women captain Chamari Athapaththu recorded the best bowling figures at this ground in women’s T20 cricket. During the first T20I of the West Indies Women’s tour of Sri Lanka, Chamari Athapaththu registered match-winning figures of 4/29 in his four overs in Hambantota. The talented spinner dismissed Stafanie Taylor, Qiana Joseph, Aaliyah Alleyne and Zaida James to restrict West Indies Women to 134/8 in their allotted overs. Later, Sri Lanka Women won the game by four wickets.
Highest partnership
Sri Lanka’s Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama hold the record for the highest partnership at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in women’s T20 cricket. Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama forged a 46-run stand for the second wicket against West Indies Women in the first T20I of a three-match series. Both Gunaratne and Samarawickrama scored 35 each to guide Sri Lanka Women to a four-wicket win in Hambantota.
Photo credit: Alamy
