De Soysa Stadium

De Soysa Park Stadium
Ground information
Location Moratuwa, Western Province
Establishment 1952
Capacity 16,000
Owner Moratuwa Sports Club
Operator Sri Lanka Cricket
End names
Press Box End
Katubadda End
International information
First Test 8–13 September 1992:
 Sri Lanka v  Australia
Last Test 8–13 December 1993:
 Sri Lanka v  West Indies
First ODI 31 March 1984:
 Sri Lanka v  New Zealand
Last ODI 14 August 1993:
 Sri Lanka v  India
Team information
Moratuwa Cricket Club (1952 – present)
As of 2 December 2014
Source: Cricinfo

De Soysa Park Stadium (formerly known as Tyronne Fernando Stadium) is a multi-use stadium in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.[1]
It is currently used mostly for cricket matches. The stadium holds 15,000 people and hosted its first Test match in 1992. The ground opened in 1940 and gained Test status in 1979. Moratuwa, located just eight miles (13 km) south of Colombo is renowned for its carpentry, cricket and its philanthropists. Indeed it was the most famous of these families that initiated the development of De Soysa Park Stadium, when they donated the 5 acre (20,000 sq m) plot of land to the Urban Council in 1940, to develop the Sports Complex. An additional 2 acres were sold under its market value by another member of the family. The ground was named De Soysa Park and subsequently used mainly for Moratuwa Sports Club (MSC) and school competitions.[2][3][4]

History

A. H. T. de Soysa

Mr. Albert Hildebrand Theodore de Soysa was a Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the second son of Solomon Peter de Soysa, the Managing Director of the business concerns of cousin Sir Charles Henry de Soysa.[5] He attended Trinity College, Kandy and went on to become its greatest benefactor by financing several building projects including the college hall.[6]

In 1940, de Soysa initiated the development of the De Soysa Park as a venue for sports and recreation by gifting a 5 acre (20,000 sq m) plot of land and purchasing an additional 2 acres. It was intended for cricket, other sports and public use. It was again Mr. A. H. T. de Soysa that assisted the call for putting up the first stadium/pavilion in 1952.[2][3] His other benefactions include the Ingiriya Hospital , the Gamini Central College and the Christ Church, Ingiriya (Kalutara District).[7][8]

Club Presidents and other benefactors

The club, its presidents D. H. L. De Silva, Dr. H. I. Fernando and local MP Wimalasiri De Mel took a keen interest in developing it further. In 1979 Moratuwa received public funds from the then Deputy Foreign Minister, Tyronne Fernando. A stadium was built, which could accommodate approximately 16,000 spectators.

International Matches

The first ever-visiting team to play was the West Indians in 1979. The ground has traditionally favoured the batsmen. However, the pitch can break up and the ball then has a tendency to keep low. The first ever Test Match to be played at this venue was against Australia on the 8th of September 1992. Allan Border made 106 and Ian Healy 71 as the visitors scored 337 in the first innings and controlled the match thereafter. However half centuries from Aravinda De Silva and Hashan Tillakaratne ensured a draw for the home side.

The most memorable of the four Test matches - they were all drawn - to have been played here was the third, against South Africa. On the last day Jonty Rhodes defied Muttiah Muralitharan to score 101* and keep the series alive.

In recent times the venue is mostly used for the foreign teams to play their side games and for Sebastianites to play their home matches in the domestic season. In recent times the wicket has become rather low in bounce, is conducive to spin, but is generally favourable to the batsmen. It is also the venue for the Battle of the Golds, the annual big-match between Prince of Wales' College and St. Sebastian's College.

International five-wicket hauls

Key

Symbol Meaning
dagger The bowler was man of the match
double-dagger 10 or more wickets taken in the match
Section-sign One of two five-wicket hauls by the bowler in the match
Date Day the Test started or ODI was held
Inn Innings in which five-wicket haul was taken
Overs Number of overs bowled. 8 indicates that eight balls were bowled in each over.
Runs Number of runs conceded
Wkts Number of wickets taken
Econ Runs conceded per over
Batsmen Batsmen whose wickets were taken
Result Result of the match

Tests

Five-wicket hauls in Test matches at Tyronne Fernando Stadium
No. Bowler Date Team Opposing team Inn Overs Runs Wkts Econ Batsmen Result
1 Ramanayake, ChampakaChampaka Ramanayake 8 September 1992  Sri Lanka  Australia 1 31 82 5 2.64 Drawn[9]
2 Donald, AlanAlan Donald 25 August 1993  South Africa  Sri Lanka 1 28 69 5 2.46 Drawn[10]
3 Muralitharan, MuttiahMuttiah Muralitharan 25 August 1993  Sri Lanka  South Africa 2 39 104 5 2.66 Drawn[10]

ODIs

Five-wicket hauls in ODI matches at Tyronne Fernando Stadium
No. Bowler Date Team Opposing team Inn Overs Runs Wkts Econ Batsmen Result
1 Karnain, ShaulShaul Karnain 31 March 1984  Sri Lanka  New Zealand 2 8 26 5 3.25 Sri Lanka won[11]
2 Jayasuriya, SanathSanath Jayasuriya 20 March 1993  Sri Lanka  England 1 9.5 29 6 2.94 Sri Lanka won[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ferreira, Annesley. "Moratuwa Stadium back to De Soysa". Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 de Mel, Vernon. "Birth of De Soysa Park and Moratuwa Sports Club" (PDF). The Island. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  3. 1 2 Colombage, Dinouk. "Protests as Tyronne Fernando Stadium Closed to Public". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  4. ↑ Wijesinghe, Mahinda. "Cricket board shouldn't grant matches to Moratuwa". The Island. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  5. ↑ Wright, Arnold. Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon. Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company. pp. 559–61. ISBN 978-8120613355.
  6. ↑ "The evolution of Trinity College Kandy". Trinity College, Kandy. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Ingiriya Church". Ingiriya Articles. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Christ Church, Ingiriya". Diocese of Colombo. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "3rd Test: Sri Lanka v Australia at Moratuwa, Sep 8-13, 1992 | Cricket Scorecard". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  10. 1 2 "1st Test: Sri Lanka v South Africa at Moratuwa, Aug 25-30, 1993 | Cricket Scorecard". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  11. ↑ "2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Moratuwa, Mar 31, 1984 | Cricket Scorecard". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  12. ↑ "2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v England at Moratuwa, Mar 20, 1993 | Cricket Scorecard". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
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