Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground
Maitland Place
A Test match in March 2001 between Sri Lanka and England
Ground information
LocationCinnamon Gardens, Colombo
Coordinates6°54′21.32″N 79°52′09.85″E / 6.9059222°N 79.8694028°E / 6.9059222; 79.8694028
Establishment1952
Capacity10,000
OwnerSinhalese Sports Club
TenantsSri Lanka Cricket
End names
Tennis Courts End
South End
International information
First Test16–21 March 1984:
 Sri Lanka v  New Zealand
Last Test2–5 February 2024:
 Sri Lanka v  Afghanistan
First ODI13 February 1982:
 Sri Lanka v  England
Last ODI22 February 2020:
 Sri Lanka v  West Indies
First T20I3 February 2010:
 Canada v  Ireland
Last T20I4 February 2010:
 Afghanistan v  Canada
First WODI25 November 1997:
 Sri Lanka v  Netherlands
Last WODI4 May 2023:
 Sri Lanka v  Bangladesh
First WT20I24 April 2011:
 Sri Lanka v  Netherlands
Last WT20I12 May 2023:
 Sri Lanka v  Bangladesh
Team information
Sinhalese Sports Club (1974–present)
Sri Lanka national cricket team (1982–present)
As of 5 February 2024
Source: Cricinfo

The Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground (SSC Cricket Ground) (Sinhala: සිංහල ක්‍රිඩා සමාජ ක්‍රීඩාංගනය; Tamil: சிங்களவர் விளையாட்டுக் கழக அரங்கம்) is one of the most famous cricket grounds in Sri Lanka, and the headquarters of Sri Lanka Cricket, the controlling body of cricket in Sri Lanka.[1][2] The ground is sometimes described as "the Lord's of Sri Lanka",[3] It hosts the most domestic finals and is an important international cricket venue. The ground staged its first Test in 1984 against New Zealand and its first One Day International in 1982 against England.[2] The Sri Lankan team has an impressive record here. Out of 38 Tests played at the SSC as of January 2015, Sri Lanka has won 18 matches, and drawn 14, with only 6 losses.[4]

History

In 1899, a combined school cricket team, composed mainly of cricketers from Royal College, S. Thomas' College and Wesley College beat Colts Cricket Club by a one run. A decision was made to form an all-Sinhalese club, and thus Singhalese Sports Club was founded.[5] The club leased land in Victoria Park with sandy soil and covered with cinnamon trees.[6]

In 1952 the club leased another 20 acres (81,000 m2) and moved to its present location in Maitland Place, which had been used as an aerodrome by the allied forces in World War II.[2]

Ground

The pavilion of the ground was built in 1956 with the sponsorship of Donovan Andree, a leading nightclub entrepreneur.[6] A giant scoreboard and sightscreens were built in the mid-70s. Later the current scoreboard was built. The ground also has a media center and commentary box with modern facilities. Various sponsors including Lankabell, Seylan Bank and HSBC have built stands bearing their brands. There are two grass embankments for the spectators.

Highlights

In 1992 Australian tour of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka lost the SSC Test match to Australia by 16 runs after being set a target of only 181 runs.[7] This is one of Sri Lanka's narrowest defeats in Test cricket.[8] Shane Warne took three wickets in thirteen balls; this was his first notable performance in Test cricket.[9]

In the 2001–02 Asian Test Championship, Mohammed Ashraful of Bangladesh become the youngest cricketer to score a Test hundred,[10] one day before his 17th birthday. However Bangladesh went on to lose the match by an innings and 137 runs.

Chaminda Vaas took 8 wickets for 19 runs in 2001–02 against Zimbabwe, the best bowling performance in a One Day International match.[11] The Zimbabwean total of 38 was the lowest team innings total in ODIs at that point of time.[12]

Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene shared a partnership of 624 runs against South Africa in 2006–07 season, the highest partnership for any wicket in Test and first class cricket.[13]

Ground Figures

Key

Ground Figures
Format P H T N D/N/T Inaugural Match
Test matches[14] 43 21 8 0 14 16 March 1984
One-Day Internationals[15] 60 23 11 19 7 13 February 1982
Twenty20 Internationals[16] 2 0 0 2 0 3 February 2010

Updated 5 February 2024

Cricket World Cup matches

1996 Cricket World Cup

Main article: 1996 Cricket World Cup
21 February 1996
scorecard
Zimbabwe 
228/6 (50 overs)
v
 Sri Lanka
229/4 (37 overs)
Alistair Campbell 75 (102)
Chaminda Vaas 2/30 (10 overs)
Aravinda de Silva 91 (86)
Heath Streak 3/60 (10 overs)
 Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets (with 78 balls remaining)
Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Steve Dunne and Mahboob Shah
Player of the match: Aravinda de Silva (Sri)
  • Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first.

ICC Champions Trophy matches

The 2002 ICC Champions Trophy was held in Sri Lanka. Six group matches played in SSC. Other matches played in R. Premadasa Stadium.

2002 ICC Champions Trophy

Main article: 2002 ICC Champions Trophy
13 September 2002
Scorecard
West Indies 
238/8 (50 overs)
v
 South Africa
242/8 (49 overs)
Chris Gayle 49 (55)
Jacques Kallis 2/41 (9 overs)
Jonty Rhodes 61 (70)
Mervyn Dillon 4/60 (10 overs)
 South Africa won by 2 wickets
Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Umpires: David Shepherd and Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan
Player of the match: Jonty Rhodes (RSA)
  • South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first.
15 September 2002
Scorecard
Australia 
296/7 (50 overs)
v
 New Zealand
132 (26.2 overs)
Damien Martyn 73 (87)
Jacob Oram 2/60 (10 overs)
Shane Bond 26 (22)
Glenn McGrath 5/37 (7 overs)
 Australia won by 164 runs
Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Dave Orchard and Russell Tiffin
Player of the match: Glenn McGrath (Aus)
  • Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.
17 September 2002
Scorecard
West Indies 
261/6 (50 overs)
v
 Kenya
232 (49.1 overs)
Brian Lara 111 (120)
Steve Tikolo 2/49 (7 overs)
Steve Tikolo 93 (91)
Pedro Collins 3/18 (9.1 overs)
 West Indies won by 29 runs
Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Daryl Harper and Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan
Player of the match: Brian Lara (WI)
  • West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first.
19 September 2002
Scorecard
Bangladesh 
129 (45.2 overs)
v
 Australia
133/1 (20.4 overs)
Alok Kapali 45 (75)
Jason Gillespie 3/20 (10 overs)
Matthew Hayden 67* (70)
Mohammad Rafique 1/32 (5 overs)
 Australia won by 9 wickets
Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Asoka de Silva and Russell Tiffin
Player of the match: Jason Gillespie (Aus)
  • Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first.
21 September 2002
Scorecard
Netherlands 
136 (50 overs)
v
 Pakistan
142/1 (16.2 overs)
Roland Lefebvre 32 (70)
Shahid Afridi 3/18 (10 overs)
Imran Nazir 59 (40)
Feiko Kloppenburg 1/23 (2 overs)
 Pakistan won by 9 wickets
Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Rudi Koertzen and Dave Orchard
Player of the match: Shahid Afridi (Pak)
  • The Netherlands won the toss and elected to bat first.
23 September 2002
Scorecard
New Zealand 
244/9 (50 overs)
v
 Bangladesh
77 (19.3 overs)
Mathew Sinclair 70 (122)
Mohammad Ashraful 3/26 (5 overs)
Tushar Imran 20 (16)
Shane Bond 4/21 (5 overs)
 New Zealand won by 167 runs
Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Asoka de Silva and David Shepherd
Player of the match: Shane Bond (NZ)
  • Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl first.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sinhalese Sports Club Ground (Maitland Place)". cricket.yahoo.com. Yahoo Cricket. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  2. ^ a b c "Sinhalese Sports Club". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  3. ^ "Sinhalese Sports Club". Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Aggregate/overall records". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Test venues in Sri Lanka: The Oldies". The Papare. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b Kumar Sangakkara (3 August 2003). "Sri Lanka cricket – serious winning business!". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  7. ^ "SRI LANKA v AUSTRALIA 1992–93". Wisden. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  8. ^ "Team records". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  9. ^ "1st Test: Sri Lanka v Australia at Colombo (SSC), Aug 17-22, 1992". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  10. ^ Austin, Charlie (8 September 2001). "Dream comes true for Bangladeshi teenager". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  11. ^ Austin, Charlie (8 December 2001). "Chaminda Vaas starts LG Abans tri-series with record-breaking bonanza". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  12. ^ "Lowest innings totals". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  13. ^ Austin, Charlie (18 April 2007). "Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2006". Wisden. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  14. ^ "Ground Records and Statistics – Statistical Overview – Test cricket". How Stat. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  15. ^ "Ground Records and Statistics – Statistical Overview – ODI". How Stat. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  16. ^ "Ground Records and Statistics – Statistical Overview – T20I". How Stat. Retrieved 5 September 2017.

External links

Cricket in Sri Lanka
Current Test cricket grounds in Sri Lanka
Categories