De Soysa Cricket Stadium (formerly known as Tyronne Fernando Stadium) is a multi-use stadium in Moratuwa, in southwestern Sri Lanka. 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 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 plot of land to the Urban Council in 1940, to develop the Sports Complex. An additional were sold below 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.
History
A. H. T. de Soysa Albert Hildebrand Theodore de Soysa (14 March 1889 - 2 November 1959) was a Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the second son of Solomon Peter de Soysa (1854–1906), the Managing Director of the business concerns of cousin Sir Charles Henry de Soysa and Dora Caroline Weerasooriya. He attended Trinity College, Kandy and went on to become its greatest benefactor by financing several building projects including the college hall.Trinity College in its 147th year! (Official Website), Retrieved 3 December 2014 Albert Hildebrand Theodore De Soysa – 130th birth anniversary of one of Trinity's great benefactors (Official Website), Retrieved 3 April 2019
In 1940, de Soysa initiated the development of the De Soysa Park as a venue for sports and recreation by gifting a plot of land and purchasing an additional . It was intended for cricket, other sports and public use. It was again de Soysa that assisted the call for putting up the first stadium/pavilion in 1952. His other benefactions include the Ingiriya Hospital , the Gamini Central College and the Christ Church, Ingiriya (Kalutara District). He was a recipient of the Distinguished Auxiliary Service Medal of The Salvation Army.
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 international team to play at the ground was the West Indians in 1979. The pitch has traditionally favoured the batsmen, but it can break up and the ball then has a tendency to keep low. The first Test match at the ground was against Australia on 8 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 - at the ground was the third, against South Africa. On the last day Jonty Rhodes defied Muttiah Muralitharan to score 101* and keep the series alive. Bangladesh played their first ever ODI match here against Pakistan in the 1986 Asia Cup.
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. The Battle of the Golds (Panadura and Moratuwa) between Moratu Maha Vidyalaya and Sri Sumangala College, Panadura. The Battle of the Mangosteen, between Kalutara Vidyalaya and Tissa Central College and the Battle of Greens, between Royal College, Panadura and St John's College, Panadura and Battle of the Raigam Salpiti Taxila Central College Horana vs Piliyandala Central College are played at the venue.
International five-wicket hauls Key Symbol MeaningThe bowler was man of the match10 or more wickets taken in the match§One of two five-wicket hauls by the bowler in the matchDateDay the Test started or ODI was heldInnInnings in which five-wicket haul was takenOversNumber of overs bowled. 8 indicates that eight balls were bowled in each over.RunsNumber of runs concededWktsNumber of wickets takenEconRuns conceded per overBatsmenBatsmen whose wickets were takenResultResult of the match
Tests + Five-wicket hauls in Test matches at Tyronne Fernando StadiumNo.BowlerDateTeamOpposing teamInnOversRunsWktsEconBatsmenResult 1 Tom Moody David Boon Mark Waugh Allan Border Shane Warne Drawn 2 Chandika Hathurusingha Asanka Gurusinha Arjuna Ranatunga Piyal Wijetunge Pramodya Wickramasinghe Drawn 3 Kepler Wessels Hansie Cronje Jonty Rhodes Clive Eksteen Pat Symcox Drawn
ODIs + Five-wicket hauls in ODI matches at Tyronne Fernando StadiumNo.BowlerDateTeamOpposing teamInnOversRunsWktsEconBatsmenResult 1 Geoff Howarth Bruce Edgar Lance Cairns Jeff Crowe Martin Crowe Sri Lanka won 2 Robin Smith Neil Fairbrother John Emburey Dermot Reeve Paul Jarvis Paul Taylor Sri Lanka won
International Centuries There has been five Test centuries scored at the venue.
No. Score Player Team Balls Opposing team Date Result 1 153 Roshan Mahanama 297 Drawn 2 131 Arjuna Ranatunga 140 Drawn 3 106 Allan Border 169 Drawn 4 105 Ken Rutherford 107 Drawn 5 101* Jonty Rhodes 107 Drawn
See also List of Test cricket grounds List of international cricket grounds in Sri Lanka
References
External links ESPN Cricinfo profile on De Soysa Stadium CricketArchive profile on De Soysa Stadium Birth of De Soysa Park and Moratuwa Sports Club