View source for De Soysa Stadium

{{short description|Sports stadium in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox cricket ground
|       ground_name = De Soysa International Cricket Stadium
|          nickname = Moratuwa Stadium, Tyronne Fernando Stadium
|             image = 
|           caption = 
|           country = [[Sri Lanka]]
|          location = [[Moratuwa]], [[Western Province, Sri Lanka|Western Province]]
|       coordinates = {{coord|6.7948|79.8887|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:LK|display=ti}}
|     establishment = 1952
|  seating_capacity = 16,000
|             owner = [[Moratuwa Sports Club]]
|          operator = [[Sri Lanka Cricket]]
|           tenants = 
|              end1 = Press Box End
|              end2 = Katubadda End
|     international = true
|     firsttestdate = 8–13 September
|     firsttestyear = 1992
|     firsttesthome = Sri Lanka 
|     firsttestaway = Australia
|      lasttestdate = 8–13 December
|      lasttestyear = 1993
|      lasttesthome = Sri Lanka
|      lasttestaway = West Indies
|      firstodidate = 31 March
|      firstodiyear = 1984
|      firstodihome = Sri Lanka
|      firstodiaway = New Zealand
|       lastodidate = 14 August
|       lastodiyear = 1993
|       lastodihome = Sri Lanka
|       lastodiaway = India

|      firstwodidate = 25 March
|      firstwodiyear = 1999
|      firstwodihome = Sri Lanka
|      firstwodiaway = Netherlands 
|       lastwodidate = 30 January 
|       lastwodiyear = 2002
|       lastwodihome = Sri Lanka
|       lastwodiaway = Pakistan 
|             year1 = 1952 &ndash; present
|             club1 = [[Moratuwa Cricket Club]]
|              date = 2 September 
|              year = 2020
|            source = http://content.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/ground/59350.html Cricinfo
}}

'''De Soysa International Cricket Stadium''' (formerly known as '''Tyronne Fernando Stadium''') is a multi-use [[stadium]] in [[Moratuwa]], in southwestern [[Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/970601/sportm.html#LABEL6 |title=Moratuwa Stadium back to De Soysa|last=Ferreira|first=Annesley|newspaper=[[Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|Sunday Times]]|access-date=19 February 2015}}</ref> 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 {{convert|8|mi|km|spell=in|order=flip}} 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 {{cvt|5|acre|sqm|order=flip}} plot of land to the Urban Council in 1940, to develop the Sports Complex. An additional {{cvt|2|acre|order=flip}} 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.<ref name=Birth>{{cite news|url=http://pdfs.island.lk/2006/09/15/p11.pdf|title=Birth of De Soysa Park and Moratuwa Sports Club|last=de Mel|first=Vernon|newspaper=[[The Island (Sri Lanka)|The Island]]|access-date=10 December 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060819/http://pdfs.island.lk/2006/09/15/p11.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Protest>{{cite news|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2012/07/08/protests-as-tyronne-fernando-stadium-closed-to-public/|title=Protests as Tyronne Fernando Stadium Closed to Public|last=Colombage|first=Dinouk|newspaper=[[The Sunday Leader]]|access-date=10 December 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054052/http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2012/07/08/protests-as-tyronne-fernando-stadium-closed-to-public/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=board>{{cite news|url=http://www.island.lk/2002/01/02/sports03.html|title=Cricket board shouldn't grant matches to Moratuwa|last=Wijesinghe |first=Mahinda |newspaper=[[The Island (Sri Lanka)|The Island]]|access-date=10 December 2012}}</ref>

==History==

===A. H. T. de Soysa===
Albert Hildebrand Theodore de Soysa (14 March 1889 - 2 November 1959) was a [[Demographics of Sri Lanka|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.<ref name="Impressions1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eUF_rS8FEoIC&q=Soysa+Tea+Factory|title=Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon|author=Wright, Arnold|year=1999|pages=659–61|publisher=Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company|isbn=978-8120613355}}</ref> He attended [[Trinity College, Kandy]] and went on to become its greatest benefactor by financing several building projects including the college hall.<ref>[https://www.trinitycollege.lk/2019/01/17/trinity-college-in-its-147th-year/ Trinity College in its 147th year! (Official Website)], Retrieved 3 December 2014</ref><ref>[https://www.trinitycollege.lk/2019/03/25/albert-hildebrand-theodore-de-soysa-130th-birth-anniversary-of-one-of-trinitys-great-benefactors/  Albert Hildebrand Theodore De Soysa – 130th birth anniversary of one of Trinity's great benefactors (Official Website)], Retrieved 3 April 2019</ref>

In 1940, de Soysa initiated the development of the De Soysa Park as a venue for sports and recreation by gifting a {{cvt|5|acre|order=flip}} plot of land and purchasing an additional {{cvt|2|acre|order=flip}}. 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.<ref name=Birth/><ref name=Protest/> His other benefactions include the Ingiriya Hospital [https://www.panoramio.com/photo/76520839], the Gamini Central College and the Christ Church, Ingiriya (Kalutara District).<ref name=Ingiriya>{{cite web|url=http://www.ingiriya.info/Articles/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=205&Itemid=456|title=Ingiriya Church|publisher=Ingiriya Articles|access-date=18 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101040842/http://www.ingiriya.info/Articles/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=205&Itemid=456|archive-date=1 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dioceseofcolombo.lk/churches/10-galle-archdeaconry/28-christ-church-ingiriya |title=Christ Church, Ingiriya|publisher=Diocese of Colombo|access-date=18 December 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=https://www.thepapare.com/test-venues-in-sri-lanka-part-1/ |title=Test venues in Sri Lanka: The Oldies |work=The Papare |access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref> 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 national cricket team|Australia]] on 8 September 1992.<ref name="history"/> [[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 Cricket and Athletic Club|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 [[Prince of Wales–St. Sebastian's Cricket Encounter|Battle of the Golds]], the annual big-match between [[Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa|Prince of Wales' College]] and [[St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa|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]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Today |first=Ceylon |date=2024-05-01 |title=‘Battle of Mangosteens’ Big Match on 3/4 May in Moratuwa |url=https://ceylontoday.lk/2024/05/02/battle-of-mangosteens-big-match-on-3-4-may-in-moratuwa/ |access-date= |website=Ceylon Today |language=en-US}}</ref> and the Battle of Greens, between Royal College, Panadura and St John's College, Panadura are played at the venue.

==International five-wicket hauls==
===Key===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Symbol
! Meaning
|-
|{{dagger}}
|The bowler was [[Man of the match#Cricket|man of the match]]
|-
|{{double-dagger}}
|10 or more wickets taken in the match
|-
|§
|One of two five-wicket hauls by the bowler in the match
|-
|'''Date'''
|Day the [[Test cricket|Test]] started or [[One Day International|ODI]] was held
|-
|'''Inn'''
|[[Innings#Cricket|Innings]] in which five-wicket haul was taken
|-
|'''Overs'''
|Number of [[Over (cricket)|overs]] bowled. <sup>8</sup> indicates that eight balls were bowled in each over.
|-
|'''Runs'''
|Number of [[Run (cricket)|runs]] conceded
|-
|'''Wkts'''
|Number of [[Wicket (dismisal)|wickets]] taken
|-
|'''Econ'''
|[[Cricket statistics#Bowling statistics|Runs conceded per over]]
|-
|'''Batsmen'''
|[[Batting (cricket)|Batsmen]] whose wickets were taken
|-
|'''Result'''
|[[Result (cricket)|Result]] of the match
|}

===Tests===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Five-wicket hauls in Test matches at Tyronne Fernando Stadium
|- align=center
! scope="col" style="width:38px;"|No.
! scope="col" style="width:185px;"|Bowler
! scope="col" style="width:180px;"|Date
! scope="col" style="width:120px;"|Team
! scope="col" style="width:120px;"|Opposing team
! scope="col" style="width:60px;"|Inn
! scope="col" style="width:82px;"|Overs
! scope="col" style="width:70px;"|Runs
! scope="col" style="width:60px;"|Wkts
! scope="col" style="width:70px;"|Econ
! scope="col" style="width:160px;" class="unsortable"|Batsmen
! scope="col" style="width:70px;"|Result
|- align=center
|scope="row"| 1 || {{sortname|Champaka|Ramanayake}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1992|9|8}} || {{cr|SL}}|| {{cr|AUS}} || {{nts|1}} || {{nts|31}} || {{nts|82}} || {{sort|06094|5}}  || {{nts|2.64}} || align=left |
*[[Tom Moody]]
*[[David Boon]]
*[[Mark Waugh]]
*[[Allan Border]]
*[[Shane Warne]]
|| Drawn<ref name="espncricinfo1">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63582.html |title=3rd Test: Sri Lanka v Australia at Moratuwa, Sep 8-13, 1992 {{pipe}} Cricket Scorecard |publisher=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=2016-01-21}}</ref>
|- align=center
|scope="row"| 2 || {{sortname|Allan|Donald}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1993|8|25}} || {{cr|SA}}|| {{cr|SL}} || {{nts|1}} || {{nts|28}} || {{nts|69}} || {{sort|06094|5}}  || {{nts|2.46}} || align=left |
*[[Chandika Hathurusingha]]
*[[Asanka Gurusinha]]
*[[Arjuna Ranatunga]]
*[[Piyal Wijetunge]]
*[[Pramodya Wickramasinghe]]
|| Drawn<ref name="espncricinfo2">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63618.html |title=1st Test: Sri Lanka v South Africa at Moratuwa, Aug 25-30, 1993 {{pipe}} Cricket Scorecard |publisher=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=2016-01-21}}</ref>
|- align=center
|scope="row"| 3 || {{sortname|Muttiah|Muralitharan}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1993|8|25}} || {{cr|SL}}|| {{cr|SA}} || {{nts|2}} || {{nts|39}} || {{nts|104}} || {{sort|06094|5}}  || {{nts|2.66}} || align=left |
*[[Kepler Wessels]]
*[[Hansie Cronje]]
*[[Jonty Rhodes]]
*[[Clive Eksteen]]
*[[Pat Symcox]]
|| Drawn<ref name="espncricinfo2"/>
|}

===ODIs===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Five-wicket hauls in ODI matches at Tyronne Fernando Stadium
|- align=center
! scope="col" style="width:38px;"|No.
! scope="col" style="width:185px;"|Bowler
! scope="col" style="width:180px;"|Date
! scope="col" style="width:120px;"|Team
! scope="col" style="width:120px;"|Opposing team
! scope="col" style="width:60px;"|Inn
! scope="col" style="width:82px;"|Overs
! scope="col" style="width:70px;"|Runs
! scope="col" style="width:60px;"|Wkts
! scope="col" style="width:70px;"|Econ
! scope="col" style="width:160px;" class="unsortable"|Batsmen
! scope="col" style="width:70px;"|Result
|- align=center
|scope="row"| 1 || {{sortname|Shaul|Karnain}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1984|3|31}} || {{cr|SL}}|| {{cr|NZ}} || {{nts|2}} || {{nts|8}} || {{nts|26}} || {{sort|06094|5}}  || {{nts|3.25}} || align=left |
*[[Geoff Howarth]]
*[[Bruce Edgar]]
*[[Lance Cairns]]
*[[Jeff Crowe]]
*[[Martin Crowe]]
|| Sri Lanka won<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64230.html |title=2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Moratuwa, Mar 31, 1984 {{pipe}} Cricket Scorecard |publisher=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=2016-01-21}}</ref>
|- align=center
|scope="row"| 2 || {{sortname|Sanath|Jayasuriya}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1993|3|20}} || {{cr|SL}}|| {{cr|ENG}} || {{nts|1}} || {{nts|9.5}} || {{nts|29}} || {{sort|06094|6}}  || {{nts|2.94}} || align=left |
*[[Robin Smith (cricketer)|Robin Smith]]
*[[Neil Fairbrother]]
*[[John Emburey]]
*[[Dermot Reeve]]
*[[Paul Jarvis]]
*[[Paul Taylor (cricketer, born 1964)|Paul Taylor]]
|| Sri Lanka won<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64421.html |title=2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v England at Moratuwa, Mar 20, 1993 {{pipe}} Cricket Scorecard |publisher=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=2016-01-21}}</ref>
|}

==International Centuries==
There has been five Test centuries scored at the venue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;ground=835;runsmin1=100;runsval1=runs;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|title=Statistics / Statsguru / One-Day Internationals / Batting records|access-date=10 February 2017}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%"
! No. !! Score !! Player !! Team !! Balls !! Opposing team !! Date !! Result
|-
| 1 || 153 || [[Roshan Mahanama]] || {{cr|SL}} || {{ntsh|1100}} 297 || {{cr|NZ}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1992|November|27}} || Drawn
|-
| 2 || 131 || [[Arjuna Ranatunga]] || {{cr|SL}} || {{ntsh|1100}} 140 || {{cr|SA}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1993|August|25}} || Drawn
|-
| 3 || 106 || [[Allan Border]] || {{cr|AUS}} || {{ntsh|1100}} 169 || {{cr|SL}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1992|September|8}} || Drawn
|-
| 4 || 105 || [[Ken Rutherford (cricketer)|Ken Rutherford]] || {{cr|NZ}} || {{ntsh|1100}} 107 || {{cr|SL}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1992|November|27}} || Drawn
|-
| 5 || 101* || [[Jonty Rhodes]] || {{cr|SA}} || {{ntsh|1100}} 107 || {{cr|SL}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1993|August|25}} || Drawn
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Test cricket grounds]]
* [[List of international cricket grounds in Sri Lanka]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://content.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/ground/59350.html ESPN Cricinfo profile on De Soysa Stadium]
* [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/25/1731.html CricketArchive profile on De Soysa Stadium]
* [http://pdfs.island.lk/2006/09/15/p11.pdf Birth of De Soysa Park and Moratuwa Sports Club] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060819/http://pdfs.island.lk/2006/09/15/p11.pdf |date=4 March 2016 }}

{{Cricket in Sri Lanka}}
{{Test Cricket Grounds of Sri Lanka}}

[[Category:Test cricket grounds in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Moratuwa]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1952]]