De Soysa Stadium
Sports stadium in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
title: "De Soysa Stadium" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["test-cricket-grounds-in-sri-lanka", "buildings-and-structures-in-moratuwa", "sports-venues-completed-in-1952"] description: "Sports stadium in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Soysa_Stadium" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Sports stadium in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox cricket ground"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| ground_name | |
| nickname | Moratuwa Stadium, Tyronne Fernando Stadium |
| country | Sri Lanka |
| location | Moratuwa, Western Province |
| coordinates | |
| establishment | 1952 |
| seating_capacity | 16,000 |
| owner | Moratuwa Sports Club |
| operator | Sri Lanka Cricket |
| 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 – present |
| club1 | Moratuwa Cricket Club |
| date | 2 September |
| year | 2020 |
| source | http://content.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/ground/59350.html Cricinfo |
| :: |
| ground_name = | nickname = Moratuwa Stadium, Tyronne Fernando Stadium | image = | caption = | country = Sri Lanka | location = Moratuwa, Western Province | coordinates = | 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 – present | club1 = Moratuwa Cricket Club | date = 2 September | year = 2020 | source = http://content.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/ground/59350.html Cricinfo
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 8 mi 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 plot of land to the Urban Council in 1940, to develop the Sports Complex. An additional 2 acre 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.
In 1940, de Soysa initiated the development of the De Soysa Park as a venue for sports and recreation by gifting a 5 acre plot of land and purchasing an additional 2 acre. 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. 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 are played at the venue.
International five-wicket hauls
Key
::data[format=table]
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The bowler was man of the match | |
| 10 or more wickets taken in the match | |
| § | 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
::data[format=table title="Five-wicket hauls in Test matches at Tyronne Fernando Stadium"]
| No. | Bowler | Date | Team | Opposing team | Inn | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Batsmen | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||||||||||
| 2 | |||||||||||
| 3 | |||||||||||
| :: |
ODIs
::data[format=table title="Five-wicket hauls in ODI matches at Tyronne Fernando Stadium"]
| No. | Bowler | Date | Team | Opposing team | Inn | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Batsmen | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||||||||||
| 2 | |||||||||||
| :: |
International Centuries
There has been five Test centuries scored at the venue.
::data[format=table]
| 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 | |||
| :: |
References
References
- Ferreira, Annesley. "Moratuwa Stadium back to De Soysa". [[Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
- de Mel, Vernon. "Birth of De Soysa Park and Moratuwa Sports Club". [[The Island (Sri Lanka).
- Colombage, Dinouk. "Protests as Tyronne Fernando Stadium Closed to Public". [[The Sunday Leader]].
- Wijesinghe, Mahinda. "Cricket board shouldn't grant matches to Moratuwa". [[The Island (Sri Lanka).
- Wright, Arnold. (1999). "Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon". Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company.
- [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
- [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
- "Ingiriya Church". Ingiriya Articles.
- "Christ Church, Ingiriya". Diocese of Colombo.
- "Test venues in Sri Lanka: The Oldies". The Papare.
- Today, Ceylon. (2024-05-01). "‘Battle of Mangosteens’ Big Match on 3/4 May in Moratuwa".
- "3rd Test: Sri Lanka v Australia at Moratuwa, Sep 8-13, 1992 {{pipe}} Cricket Scorecard". ESPN Cricinfo.
- "1st Test: Sri Lanka v South Africa at Moratuwa, Aug 25-30, 1993 {{pipe}} Cricket Scorecard". ESPN Cricinfo.
- "2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Moratuwa, Mar 31, 1984 {{pipe}} Cricket Scorecard". ESPN Cricinfo.
- "2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v England at Moratuwa, Mar 20, 1993 {{pipe}} Cricket Scorecard". ESPN Cricinfo.
- "Statistics / Statsguru / One-Day Internationals / Batting records".
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