Stats: Numbers behind the ODIs played at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

The ongoing five-match ODI series between Sri Lanka and England has reached to its very end with the fifth and final match of the series scheduled to be played on Tuesday (Oct 23). Needless to say, rain has made its appearance in all the four ODI games so far in the series and as per the weather forecast, the situation is going to be no different when the two teams take the field on Tuesday for the final ODI of the series.

As a cricket fan, we can only keep our fingers crossed and pray to the Almighty to allow us to witness a full game! The first ODI of the series was washed out due to rain and England won the remaining three rain curtailed games. The fifth and final ODI will be played at R Premadasa Stadium (RPS) in Colombo.

England have already won the series by a margin of 3-0 and that implies the home team Sri Lanka will be playing the final ODI to salvage some pride. Here are some of the statistical highlights of the ODI matches played at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, the venue of the fifth ODI between Sri Lanka and England.

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Win-Loss record:

Sri Lanka ODI team

Starting from 1986 to till date, Sri Lankan team have played a good number of 107 ODI games at this venue. The home team have won 65 and lost 35 games. The other 7 games were abandoned.

The Islanders have won two and lost three out of their recent five ODI games at this venue.

Sri Lanka defeated the Netherlands by a margin of 206 runs long back in 2002. This is their biggest victory at this venue while batting first. And while batting second, Sri Lanka have registered two 10-wicket wins at this venue – against Bangladesh in 2004 and against England in 2011.

Sri Lanka lost to India by a margin of 168 runs in August last year and lost to Pakistan by a margin of 9 wickets in 1994. These are biggest defeats for Sri Lanka while batting second and batting first respectively at this venue.

England have played 11 ODIs at this venue in which they won just 2 games. Their victories at this venue have come against Zimbabwe (by 108 runs) in 2002 and against Sri Lanka (by 5 wickets) in 2007.

However, considering the current form of the two teams, England are certain favourites to win the final ODI of the series.

Highest & Lowest Team Total:

Virat Kohli (left) and Rohit Sharma (right)

India had the privilege of registering the highest total by any team at this venue. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma both scored centuries, while Manish Pandey and Mahendra Singh Dhoni provided the late blitz to help India finish with a total of 375 for 5 in their 50 overs (in August 2017). In fact, all the top three team totals at this venue have been registered by India!

Sri Lanka’s best team total is 320 for the loss of 8 wickets against India in the year 2009 – Sri Lanka won this game by a margin of 68 runs. They were bowled out for just 93 runs against South Africa in 1993 which is their lowest team total at this venue.

England, on the other hand, are yet to register their maiden 300+ team total at this venue. The score of 298 for 8, against Zimbabwe in the year 2002, is their highest team total at this venue.

England’s lowest team total at this venue is 104 which they registered against the hosts in the year 2007.

Highest individual scores:

Kumar Sangakkara

As many as 47 ODI centuries have been scored at this venue, out of which, the home team- Sri Lanka, have scored 17 centuries. On the other hand, Team India have scored 20 centuries which is the most for any team at this venue!

Kumar Sangakkara holds the record the best individual score by any batsman at this venue. He scored 169 runs against South Africa in the year 2013 and this knock helped Sri Lanka win that game by a huge margin of 180 runs. On the other hand, Gautam Gambhir is the only other player to register a score of 150 or more at this venue in ODIs.

Marcus Trescothick in 2002 and Moeen Ali in 2014, scored 119 runs each, and this is the highest individual score for an England player in an ODI played at this venue. Also, these are the only individual 100+ plus scores for any England player at this venue.

Best Bowling figures:

Angelo Mathews appealing for a wicket

Angelo Mathews, the former skipper of Sri Lanka, who was dropped for the ongoing five-match ODI series between Sri Lanka and England, had registered the best bowling figures at this venue. He picked up 6 wickets while conceding just 20 runs against India in the year 2009.

As many as five 6-wicket hauls have been registered at this venue, out of which, four were by the Sri Lankans. India’s Ashish Nehra is the only overseas bowler to pick up a 6-wicket haul at this venue. Sri Lanka’s Akila Dananjaya registered bowling figures of 6 for 29 in the last ODI match that was played at this venue.

On the other hand, England do not have much to boast about their bowling records at this venue. None of their bowlers have picked up a five-wicket haul. Ronnie Irani picked up 4 for 37 in his 10 overs against Zimbabwe in the year 2002, which are the best bowling figures for an England player at this venue.

A total of 15 five-wicket hauls have been registered at this venue. Sri Lanka have picked up 7, while India and Pakistan have picked up 3 each. Australia and West Indies have a five-wicket haul each at this venue.