Colombo · Sri Lanka · 2005–2025
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo: Conditions, Records and What to Expect
At a glance
Matches
176
All formats
Par score
189
1st-innings average
Chase success
48%
Balanced
Bat-first win
49%
Long-sample record
Pitch & conditions
The patterns we see repeat across the matches on record — what works at Premadasa, and what captains should plan for.
The gap between a first-innings average of 189 and a second-innings average of 161 is 28 runs, which is sizeable at this level. Chasing sides succeed just 48% of the time across 174 matches, so setting a total tends to be the more reliable path. Captains who win the toss still elect to field 35% of the time, but the numbers suggest batting first has historically been the sounder call.
An average of 45 runs at 1.69 wickets in the powerplay suggests a surface that offers enough movement to keep openers honest rather than one that simply invites carnage from ball one. Teams that build a platform in the first ten overs tend to profit most, with the middle overs returning a sizeable 92 runs on average as the pitch flattens out.
An average of 35 runs in the death phase is modest by modern white-ball standards, pointing to a ground where boundary dimensions or slower surfaces may curb the cleanest hitting. Scores can still escalate quickly, given the ground has seen a highest total of 387, but consistently massive finishes are not the norm.
Two of the ground's five best bowling performances belong to PWH de Silva: 7/19 in an ODI against Zimbabwe in January 2024 and 6/9 in a Lanka Premier League match in August 2023. Both figures were recorded in fewer than six overs, underlining how quickly conditions here can assist a spinner who finds the right length.
India's record at Premadasa reads 20 wins from 31 matches, a 67% win rate that stands well above Sri Lanka's own 49% return across 100 appearances at their home ground. Pakistan also carry a strong record here at 65%, suggesting that visiting sides with settled batting line-ups tend to adapt to these conditions without much trouble.
By the numbers
Career aggregates from the matches LuckySpire tracks at Premadasa. Drawn from Cricsheet ball-by-ball data under ODC-BY licence.
Avg 1st inn
189
T20-era par
Avg 2nd inn
161
Chasing average
Chase success
48%
All formats
Highest total
387
On record
Lowest total
51
Complete innings
Phase-by-phase · scoring trajectory
Cumulative scoring trajectory across a typical white-ball innings at Premadasa. Phase bands show Powerplay (overs 1–6), Middle (7–15) and Death (16–20) — the death-overs acceleration is where the ground's character shows up most sharply.
Powerplay
45RPO · OVERS 1–6
Middle
97RPO · OVERS 7–15
Death
47RPO · OVERS 16–20
Who plays here
Match counts and win records for the teams with the deepest history at this ground.
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | NR | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka Cricket | 100 | 46 | 48 | 5 | 46% |
| India Cricket | 31 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 65% |
| Australia Cricket | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 50% |
| Jaffna Kings | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 64% |
| Pakistan Cricket | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 59% |
| South Africa Cricket | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 43% |
| Colombo Stars | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 46% |
| England Cricket | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 33% |
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