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Cricket Record Book

Galle International Stadium Pitch Report and Records

Covers 59 international matches at this ground from Mar 2004 to Aug 2026.

A Galle International Stadium pitch report is really a Test report: 40 of the 59 internationals here since Mar 2004 have been men’s Tests. Two men’s ODIs, five women’s ODIs and twelve women’s T20Is make up the remainder.

The ground sits in Galle on the south coast of Sri Lanka. Draws are scarce, just 4 in 40 Tests, so most games here reach a result. The latest, starting 15 Aug 2026, ended in a 165-run India win over Sri Lanka.

Galle Pitch Report: How Test Scores Fall Away

The Test slide here is steep. The first innings averages 383. The second drops to 304, the third to 252, and the fourth is a meagre 165. Runs come early, and by the last innings batting has been hard. That is why so few Tests end level: 4 draws in 40.

Captains read it the same way. Toss winners have chosen to bat 48 times and to field only 11, and the toss winner has gone on to win 31 of 55 decided matches.

Big fourth-innings chases are rare but not impossible. The best one here is 344, an outlier against that 165 average. At the other end, South Africa folded for 73 in Jul 2018 and England for 81 in Dec 2007.

White-ball cricket is a small sample. The two men’s ODIs, both in 2017, were won by the chasing side, and Zimbabwe’s 322/4 is the highest chase. In women’s T20Is the side batting first makes 110 on average, the chaser 104, and 98 was enough to defend once.

Galle Cricket Stadium Stats by Format

FormatMatchesWon batting firstWon chasingAvg 1st innsFirst matchLatest match
Tests40–––8 Mar 200415 Aug 2026
ODIs20223630 Jun 20172 Jul 2017
ODIs (women)52318911 Sep 20183 Jul 2023
T20Is (women)125710826 Sep 20121 Oct 2012

Galle International Stadium Pitch Report: Average Scores and Chasing

Matches with a result decided by DLS are left out of this table. The last column shows the most recent ten first innings where there are enough matches.

FormatMatchesAvg 1st innsAvg 2nd innsHighest chasedLowest defendedAvg 1st inns, last 10
ODIs2236240322––
ODIs (women)3215173100219–
T20Is (women)1011010414698–

Galle Test Pitch Report: Average Score by Innings

FormatTests1st inns2nd inns3rd inns4th innsHighest 4th-inns chase
Tests40383304252165344

Galle International Stadium Tests records

Tests in this record book: 40, from Mar 2004 to Aug 2026.

Most Test Runs at Galle International Stadium

BatterMInnsRunsHSAvgSR100s50s
AD Mathews Sri Lanka34592,25311044.1851.43217
FDM Karunaratne Sri Lanka24432,04018649.7656.2368
LD Chandimal Sri Lanka26451,983206*53.5955.05610
BKG Mendis Sri Lanka19331,50824548.6564.2047
KC Sangakkara Sri Lanka16291,34922148.1855.0854
DPMD Jayawardene Sri Lanka13231,295213*58.8651.8247
DM de Silva Sri Lanka18331,083155*37.3456.8533
TM Dilshan Sri Lanka11211,00812653.0576.0246
N Dickwella Sri Lanka13236809229.5768.5507
HDRL Thirimanne Sri Lanka917586155*39.0744.9721

Most Test Wickets at Galle

BowlerMInnsWktsBestAvgEcon5w
HMRKB Herath Sri Lanka1734987/4823.802.739
NGRP Jayasuriya Sri Lanka1223887/5226.243.059
RTM Mendis Sri Lanka1224646/7026.443.195
MDK Perera Sri Lanka1020576/3226.823.224
M Muralitharan Sri Lanka510356/5924.602.793
NM Lyon Australia611355/3425.573.282
L Embuldeniya Sri Lanka611327/13728.442.943
BAW Mendis Sri Lanka59236/11734.963.212
MA Starc Australia59226/5014.683.182
AM Fernando Sri Lanka1118224/3130.273.370

Galle International Stadium Highest Score in Tests

BatterScoreBalls4s6sAgainstDate
CH Gayle West Indies333437349Sri Lanka15 Nov 2010
BKG Mendis Sri Lanka2452911811Ireland24 Apr 2023
UT Khawaja Australia232352161Sri Lanka29 Jan 2025
JE Root England228321181Sri Lanka14 Jan 2021
KC Sangakkara Sri Lanka221425240Pakistan6 Aug 2014

Best bowling figures

BowlerFiguresOversAgainstDate
HMRKB Herath Sri Lanka7/4821India12 Aug 2015
NGRP Jayasuriya Sri Lanka7/5223Ireland16 Apr 2023
Yasir Shah Pakistan7/7630.1Sri Lanka17 Jun 2015
L Embuldeniya Sri Lanka7/13742England22 Jan 2021
MDK Perera Sri Lanka6/3214South Africa12 Jul 2018

Highest Test Totals at the Galle Cricket Stadium

TeamTotalOversAgainstVenueDate
Sri Lanka704/3151IrelandGalle International Stadium, Galle24 Apr 2023
Australia654/6154Sri LankaGalle International Stadium, Galle29 Jan 2025
Bangladesh638196Sri LankaGalle International Stadium, Galle8 Mar 2013
Sri Lanka602/5163.4New ZealandGalle International Stadium, Galle26 Sep 2024
India600133.1Sri LankaGalle International Stadium, Galle26 Jul 2017

Lowest all-out totals

TeamTotalOversAgainstVenueDate
South Africa7328.5Sri LankaGalle International Stadium, Galle12 Jul 2018
England8130.5Sri LankaGalle International Stadium, Galle18 Dec 2007
New Zealand8839.5Sri LankaGalle International Stadium, Galle26 Sep 2024
Pakistan10054.3Sri LankaGalle International Stadium, Galle22 Jun 2012
Sri Lanka10550AustraliaGalle International Stadium, Galle31 Aug 2011

Galle International Stadium ODIs records

ODIs in this record book: 2, from Jun 2017 to Jul 2017.

Most runs

BatterMInnsRunsHSAvgSR100s50s
WU Tharanga Sri Lanka2215479*–96.8602
SF Mire Zimbabwe2211211256.00110.8910
BKG Mendis Sri Lanka22868643.00106.1701
MN Waller Zimbabwe227840*78.00134.4800
SC Williams Zimbabwe22786539.0088.6401
Sikandar Raza Zimbabwe227567*75.00102.7401
AD Mathews Sri Lanka22714371.00109.2300
MD Gunathilaka Sri Lanka22686034.0080.9501
H Masakadza Zimbabwe22464123.0065.7100
N Dickwella Sri Lanka22453522.5067.1600

Most wickets

BowlerMInnsWktsBestAvgEcon5w
PADLR Sandakan Sri Lanka1144/5213.005.200
TL Chatara Zimbabwe2242/3320.505.860
PWH de Silva Sri Lanka1133/155.005.620
DAS Gunaratne Sri Lanka2232/4520.005.000
AG Cremer Zimbabwe2221/4651.505.370
MD Gunathilaka Sri Lanka2211/922.007.330
SF Mire Zimbabwe1111/4747.006.710
A Dananjaya Sri Lanka1111/6161.006.100
SL Malinga Sri Lanka2211/5168.005.670
N Pradeep Sri Lanka2211/1870.004.380

Highest individual scores

BatterScoreBalls4s6sAgainstDate
SF Mire Zimbabwe11296140Sri Lanka30 Jun 2017
BKG Mendis Sri Lanka868091Zimbabwe30 Jun 2017
WU Tharanga Sri Lanka79*7381Zimbabwe30 Jun 2017
WU Tharanga Sri Lanka75*8680Zimbabwe2 Jul 2017
Sikandar Raza Zimbabwe67*5671Sri Lanka30 Jun 2017

Best bowling figures

BowlerFiguresOversAgainstDate
PADLR Sandakan Sri Lanka4/5210Zimbabwe2 Jul 2017
PWH de Silva Sri Lanka3/152.4Zimbabwe2 Jul 2017
TL Chatara Zimbabwe2/335Sri Lanka2 Jul 2017
DAS Gunaratne Sri Lanka2/457Zimbabwe30 Jun 2017
TL Chatara Zimbabwe2/499Sri Lanka30 Jun 2017

Galle Cricket Stadium Highest Score in ODIs

TeamTotalOversAgainstVenueDate
Zimbabwe322/447.4Sri LankaGalle International Stadium, Galle30 Jun 2017
Sri Lanka316/550ZimbabweGalle International Stadium, Galle30 Jun 2017
Sri Lanka158/330.1ZimbabweGalle International Stadium, Galle2 Jul 2017
Zimbabwe15533.4Sri LankaGalle International Stadium, Galle2 Jul 2017

Lowest all-out totals

TeamTotalOversAgainstVenueDate
Zimbabwe15533.4Sri LankaGalle International Stadium, Galle2 Jul 2017

Galle International Stadium ODIs (women) records

ODIs in this record book: 5, from Sep 2018 to Jul 2023.

Most runs

BatterMInnsRunsHSAvgSR100s50s
AC Jayangani Sri Lanka55338140*112.6796.0221
SFM Devine New Zealand3319413797.00106.0110
AC Kerr New Zealand3316710855.6786.5310
SW Bates New Zealand339263*46.0069.7001
S Mandhana India228773*87.0096.6701

Most wickets

BowlerMInnsWktsBestAvgEcon5w
M Joshi India2253/1613.004.590
LMM Tahuhu New Zealand3354/3117.204.780
OU Ranasinghe Sri Lanka3343/6830.506.100
KDU Prabodhani Sri Lanka5542/3839.004.460
I Ranaweera Sri Lanka5541/544.005.870

Highest individual scores

BatterScoreBalls4s6sAgainstDate
AC Jayangani Sri Lanka140*80139New Zealand3 Jul 2023
SFM Devine New Zealand137121172Sri Lanka30 Jun 2023
AC Jayangani Sri Lanka108*83105New Zealand27 Jun 2023
AC Kerr New Zealand10810671Sri Lanka30 Jun 2023
WK Dilhari Sri Lanka849890New Zealand30 Jun 2023

Best bowling figures

BowlerFiguresOversAgainstDate
LMM Tahuhu New Zealand4/318Sri Lanka30 Jun 2023
M Joshi India3/166.1Sri Lanka11 Sep 2018
AC Jayangani Sri Lanka3/428India13 Sep 2018
OU Ranasinghe Sri Lanka3/6810New Zealand30 Jun 2023
J Goswami India2/138Sri Lanka11 Sep 2018

Highest totals

TeamTotalOversAgainstVenueDate
New Zealand329/750Sri LankaGalle International Stadium, Galle30 Jun 2023
India21950Sri LankaGalle International Stadium, Galle13 Sep 2018
Sri Lanka21248.1IndiaGalle International Stadium, Galle13 Sep 2018
Sri Lanka20848.4New ZealandGalle International Stadium, Galle30 Jun 2023
Sri Lanka196/226.5New ZealandGalle International Stadium, Galle3 Jul 2023

Galle International Stadium T20Is (women) records

T20Is in this record book: 12, from Sep 2012 to Oct 2012.

Most runs

BatterMInnsRunsHSAvgSR100s50s
CM Edwards England3311150*55.5092.5001
LA Marsh England331015433.67126.2501
SJ Taylor England339865*98.00122.5001
JE Cameron Australia33954247.50126.6700
MM Lanning Australia33943931.3390.3800

Most wickets

BowlerMInnsWktsBestAvgEcon5w
SR Taylor West Indies3363/107.174.300
EM Bermingham New Zealand3362/1810.835.910
HL Colvin England3354/914.606.260
I Ranaweera Sri Lanka3342/99.754.880
D van Niekerk South Africa3342/911.255.000

Highest individual scores

BatterScoreBalls4s6sAgainstDate
SJ Taylor England65*5380Australia1 Oct 2012
SFM Devine New Zealand594653South Africa28 Sep 2012
DJS Dottin West Indies58*4262New Zealand26 Sep 2012
LA Marsh England544172Pakistan27 Sep 2012
PG Raut India515760England29 Sep 2012

Best bowling figures

BowlerFiguresOversAgainstDate
HL Colvin England4/93.4Pakistan27 Sep 2012
SR Taylor West Indies3/104South Africa30 Sep 2012
Nida Dar Pakistan3/124India1 Oct 2012
EA Osborne Australia3/133India27 Sep 2012
NJ Browne New Zealand3/134South Africa28 Sep 2012

Highest totals

TeamTotalOversAgainstVenueDate
New Zealand151/520South AfricaGalle International Stadium, Galle28 Sep 2012
Australia146/520PakistanGalle International Stadium, Galle29 Sep 2012
England146/318.1AustraliaGalle International Stadium, Galle1 Oct 2012
Australia144/520EnglandGalle International Stadium, Galle1 Oct 2012
England133/620PakistanGalle International Stadium, Galle27 Sep 2012

Team results at Galle International Stadium (men, all formats)

TeamMatchesWonLostDrawnTied/NR
Sri Lanka42221640
Australia75200
Pakistan73400
England53110
India53200
New Zealand50500
West Indies40310
Bangladesh30120
Ireland20200
South Africa21100

Latest matches at Galle International Stadium

MatchDateVenueResult
India v Sri Lanka15 Aug 2026Galle International Stadium, GalleIndia won by 165 runs
Bangladesh v Sri Lanka17 Jun 2025Galle International Stadium, GalleDrawn
Sri Lanka v Australia6 Feb 2025Galle International Stadium, GalleAustralia won by 9 wickets
Australia v Sri Lanka29 Jan 2025Galle International Stadium, GalleAustralia won by an innings and 242 runs
Sri Lanka v New Zealand26 Sep 2024Galle International Stadium, GalleSri Lanka won by an innings and 154 runs
Sri Lanka v New Zealand18 Sep 2024Galle International Stadium, GalleSri Lanka won by 63 runs
Sri Lanka v Pakistan16 Jul 2023Galle International Stadium, GallePakistan won by 4 wickets
New Zealand v Sri Lanka3 Jul 2023Galle International Stadium, GalleSri Lanka won by 8 wickets (DLS)
New Zealand v Sri Lanka30 Jun 2023Galle International Stadium, GalleNew Zealand won by 116 runs
New Zealand v Sri Lanka27 Jun 2023Galle International Stadium, GalleSri Lanka won by 9 wickets (DLS)

Leading Run Scorers and Wicket Takers at Galle

Spin bowlers dominate the wicket list. Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka) took 98 Test wickets here at 23.80, including 9 five-fors; his best was 7/48 against India in Aug 2015. Prabath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) has 88 in just 12 Tests. Nathan Lyon (Australia) is the leading visitor with 35.

Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) has made 2,253 Test runs here in 59 innings, more than anyone. The highest score is Chris Gayle’s 333 for West Indies in Nov 2010. Sri Lanka’s 704/3 against Ireland in Apr 2023 is the top total, the match in which Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka) made 245. Usman Khawaja (Australia) hit 232 in Jan 2025, when his side reached 654/6.

Sri Lanka have played 42 internationals here, winning 22 and losing 16, with 4 draws. In women’s ODIs, AC Jayangani (Sri Lanka) has 338 runs at 112.67, including 140* from 80 deliveries against New Zealand in Jul 2023.

See the Sri Lanka team page, or compare the SSC in Colombo, Pallekele and the R Premadasa Stadium.

Questions about Galle International Stadium

Is the Galle International Stadium pitch good for batting or bowling?

Galle favours whoever bats early: Test first innings average 383. Bowlers, and spinners above all, take over later, with the fourth innings averaging 165. Herath’s 98 wickets and Jayasuriya’s 88 show who has done best.

What is the highest score at Galle International Stadium?

The best individual innings is Chris Gayle’s 333 for West Indies against Sri Lanka in Nov 2010. Sri Lanka’s 704/3 against Ireland in Apr 2023 is the top team total.

Is Galle good for batting first or chasing?

In Tests, bat first. Toss winners have batted 48 times and fielded 11, and the fourth innings averages only 165. The highest successful fourth-innings chase is 344.

Which bowler leads the Galle wicket list?

Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka, 98 Test wickets at 23.80. His countryman Prabath Jayasuriya is next on 88.

What was the latest Test at Galle?

India’s Test against Sri Lanka from 15 Aug 2026, won by India by 165 runs. Before that, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh drew a Test here in Jun 2025.

Source: ball-by-ball match data from Cricsheet.org (ODC-BY). See how we compile these records.