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The Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test series will be held at the Galle International Stadium, starting tomorrow morning (September 18). It is a two-match series, with the second Test scheduled to be held from September 26 to 30.
The pitch in Galle generally helps the batters and the spinners. Fans have witnessed some high-scoring Test matches at the venue, and the upcoming Test should follow a similar trend as well.
Before the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test series starts, here's a quick look at the Galle International Stadium's pitch history and Test records.
Galle International Stadium Test records
Galle has hosted 44 Tests so far, with Sri Lanka having a decent win-loss record of 25-13. Only six out of the 44 Tests played on this ground have ended in a draw.
Last year, when Ireland visited Galle for a Test against Sri Lanka, the home side aggregated 704 runs for the loss of just three wickets. It shows how good the surface is for batting.
Here are some other stats to know from previous Tests hosted by Galle:
Matches played: 44
Won by teams batting first: 23
Won by teams batting second: 15
Drawn: 6
Highest team total: 704/3 dec - Sri Lanka vs Ireland, 2023
Lowest team total: 73 - South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2018
Highest successful run-chase: 344/6 - Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2022
Average first innings score: 365
Galle International Stadium pitch report
The wicket in Galle generally helps the batters and slower bowlers. Back in 2010, Chris Gayle smashed a triple century at this venue, while left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya bagged a seven-wicket haul in a Test against Ireland on this ground.
Considering the success that teams batting first have achieved at this venue, the captain winning the toss should look to bat first. However, it is pertinent to note that Pakistan chased down a massive 342-run target in the fourth innings of the Galle Test in 2022.
Galle International Stadium last Test
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by four wickets in the previous Test hosted by this venue in 2023. Saud Shakeel's unbeaten knock of 208 runs in the first innings helped the visitors gain a 139-run lead after Sri Lanka scored 312.
Despite Dhananjaya de Silva's 82-run knock in the second innings, Sri Lanka only managed to set a 131-run target for Pakistan, which the visitors chased down with four wickets in hand.
Here's a brief summary of the scorecard:
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 312 (Dhananjaya de Silva 122, Abrar Ahmed 3/68) & 279 (Dhananjaya de Silva 82, Abrar Ahmed 3/68) lost to Pakistan 461 (Saud Shakeel 208*, Ramesh Mendis 5/136) & 133/6 (Imam-ul-Haq 50*, Prabath Jayasuriya 4/56) by 4 wickets.
