Our first destination in Sri Lanka was Bentota, known for its tropical surroundings on the Indian Ocean. But beyond the plush resorts nestled on pristine beaches, one of the must-see places to visit was nearby Galle. The draw in Galle was the 17th-Century Dutch fort that is now a UNESCO heritage site. But what got us really excited was that our day trip coincided with the first day of the recent November 2010 Test match between Sri Lanka and West Indies. “We must watch the match at the stadium,” we said in agreement, (for God knows how long it will be before we get to see an international match in our country).

Little did we know that we didn’t need to go to the stadium or pay for the ticket to watch the match. The Galle Fort and the cricket stadium are opposite each other. And that’s not all. The fort’s clock tower grounds directly overlook the stadium. Climb up between the stone parapets and you are seated in one of the best spots at about a 20-degree angle to the pitch: there are clear views of the pitch and stadium and you are near enough to hear the commentary clearly and view the scoreboard and giant telescreen.

Window of opportunity: Climb through the parapets at Galle Fort for a clear view of the cricket stadium. Photo: Farieha Aziz

We happened to be watching just as Chris Gayle completed his half century. We couldn’t have asked for better!