The Sinhalese Sports Club ground is having a big moment right now. And predictably, in line with its reputation as the poshest cricketing spot in Colombo, it is trying to sell itself as the Lord’s of Sri Lanka.

It’s a weird sell. And a strange flex. Get up into the rafters of the tallest buildings at the SSC and watch a spectacular tropical sunset come to life as the brand-new floodlights flick on. Get down into the depths of the members’ stand and sip some arrack and ginger beer at exceedingly reasonable prices (so long as you’re drinking with a member, which is not hard to do – they tend to be pretty chill). There is almost no comparison to Lord’s.

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And beyond this, where Lord’s does not admit so much as the Barmy Army bugle guy, this is the international venue at which you can most reliably find a crowd partying to papare, which requires brass instruments.

Be kinder to yourself, SSC. Aim higher with the self-promotion. Lord’s is the SSC of St. John’s Wood.

The venue is now about to see its first match under lights. The floodlight towers have not come at the expense of the grass banks, which are vital to the ground’s laidback character. It still feels like a boutique venue like Wellington’ Basin Reserve, which has comparable gravitas. And yet, unlike the Basin, the SSC has pulled off floodlights and World Cup matches in the 21st century. You gotta respect the hustle.

At this T20 World Cup there have been two matches at the ground already. Both have favoured seam bowlers, with Zimbabwe’s quicks taking nine wickets in the match against Oman on Monday.

Pakistan celebrate after Salman Mirza picked up the first wicket AFP/Getty Images

Salman Mirza was Pakistan‘s best seamer in their first match, on a slighly grassy surface that Netherlands’ quicks also thrived on. On the eve of Pakistan’s second match, against USA, he felt there was life here to exploit. Under lights, Sri Lankan pitches tend to nip a bit for the quicks, early in the innings.

“It’s the first game under lights here, so we can’t decide anything yet,” Mirza said. “We can’t decide on the conditions yet. When we’re in the field, we’ll get a clearer picture.

“When the match is played at night, the fast bowlers get a little help. But what the conditions will be tomorrow – where there will be dew or not – can only be seen in the night.”

We are stepping into the unknown on Tuesday night. There are no numbers on any database on how the SSC pitch behaves at night in a T20 game. And yet, the SSC’s brand has always been uncomplicated fun.

Slightly weird fun, maybe. The place is colonialism, plus local elite poshness, plus wonderful cricket, plus the SLC offices being situated in the side building. You can have reservations about it. But the vibes have always been undeniable.

Additionally, this is the club of Arjuna Ranatunga, who was once viewed by the poshest types as a low-quality interloper, only for him to transform Sri Lankan cricket beyond recognition. The SSC’s history is glorious, confusing, and at times contradictory, just like the history of the wondrously cricket-rich city it is situated in.

For Pakistan, it is another banana-skin game. They need to beat USA to make sure qualification for the Super Eights doesn’t get too complicated. For the venue, and for Sri Lankan cricket (which can perhaps dream of a day-night Test here too), it is the beginning of a new reality.