The Kensington Oval is an iconic cricket ground located to the west of Bridgetown on the island of Barbados.
Established in 1871, the Kensington Oval is one of the oldest cricketing venues in the Caribbean and has a seating capacity of 28,000.
The Barbados cricket stadium has staged several local, regional and international cricket matches. It was one of the venues for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 held in the Caribbean.
The Kensington Oval hosted its first One-Day International (ODI) between West Indies and New Zealand on April 23, 1985. The hosts won the first-ever ODI at the venue by 112 runs. Since then, it has staged almost 50 ODIs so far.
Let’s have a look at Kensington Oval ODI records and stats:
Kensington Oval ODI records and stats
Highest team total
The England cricket team holds the record for the highest team total at Kensington Oval in ODI cricket. During England’s tour of West Indies in 2019, the visitors ended up with 364/4 while chasing 361 in the opening match of a five-match series. Electing to bat first, West Indies posted 360/8 in their allotted 50 overs. Later, England rode on Jason Roy’s 85-ball 123 and Joe Root’s 102 to chase down the massive total in 48.4 overs and register a brilliant six-wicket win. The five-match ODI series ended 2-2.
Lowest team total
The Ireland cricket team recorded the lowest team total at Kensington Oval in 50-over cricket. Ireland was bowled out for 91 against Australia during an ICC World Cup Super Eight clash in 2007. After opting to bowl first, Glenn McGrath and Shaun Tait bagged three wickets each to help bundle out the Irish side for a paltry total. For Ireland, Kevin O’Brien (16), Trent Johnston (17) and John Mooney (23) were the only three batters to manage double digit scores. Australia later chased down the required target in 12.2 overs to secure a comprehensive nine-wicket victory.
Most runs
Former West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle has scored the most runs at this venue in ODI format. Between 2000 and 2019, the flamboyant left-handed batter amassed 688 runs in 13 matches at an average of 52.92 and a strike rate of 91.12. He slammed two hundreds and four fifties at Kensington Oval in ODI cricket. Legendary West Indies batter Brian Lara is second on the list for most runs at this venue with 566 runs in 13 matches.
Most wickets
West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has picked up the most ODI wickets at this iconic ground. The right-arm pacer has already scalped 23 wickets in just nine ODIs at an average of 16.39 and an economy of 4.80. He has claimed three four-wicket hauls between 2017 and 2022. Former West Indies captain Jason Holder features second on the list with 19 wickets in 12 matches.
Highest individual score
Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist registered the highest individual score at Kensington Oval in ODI cricket. The swashbuckling southpaw smashed 149 off just 104 balls against Sri Lanka during the ICC World Cup final in 2007. His scintillating knock was laced with 13 fours and eight sixes. His match-innings helped Australia beat Sri Lanka by 53 runs (D/S method) in a rain-curtailed match to clinch the ICC World Cup 2007.
Best bowling figures
Former South Africa cricketer Andrew Hall recorded the best bowling figures at Kensington Oval in the ODI format. During an ICC World Cup Super Eight encounter in 2007, Andrew Hall finished with figures of 5/18 from his allotted 10 overs against England in Bridgetown, Barbados. The medium pacer’s outstanding spell helped South Africa bundle out England, who had opted to bat first, for 154 in 48 overs. South Africa won the ICC World Cup 2007 clash by nine wickets.
Highest partnership
Ex-West Indies cricketers Stuart Williams and Shivnarine Chanderpaul hold the record for the highest partnership at Kensington Oval in the 50-over format. In the final ODI of a fourth-match series between West Indies and India in 1997, Stuart Williams and Shivnarine Chanderpaul forged an unbeaten 200-run stand for the opening wicket against India to guide the hosts to a dominant 10-wicket win. Chasing 200, Chanderpaul remained unbeaten on 109 while Williams was 78 not out to chase down the target in 44.4 overs.
Photo credit: Alamy
