The McLean Park, one of the largest sports stadiums in New Zealand, is located in Napier.
Built in accordance with international standards, the stadium is divided into two parts - the main outdoor stadium and the indoor Rodney Green Centennial Events Centre.
Although the venue has hosted several Test matches, it is deemed best for limited-overs matches courtesy of its square dimensions, which allows the batters to score at a faster rate in the powerplay overs.
In New Zealand’s domestic cricket scene, McLean Park is home to the Central Districts cricket team, who are 11-time Plunket Shield and six-time Ford Trophy winners. Central Districts have also won three Men's Super Smash titles.
Apart from cricket, the stadium also hosts Rugby Union and Rugby League games and is home to the Hawkes Bay Magpies rugby team.
The McLean Park hosted its first-ever international cricket game in February 1979, a Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan. The match ended in a stalemate following five enthralling days.
The first ODI to be played on this ground was the second ODI of the Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand in 1983. The hosts won the match by seven wickets.
The venue has hosted four T20Is so far. Here’s a look at the T20I records at McLean Park.
McLean Park T20I records
Highest total: The highest total in a T20I match at McLean Park is 241/3 made by England in the fourth T20I of the England tour of New Zealand 2019.
Middle-order batter Dawid Malan’s ton and skipper Eoin Morgan’s half-century helped the visitors post a daunting total of 241/3. In reply, a combined bowling effort from the Englishmen bundled out the Kiwis for 165.
Lowest total: The lowest total recorded in a T20I match at McLean Park is 141/8 made by Bangladesh against New Zealand in January 2017.
A disciplined bowling performance by the hosts saw debutants Lockie Ferguson and Ben Wheeler scalp 3/32 and 2/22 to restrict Bangladesh to a mere 141/8, which the hosts chased down comfortably with two overs to spare.
Highest individual score: England batter Dawid Malan holds the record for the highest individual score in a T20I at McLean Park.
He scored a scintillating 51-ball 103 against the Kiwis in the fourth T20I of the England tour of New Zealand 2019. The knock, played at a fantastic strike rate of 201.96, featured nine fours and six maximums.
Interestingly, Malan is the only player to register a century at this stadium.
Eoin Morgan’s 41-ball 91 in the same match is the second-highest individual T20I score at the venue, behind his compatriot.
Best bowling: England spinner Matt Parkinson holds the record for best bowling figures in a T20I match at McLean Park.
In the same encounter where Dawid Malan smashed a century to guide visitors to 241/3, Parkinson’s spell of 4/47 in the second innings ensured an easy 76-run victory for the Englishmen.
Highest partnership: The English pair of Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan holds the record for the highest partnership of 182 runs at this venue.
It is also the only century stand in international cricket recorded at the stadium in the 20-over format.
In the fourth T20I of the England tour of New Zealand 2019, the visitors posted a challenging total of 241/3 in their quota of 20 overs, thanks to a massive 182-run stand between Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan.
Thereafter, the total was defended with ease as England won the match by 76 runs.
Featured photo: AFP
