The Kingsmead Stadium hosted an international cricket match for the first time in 1923 and since then, it has been one of South Africa’s major cricketing destinations.

Also known as Sahara Stadium, It hosted its first T20 international game at the ICC T20 World Cup 2007, when New Zealand locked horns with Kenya in a group match which the Kiwis won by nine wickets.

The pace-friendly ground is situated on the bay of the Indian Ocean, the heavy winds help fast bowlers with their swing. However, since the inception of T20s, some of the highest-scoring games in the country have also been played at the Kingsmead.

To date, this cricket ground has hosted almost 20 T20Is. Let’s look at the Kingsmead Stadium T20I records and stats.

Kingsmead Stadium T20I records and stats

Most runs

Australian all-rounder, Mitchell Marsh holds the record for scoring the most runs at the Kingsmead Stadium in T20I cricket. The Perth-born batter has amassed 221 runs in four innings at an impressive average of 110.50.

The hard hitter has smacked two fifties at the Kingsmead Stadium, with his highest score being a 49-ball 92 not out against South Africa in 2023. His knock helped Australia register a comfortable 111-run win.  

Most wickets

South African all-rounder, David Wiese has the record for the most T20I wickets at the Kingsmead Stadium. The pacer scalped nine wickets in three innings at an impressive average of 7. 

In 2015, Wiese returned with figures of 5/23 against West Indies, making it the best T20I figures at the venue. 

Highest individual score

South Africa opener Morne van Wyk holds the record for registering the highest individual score at the Kingsmead Stadium. He smashed 114* off 70 balls during the third T20I of the West Indies tour of South Africa in 2015.

Van Wyk’s match-winning knock included nine fours and seven sixes. The Proteas won the game by 69 runs to grab a consolation win in the three-match T20I series. 

Best bowling figures

Protea all-rounder David Wiese’s 5/23 against West Indies is the best bowling figures recorded at this iconic venue in the T20I format. 

The speedster picked up five wickets for 23 runs from his four overs in the third T20I of the West Indies tour of South Africa in 2015. 

Wiese’s brilliant spell helped South Africa win the game by 69 runs as they successfully restricted West Indies to win the final game of the three-match series, which they won 2-1.

Highest team total

Australia rode on half-centuries from Mitchell Marsh (92*) and Tim David (64) to post a mammoth total of 226/6 against South Africa at the Kingsmead Stadium in 2023. 

It is the highest team total in T20Is at this venue and helped the visitors win the first T20I of the three-match series by 111 runs.

Lowest team total

In the Group C match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2007, Kenya were bundled out for 73 runs by New Zealand. Mark Gillespie’s valiant 4-fer reduced Kenya to a below-par total. 

This is the lowest team total in T20Is at the Kingsmead Stadium and the Kiwis went on to win the game by nine wickets in their tournament opener.

Highest partnership

India’s Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir added 136 runs for the opening wicket against England in the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 Group E match. 

This remains only the third instance when a batting pair added 100 or more T20I runs together at the venue. India went on to post 218/4 and the Men in Blue won the game by 18 runs.

Photo credit: Alamy