Sabina Park, Kingston is a picturesque cricket ground located in Jamaica.
Established in 1895, the Sabina Park, Kingston was one of the hardest and fastest pitches in the Caribbean for several years. In recent years, Sabina Park has slowed down even after attempts were made to restore life by relaying it on more than one occasion.
It is the home of the Kingston Cricket Club and the West Indies cricket team at international level.
Sabina Park has a spectacular backdrop with the Blue Mountains to the north, facing the George Headley Stand, with Kingston Harbour to the south. This beautiful view is currently blocked by the Northern Stand, built as part of the ground's redevelopment for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
It staged its first international cricket match, a Test played between hosts West Indies and England in April 1930. The Test match ended in a draw.
In April 1984, Sabina Park later hosted its first One-Day International (ODI) between West Indies and Australia. Led by Viv Richards, the hosts won the ODI by nine wickets.
After almost three decades in 2014, Sabina Park staged its first T20 international played between West Indies and Ireland. The Carlos Brathwaite-led West Indies won the game by six wickets.
Since then, it has hosted six T20 internationals so far. Let’s have a look at Sabina Park, Kingston T20 records and stats:
Sabina Park, Kingston T20 records and stats
Highest total
The New Zealand cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Sabina Park, Kingston in T20 international cricket. During the second T20I of New Zealand’s tour of the West Indies in August 2022, the Kane Williamson-led visitors posted 215/5 in their 20 overs. Electing to bat first, New Zealand rode on Glenn Phillips’ 76 off 41 balls
along with contributions from Daryl Mitchell (48) and Devon Conway (42) to post a record T20 total at the venue. In reply, West Indies could only manage 125/9 in their allotted overs as New Zealand won the game by 90 runs. The visitors clinched the three-match T20I series 2-1 in Kingston.
Lowest total
The Ireland cricket team registered the lowest total at the Sabina Park, Kingston in the T20 format. Ireland were restricted to 85/8 in their 20 overs while chasing West Indies’ 96/9 in a low-scoring encounter in Kingston in February 2014. Chasing 97, Ireland lost wickets at regular intervals as they fell short by 11 runs. Wicketkeeper-batter Gary Wilson top-scored for Ireland with 35. For West Indies, captain Daren Sammy was the wrecker-in-chief with three wickets for just 22 runs in his quota of four overs. With the win, West Indies levelled the two-match T20I series 1-1.
Most runs
New Zealand cricketer Glenn Phillips has the most runs at the venue in T20 international cricket. The swashbuckling right-handed batter has scored 134 runs in three T20I matches at an average of 44.66 and a strike rate of 171.79. He has also slammed one T20I fifty at this venue. West Indies opening batter Evin Lewis features second on the list with 125 runs in a solitary knock that he played at this ground against India in 2017.
Most wickets
West Indies bowling all-rounder Odean Smith has picked up the most wickets at this cricket ground in the T20I format. The right-arm medium pacer bagged seven wickets in three T20I matches at an average of 13 and an economy of 8.27. Odean Smith has a best T20I bowling figures of 3/29 against New Zealand at this venue in 2022. Ireland’s Alex Cusack and New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner share the second spot with six scalps each.
Highest individual score
Flamboyant West Indies cricketer Evin Lewis holds the record for the highest individual score at the Sabina Park, Kingston in T20 international cricket. Opening the batting, Evin Lewis slammed an unbeaten 125-run knock off just 62 balls against India in the only T20I of the series in July 2017. His blitzkrieg knock was laced with six fours and 12 maximums to help West Indies chase down India’s 190/6 in 18.3 overs. Evin Lewis’ scintillating knock guided the hosts to a nine-wicket win in Kingston.
Best bowling figures
Former Ireland cricketer Alex Cusack registered the best bowling figures at this venue in the T20 format. The right-arm pacer registered impressive figures of 4-1-11-4 against hosts West Indies in the second T20I in February 2014. Alex Cusack dismissed Dwayne Smith, Andre Fletcher, wicketkeeper-batter Denesh Ramdin and Samuel Badree to restrict West Indies to 96/9 in their 20 overs. Despite Cusack’s brilliant spell, Ireland lost the game by 11 runs.
Highest partnership
West Indies duo Evin Lewis and Marlon Samuels hold the record for the highest partnership at the Sabina Park, Kingston in T20I cricket. Evin Lewis and Marlon Samuels stitched an unbeaten 112-run partnership for the second wicket against India in a T20I in 2017. Chasing 191, Lewis scored 125 not out while Samuels remained unbeaten on 36 to help West Indies chase down the target in 18.3 overs and secure a dominating nine-wicket victory in Kingston.
Photo credit: Alamy
