Sahara Park Willowmoore Stadium is a multipurpose cricket ground that’s located in Benoni, South Africa.
Established in 1924, it has the capacity to accommodate 20,000 spectators and a state-of-the-art new sub-surface.
This ground also installed a ring drainage system on the playing area recently and three new pitches were also laid to improve ground consistency.
It is the home ground for Easterns Cricket and the South Africa men’s cricket team. The first ODI at this venue was contested between India and Zimbabwe in 1997 with the Men in Blue winning the contest by six wickets.
This ground also hosted two ODIs during the 2003 50-over World Cup in South Africa. There have been a total of 20 ODIs that have been played on this ground so far with the side batting first winning seven times and the team batting second emerging on top on 13 occasions.
South Africa has played in nine matches at this venue, winning eight times and losing just once.
With that said, here’s a closer look at some of the key ODI stats and records from Sahara Park Willowmoore Stadium in Benoni.
Willowmoore Park ODI records and stats
Highest team total
The highest team total at Sahara Park Willowmoore Stadium was made by South Africa against Zimbabwe in 2010. In the final match of a three-match series against the Chevrons, the Proteas posted 399/6 after electing to bat first. Hundreds from Jean-Paul Duminy and AB de Villiers guided South Africa to such a huge total and eventually helped the hosts to a massive 272-run win after bowling out Zimbabwe for 127.
Lowest team total
The lowest total at this venue was scored by Netherlands against Bermuda in the sixth match of a tri-series in 2006. The Dutch were bowled out for 91 with just four of their players making it to double digits. In reply, Bermuda chased won the 92-run target in 17 overs to register a six-wicket win over the Netherlands.
Most runs
AB de Villiers has scored more ODI runs than any other player at this venue. Mr. 360, as he was fondly known during his playing days, accumulated 309 runs in four 50-over innings. He got his runs at an average of 154.50 as well as a strike rate of 107.29. De Villiers struck 21 fours and 11 sixes while batting on this ground.
Most wickets
Canadian bowler Umar Bhatti has taken the most wickets at this venue. He has accounted for nine scalps from four innings at an average of 12.22 and an economy of 2.97 on this ground. Bhatti also boasts best figures of 3/28 at Willowmoore Park.
Highest individual score
The highest individual score in ODIs on this ground was made by South Africa’s Hashim Amla against Bangladesh during the second game of a three-match bilateral series between these sides. Amla struck eight four and four sixes en route to a 135-ball 140. His knock helped the Proteas post 358/4 and register a 128-run win.
Best bowling figures
Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan boasts the best bowling figures at this venue. In the seventh match of the 1998 Standard Bank International One-Day Series, the legendary spinner completely bamboozled Pakistan’s players and led his team to a win. Defending a target of 289, Muralitharan took the game by the scruff of the neck and dismantled Pakistan to finish with figures of 5/23 in 9.2 overs and give the Lankans a 115-run win.
Highest partnership
The same game that witnessed South Africa score the highest team total o this ground also saw AB de Villiers and Jean-Paul Duminy combine to put on the highest partnership in ODIs at this venue. De Villiers scored 109 and Duminy was dismissed after making 129 as the duo put on 219 for the third wicket to play their part in a 272-run win for South Africa.
Photo Credit: Alamy
