The Brian Lara Cricket Academy multi-purpose stadium in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago was established and inaugurated in 2017.
With a capacity of 15,000 spectators, the venue was selected as the host for the final matches of the 2017 Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Only 30 T20 matches have been played at Brian Lara Cricket Academy to date.
Of those 30 encounters, teams batting first have come out on top on 13 occasions, while teams batting second have won the match 17 times.
Given the success of the 2017 Caribbean Premier League, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago purchased the rights to host the CPL finals from 2018 through 2020. Hence, the last CPL T20 match played at Brian Lara Cricket Academy was the final of the 2020 edition.
Incidentally, despite being used heavily in the domestic circuit and in other formats, the Brian Lara Cricket Academy has never hosted a T20I match, up until a match between India and West Indies on July 29, 2022. Here are some of the T20 records from the stadium.
Brian Lara Cricket Academy T20 records
Highest team total: In August 2020, playing in the 9th match of CPL 2020, Trinbago Knight Riders rode on Kieron Pollard’s 17-ball 41 and half-centuries from Colin Munro and Darren Bravo to post 185/3 in 20 overs. This remains the highest team total in T20 cricket at this venue.
Lowest team total: Up against St Lucia Zouks in the second semi-final of CPL 2020, Guyana Amazon Warriors were bundled out for a mere 55 runs inside 14 overs. As many as five players departed without opening their account and just three players could score runs in double figures. In response, Lucia Zouks reached their target in 4.3 overs to win the match by 10 wickets. The 55 runs scored by Guyana Amazon Warriors is the lowest team total at Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
Highest individual score: The 23rd match of CPL 2020 saw Lendl Simmons in full flourish. The Trinbago Knight Riders’ opener scored 93 runs off 63 balls to help his side post 174/4 in 20 overs. His innings included seven fours as well as six sixes and is the highest individual score at the venue.
Best bowling figures: Afghanistan bowler Naveen-ul-Haq boasts the best bowling figures at Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Against Barbados Tridents in CPL 2020, he ended with figures of 4/14. His four-wicket haul helped Guyana Amazon Warriors restrict their opponent to just 92. The Warriors won the match by eight wickets with 20 balls remaining.
Highest partnership: The highest partnership in T20 cricket at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy came in the CPL 2020 final. Chasing a target of 155 against St Lucia Zouks, the pair of Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo combined for a partnership of 138* runs to guide Trinbago Knight Riders to glo
Most runs: New Zealand batter Colin Munro holds the record for scoring the most runs at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Playing for Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL, the hard-hitting batter has so far tallied 394 runs at the venue.
Most wickets: New Zealand’s Scott Kuggeleijn has scalped the most wickets at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Kuggeleijn, who played for St Lucia Zouks, has scalped 16 wickets at this venue.
Featured photo: Unsplash / Kalai Venthan Gopal
