Established in 1900, the Harare Sports Club Cricket Ground is a stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The Harare Sports Club Cricket Ground is Zimbabwe's first active cricket venue since 1992 and is predominantly the primary ground for all its scheduled events.
Until 1982, the ground was known as Salisbury Sports Club when the capital city of Harare was named Salisbury.
The Harare Sports Club Cricket Ground, owned and operated by the Zimbabwe Cricket Board, serves as the home of the Zimbabwe Cricket Team and the Mashonaland Eagles.
Harare Sports Club Cricket Ground has a seating capacity of 10,000. It also hosts events for sports like rugby, tennis, golf and squash.
Since it opened its doors, the Harare Sports Club Cricket Ground has hosted 39 Test matches, 142 ODIs and 32 T20Is.
The Indian cricket team has played 21 ODIs at Harare, winning 16 while suffering five defeats. India have also featured in four Tests and seven T20I encounters at this venue.
Here, we look at some ODI records and stats at the Harare Sports Club Cricket Ground.
Harare Sports Club ODI records and stats
Highest team total: The Australia cricket team holds the record for the highest team total in ODI cricket at the Harare Sports Club Cricket Ground. During a 2015 Triangular series, Australia posted 350/6 in their allotted 50 overs against Zimbabwe. In reply, Zimbabwe could only manage 152 as Australia won the tie by 198 runs.
Lowest team total: The Zimbabwe cricket team registered the lowest ODI total at Harare in 2004. Put to bat first, Zimbabwe were bundled out for 35 in 18 overs, with Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas picking up four wickets. The Lankans chased the target down in 9.2 overs and secured a convincing nine-wicket win.
Most runs: Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor has amassed the most ODI runs at the Harare Sports Club Cricket Ground. The right-hander scored 2,165 runs in 60 matches at an average of 42.45.
Highest individual score: Hamilton Masakadza recorded the highest individual score in ODI cricket at Harare Sports Club Cricket Ground. The top-order batter scored an unbeaten 178* off 167 balls against Kenya in 2009. Masakadza’s innings was laced with 17 boundaries and four sixes.
Most wickets: Former Zimbabwe cricketer Prosper Utseya has picked the most wickets at this venue in ODIs. The right-arm spinner claimed 52 wickets in 60 ODIs at an economy of 4.26. His best bowling figures at the venue was 5/36 against South Africa in 2014; however, it ended in a losing cause as Zimbabwe fell to a 61-run loss.
Best bowling figures: West Indies’ Fidel Edwards posted the best bowling figures at this venue in 50-over cricket. The right-arm fast bowler registered his career-best figures of 6/22 against Zimbabwe during their 2003 bilateral ODI series encounter at Harare.
Highest partnership: New Zealand’s Martin Guptill and Tom Latham hold the record for the highest partnership posted at Harare Sports Club Cricket Ground in ODI cricket. The Kiwi batters forged an unbeaten 236-run partnership for the opening wicket against Zimbabwe in a 2015 ODI match. While Guptill contributed 116 off 138 balls, Latham added 110 runs to the cause as New Zealand chased down Zimbabwe’s target of 236 with 10 wickets in hand and 46 balls to spare.
Author: William Paul
Featured photo: AFP / JEKESAI NIJIKIZANA
