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. As it turns out, it was also one of the first grounds in South Africa to host a T20 match (in January 2004), less than a year after the first official T20 match was played.

The stadium is friendly to pace bowlers. Situated on the bay of 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.

Here’s a look at how batters and bowlers have fared at this venue. 

Kingsmead Cricket Ground T20 records

Most runs

Morne Van Vyk, the third South African player to score a T20I century (against West Indies), is the leading run-scorer at the Kingsmead. He has scored 1,122 runs in 43 matches at an average of 36.19. Despite hailing from Bloemfontein, the player represented Durban-based domestic teams Dolphins and Kwa-Zulu Natal for a better part of his career. 

Most wickets

Robert Frylinck was one of South Africa’s first T20 specialist cricketers who played franchise cricket all across the globe. He is the leading wicket-taker in T20s at this ground with 46 scalps in 40 matches at an impressive average of 17.93. 

Highest individual score

South Africa-born English cricketer Kevin Pietersen holds the record for the highest individual score at this venue. The stylish top order batter smashed an unbeaten 115 off 66 balls for the Dolphins against Highveld Lions in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge 2015. 

Best bowling figures

Frylinck, the leading wicket-taker in Kingsmead, also holds the best bowling figures at this venue. He picked up one of the four five-fers registered here in 2013 against Highveld Lions, returning with career-best figures of 5/16. 

Highest team total

India registered the highest team total in Durban during their famous 2007 T20 World Cup match against England. Yuvraj Singh scored the fastest fifty in international cricket history, assisted by the six sixes in the 19th over off Stuart Broad, as they ended up scoring 218/4 in 20 overs. 

Lowest team total

Kenya were bowled out for 73 runs in their first match of the 2007 T20 World Cup against New Zealand, setting the unwanted record for the lowest T20 score at this venue. This match was also the first T20I fixture played at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground. 

Photo Credit: Alamy