The Maple Leaf Cricket Ground is one of the cricket facilities located in King City, Ontario, Canada.
Established in 1954, the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground is operated by the Maple Leaf Cricket Club. It has a turf wicket facility which comprises five cricket grounds. The Maple Leaf North-West Ground is considered to be the most important ground in the facility and has a seating capacity of 7,000.
Located about 30 kilometres north of Toronto, Ontario, the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground staged its first international cricket match, a One-Day International (ODI) that featured hosts Canada and Bermuda as it became the second ground in Canada to host an ODI match. Led by Irving Romaine, Bermuda won the game by three wickets. Since then, it has hosted more than 10 ODIs so far.
In October 2008, it hosted its first T20 international played between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. Under the leadership of Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka won the first-ever T20I at the venue by five wickets.
Let’s have a look at Maple Leaf Cricket Ground ODI records and stats:
Maple Leaf Cricket Ground ODI records and stats
Highest total
The West Indies cricket team holds the record for the highest total at Maple Leaf Cricket Ground in ODI cricket. During an ODI tri-series in August 2008, the Chris Gayle-led West Indies posted 303/4 in their 50 overs against hosts Canada. West Indies rode on Xavier Marshall’s unbeaten 157 along with contributions from Leon Johnson (51) and Brendan Nash (39 not out) to post a record ODI total at the venue. In reply, Canada were bowled out for 254 in 47.2 overs as West Indies won the game by 49 runs in Ontario.
Lowest total
The Canada cricket team has the record for the lowest total at Maple Leaf Cricket Ground in ODI format. During an ICC World Cricket League Championship clash in August 2013, Canada were bundled out for 67 in 24.4 overs against the Netherlands in Ontario. Damodar Daesrath top-scored for Canada with 31 while Junaid Siddiqui added 12. For the Netherlands, pacer Timm van der Gugten picked up five wickets and Pieter Seelaar bagged four wickets. Later, Stephan Myburgh’s unbeaten 52 helped the Netherlands chase down the target in 10.4 overs to secure a comprehensive nine-wicket win.
Most runs
Former Canada cricketer Rizwan Cheema scored the most runs at this venue in ODI cricket. Between 2008 and 2011, Rizwan Cheema amassed 297 runs in six matches at an average of 59.40 and an impressive strike rate of 132.58. The hard-hitting right-handed batter slammed three ODI fifties at this ground. His former teammate Abdool Samad features second on the list with 246 runs in eight matches at an average of 35.14.
Most wickets
Rizwan Cheema also holds the record for the most wickets at the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground in ODI cricket. The former right-arm medium pacer claimed nine wickets in six matches at an average of 16.11 and an economy of 4.18. He registered best bowling figures of 3/31 on this ground against West Indies in the ODI format. Former Canada left-arm spinner Sunil Dhaniram is second on the list with eight wickets in eight ODIs.
Highest individual score
Jamaican-American cricketer Xavier Marshall holds the record for the highest individual score at this venue in the ODI format. The former West Indies cricketer slammed an unbeaten 157 off 118 balls against Canada during an ODI tri-series in August 2008. Batting at number four, Xavier Marshall clobbered 11 fours and 12 sixes to help the West Indies post 303/4 in their 50 overs. Canada were bowled out for 254 in 47.2 overs as West Indies registered a 49-run victory in Ontario.
Best bowling figures
Netherlands fast bowler Timm van der Gugten registered the best bowling figures at Maple Leaf Cricket Ground in the ODI format. Timm van der Gugten recorded match-winning figures of 5/24 against hosts Canada during an ICC World Cricket League Championship encounter in August 2013. The right-arm medium pacer dismissed Hiral Patel, Ruvindu Gunasekera, Nitish Kumar, captain Ashish Bagai and Raza-ur-Rehman to bundle out Canada for 67 in 24.4 overs. Timm van der Gugten’s magnificent bowling spell helped guide the Netherlands to a nine-wicket victory.
Highest partnership
Canada’s Abdool Samad and Ashish Bagai hold the record for the highest partnership at the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground in ODI cricket. During the third ODI of Bermuda’s tour of Canada in July 2008, Abdool Samad and Ashish Bagai stitched an impressive 217-run stand for the third wicket in Ontario. Abdool Samad scored 130 while wicketkeeper-batter Ashish Bagai made 84 to help Canada post 276/9 in their 50 overs. In reply, Bermuda could only manage 199/7 as the hosts won the game by 77 runs.
Photo credit: Imago
