Established all the way back in 1890, the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo is one of the oldest sporting facilities in Zimbabwe.
It is the second most popular cricket stadium in Zimbabwe after Harare Sports Club and is one of international cricket’s most picturesque venues, which is located next to the city centre.
Most of the ground comprises grass banking and it has a capacity to host up to 13,000 spectators.
This stadium is home to Zimbabwe in international cricket and Matabeleland Tuskers at the domestic level.
It became Zimbabwe’s third Test venue when it hosted its first-ever international match, which was a drawn Test between the Chevrons and Sri Lanka in 1994.
This venue’s first ODI match came two years later in 1996 between Zimbabwe and England and the hosts won the encounter by two runs.
There have been more than 80 ODIs at this venue following its first in 1996 and here we have a look at some of the 50-over records and stats from the Queens Sports Club.
Queens Sports Club ODI records and stats
Highest team total
Pakistan holds the record for the highest team total in ODIs at this venue. Batting first in the fourth game of a five-match series in 2018, the Asian heavyweights powered by opening pair Fakhar Zaman’s 210 not out and Imam-ul-Haq’s 113 ended up posting 399/1 on the scoreboard. The tourists then proceeded to bowl out Zimbabwe for 155 and registered a 244-run victory to take a 4-0 lead in the series.
Lowest team total
The same series that saw Pakistan register the highest total on this ground also witnessed Zimbabwe make the lowest ODI team total at the venue. The Chevrons did so in the third ODI of the 2018 five-match series. After opting to bat first, Zimbabwe managed to post just 67 runs on the scoreboard with Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf doing the bulk of the damage with the ball thanks to his spell of 5/22. Pakistan then comfortably chased down the target and won the game with nine wickets and 241 balls to spare.
Most runs
Zimbabwe’s Hamilton Masakadza holds the record for most ODI runs at this venue. He scored 1,274 runs in 40 matches at an average of 32.66 and a strike rate of 75.11. Masakadza scored nine fifties and one hundred, including a top score of 102 on this ground.
Most wickets
Zimbabwe legend Heath Streak holds the record for taking the most wickets in ODIs on this ground. In 17 matches, Heath Streak accounted for 24 wickets at an average of 29.41 and an economy of 4.73. His best figures here were 5/32 against India in 1997.
Highest individual score
The same match that witnessed Pakistan register the highest ODI score at this venue also saw their opening batter Fakhar Zaman make the highest individual score at Queens Sports Club. He made an unbeaten 210 as Pakistan posted 399/1 en route to a 244-run win.
Best bowling figures
In the second match of a triangular series in 2005, New Zealand’s Shane Bond registered the best bowling figures in an inning at this venue against India. Batting first, New Zealand set India a target of 216 to chase. However, a bowling masterclass from Bond that saw him finish with figures of 6/19 helped bowl out India for 164 as the Kiwis registered a 51-run win. Shane Bond was declared the Player of the Match for his scintillating performance that saw him claim the prized scalps of Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, and Rahul Dravid.
Highest partnership
The same game that saw Pakistan make the highest total on this ground as Fakhar Zaman scored the highest individual score also witnessed the highest partnership in ODIs at the venue. Zaman along with opening partner Imam-ul-Haq put on a 304-run opening stand as Pakistan posted 399/1 on the scoreboard en route to a 244-run victory.
Photo credit: Alamy
