The Riverside Ground is a cricket venue located in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, England.
Established in 1995, the Riverside Ground has a seating capacity of 5,000 for domestic games and 17,000 for international matches.
It is home to Durham County Cricket Club and has hosted several international matches.
The first noteworthy match played at the Riverside Ground was between Durham and the visiting New Zealanders in 1992.
The Riverside Ground later staged its first international cricket match, a One-Day International (ODI) played between Pakistan and Scotland in the ICC Cricket World Cup in May 1999. Under the leadership of Wasim Akram, Pakistan won the match by 94 runs.
It also hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999 game between Australia and Bangladesh.
Since then, it has staged more than 20 One-Day Internationals so far. Let’s have a look at the Riverside Ground ODI records and stats:
Riverside Ground ODI records and stats
Highest total
The Sri Lanka national cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Riverside Ground in ODI cricket. During an ICC Cricket World Cup match in July 2019, Sri Lanka posted 338/6 in their 50 overs against West Indies in Chester-le-Street, County Durham. Put in to bat, Sri Lanka rode on Avishka Fernando’s 104, along with contributions from wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Perera (64), Lahiru Thirimanne (45 not out) and Kusal Mendis’ 39 to post a record ODI total at the venue. In reply, West Indies scored 315/9 in their allotted overs as Sri Lanka won the ODI by 23 runs.
Lowest total
The England cricket team registered the lowest total at the Riverside Ground in ODI cricket. Chasing 257, the hosts were bundled out for 99 in 26.1 overs in the second ODI of Sri Lanka’s tour of England in May 2014. Captain Eoin Morgan top-scored for England with 40 while Ian Bell added 12. For Sri Lanka, right-arm off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake bagged four wickets while pacer Nuwan Kulasekara picked up three scalps. Earlier, Tillakaratne Dilshan (88), Ashan Priyanjan (43) and wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Sangakkara (40) powered Sri Lanka to 256/8 in their 50 overs. Sri Lanka won the second ODI by a massive 157 runs in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.
Most runs
England’s Jonny Bairstow has scored the most runs at the Riverside Ground in ODI format. Between 2015 and 2022, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter has amassed 374 runs in five ODIs at an average of 93.50 and an impressive strike rate of 117.98. The hard-hitting right-handed batter has slammed one century and three ODI fifties at this ground. His teammate Joe Root features second on the list with 220 runs in six matches at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 94.82.
Most wickets
England’s Graeme Swann and David Willey share the record for the most wickets at this ground in ODI cricket. Former England right-arm off-spinner Graeme Swann claimed nine wickets in just three ODIs at an average of 13.66 and an economy of 4.39. Left-arm fast bowler David Willey has also bagged nine wickets in three matches at an average of 15.22 and a strike rate of 18. Legendary England pacer James Anderson is second on the list with eight ODI wickets in seven games at an economy of 4.48.
Highest individual score
South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen holds the record for the highest individual score at this venue in the ODI format. Batting at number three, Rassie van der Dussen slammed 134 off 117 balls in the first ODI of South Africa’s tour of England in July 2022. His scintillating hundred was laced with 10 fours. Rassie van der Dussen’s magnificent ton helped South Africa post 333/5 in their 50 overs. England were later bowled out for 271 in 46.5 overs as the visitors won the game by 62 runs.
Best bowling figures
Former England cricketer Graeme Swann registered the best bowling figures at the Riverside Ground in ODI format. Graeme Swann recorded match-winning figures of 5/28 against arch-rivals Australia in September 2009. The right-arm off-spinner dismissed captain Ricky Ponting, Cameron White, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee to bowl out Australia for 176 in 45.5 overs. Joe Denly (53) and captain Andrew Strauss (47) helped England chase down the target in 40 overs. Despite England’s four-wicket win, Australia clinched the seven-match ODI series 6-1.
Highest partnership
Former Zimbabwe cricketers Murray Goodwin and Grant Flower hold the record for the highest partnership at the Riverside Ground in ODI cricket. During a NatWest Series encounter in July 2000, Murray Goodwin and Grant Flower stitched an unbeaten 186-run stand for the fifth wicket to help Zimbabwe chase down West Indies’ 287/5 in 49.1 overs. Chasing 288, Zimbabwe were reduced to 104/4 in 22.2 overs. Later, Murray Goodwin scored 112 not out while Grant Flower remained unbeaten on 96 to guide Zimbabwe to a six-wicket win in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.
Photo credit: Imago
