The SuperSport Park, located in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa, is one of the most renowned cricket grounds in the world.
Originally named Centurion Park, the cricket venue is popularly known as SuperSport Park after television company SuperSport bought shares in the stadium.
Known for its state-of-the-art facilities, the Centurion cricket ground features Beach Cabana type hospitality chalets on the grass banks. It has a beautiful outfield with modern drainage facilities.
With a seating capacity of 22,000, the SuperSport Park is the home ground of the South African cricket team, Titans cricket team and SA20’s Pretoria Capitals.
It staged its first international match, a one-day International (ODI) between hosts South Africa and India in December 1992. India won the match by four wickets.
The SuperSport Park later hosted its first Test match played between South Africa and England in November 1995. The match ended in a draw.
Since then, it has staged 28 Test matches till date. Let’s have a closer look at the SuperSport Park Test records and stats.
SuperSport Park Test records and stats
Highest total
The South Africa cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the SuperSport Park in Test cricket. During the first Test of Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa in 2020, the hosts, led by Quinton de Kock, posted the highest total of 621 in their first innings at this venue. Faf du Plessis’ 199 along with contributions from Dean Elgar (95), Keshav Maharaj (73), Temba Bavuma (71) and Aiden Markram (68) helped South Africa record a mammoth total. Earlier, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 396 in their first innings after electing to bat first. The Proteas bundled out the visitors for 180 in their second innings to win the Centurion Test by an innings and 45 runs.
Lowest total
The England cricket team recorded the lowest total at the SuperSport Park in Tests. Chasing 382 in the fourth innings, England were bowled out for 101 in 34.4 overs against South Africa in the final Test of a four-match series in January 2016. James Taylor top-scored for England with 24. For South Africa, pacer Kagiso Rabada was the wrecker-in-chief with six wickets. Earlier, AB de Villiers’ South Africa posted 475 in their first innings after opting to bat first while England managed 342. The hosts declared their second innings at 248/5. Despite South Africa’s 280-run victory in the match, England clinched the series 2-1.
Most runs
Former South Africa batter Hashim Amla has scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format. Between 2007 and 2018, the right-handed batter accumulated 1,356 runs in 13 matches at an impressive average of 75.33. Amla slammed five centuries and eight fifties at the SuperSport Park in Test cricket. His highest Test score of 208 at the Centurion cricket ground came against the West Indies in 2014. Jacques Kallis features second on the list with 1,267 runs in 16 Tests.
Most wickets
South Africa cricketer Dale Steyn has picked up the most wickets at the SuperSport Park in Test cricket. The former right-arm fast bowler bagged 59 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 17.94 and a strike rate of 31.62. Steyn registered five four-wicket hauls and four fifers at this venue in Tests between 2006 and 2018. Steyn’s former teammate Makhaya Ntini is second on the list with 54 wickets in 10 Tests.
Highest individual score
Hashim Amla also registered the highest individual score at the SuperSport Park in Tests. Batting at number four, captain Hashim Amla scored 208 off 371 balls in the first innings of the opening Test of West Indies’ tour of South Africa in 2014. His magnificent double hundred was laced with 22 fours and helped South Africa post 552/5. West Indies could only manage 201 and 131 in their two innings and lost the Centurion Test by an innings and 220 runs. South Africa won the three-match Test series 2-0.
Best bowling figures in an innings
South Africa’s Kyle Abbott recorded the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test match at this venue in 2013. The right-arm pacer registered figures of 7/29 to bowl out Pakistan for 156 in the first innings. Abbott dismissed Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Ehsan Adil and Mohammad Irfan to bundle out the visitors for a paltry total. South Africa won the Test by an innings and 18 runs.
Best bowling figures in a match
South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the SuperSport Park. The right-arm fast bowler took 13 wickets during the fourth Test of England’s tour of South Africa in 2016. While Rabada scalped seven wickets for 112 runs in the first innings, he claimed another six wickets for just 32 runs in the second innings. Rabada’s magnificent bowling performance powered South Africa to a 280-run victory.
Highest partnership
South Africa’s Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers recorded the highest partnership at the SuperSport Park in Test cricket. Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers forged a massive 308-run stand for the fourth wicket in the first innings of the first Test against the West Indies in 2014. Amla scored 208 while de Villiers was dismissed for 152.
Photo credit: Alamy
