The Rose Bowl is a picturesque cricket ground located in Southampton, England.
Established in 2001, The Rose Bowl was designed by award-winning architects Michael Hopkins & Partners. It has a seating capacity of 6,500 which can be increased to 20,000 with temporary seating.
Also known as The Utilita Bowl for sponsorship reasons, it is the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club.
The Rose Bowl was constructed to replace the County Ground in Southampton and also the United Services Recreation Ground in Portsmouth, which had been Hampshire's homes since 1882.
It staged its first international cricket match, a One-Day International (ODI) played between South Africa and Zimbabwe during the NatWest Series in July 2003. Under the leadership of Graeme Smith, South Africa won the ODI by seven wickets.
Two years later, it hosted its first T20 international that featured arch-rivals England and Australia. Michael Vaughan’s England won the game by 100 runs.
Since then, it has staged more than 10 T20 internationals so far. Let’s have a look at The Rose Bowl T20 records and stats.
The Rose Bowl T20 records and stats
Highest total
The Australia cricket team holds the record for the highest total at The Rose Bowl in T20 international cricket. Australia posted 248/6 in their 20 overs against England in Southampton in August 2013. During the first T20I of Australia’s tour of England, the visitors rode on Aaron Finch’s 156 off just 63 balls, along with contributions from Shane Watson (37) and Shaun Marsh (28) to post a record T20I total at the venue. Later, Australia restricted England to 209/6 in their allotted overs to register a 39-run victory in the opening T20I of the series.
Lowest total
Australia registered the lowest total at The Rose Bowl in the T20 international format. Chasing 180, Australia were bundled out for 79 in 14.3 overs against England in the only T20I of the series in June 2005. Jason Gillespie top-scored for Australia with 24 off 18 balls. For England, right-arm pacer Jon Lewis picked up four wickets while Darren Gough bagged three wickets. Earlier, Paul Collingwood (46), Marcus Trescothick (41) and Kevin Pietersen (34) powered England to 179/8 in their 20 overs. England won the game by 100 runs in Southampton.
Most runs
Former Australia cricketer Aaron Finch has recorded the most runs at The Rose Bowl in T20 cricket. Between 2013 and 2020, the former Australia cricket team captain amassed 281 runs in four T20Is at an average of 70.25 and a strike rate of 182.46. Finch slammed one T20 international century at the venue. England’s Jos Buttler features second on the list with 235 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 146.87 while also maintaining an average of 58.75.
Most wickets
England fast bowler Chris Jordan has picked up the most wickets at this venue in the T20 format. The right-arm pacer has scalped nine wickets in eight T20I matches at an average of 25.55 and an economy of 7.79. Jordan’s 3/29 in a win against Sri Lanka in 2016 is his best bowling figures at The Rose Bowl in cricket’s shortest format. His compatriot David Willey is second on the list with seven wickets in three T20I games at this venue.
Highest individual score
Aaron Finch registered the highest individual score at this ground in T20 international cricket. Opening the batting, swashbuckling Aaron Finch slammed a 63-ball 156 against arch-rivals England in the first T20I of a two-match series in August 2013. The right-handed batter clobbered 11 fours and 14 sixes to propel Australia to 248/6 in their 20 overs. Finch’s scintillating century powered Australia to a 39-run victory in Southampton.
Best bowling figures
South African cricketer Tabraiz Shamsi has the best bowling figures at The Rose Bowl in the T20 format. The talented left-arm wrist spin bowler recorded match-winning figures of 5/24 against hosts England in the final T20I of a three-match series in July 2022. Defending 191, Tabraiz Shamsi dismissed England’s Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, David Willey, Chris Jordan and Adil Rashid to help bowl out England for 101 in 16.4 overs. Shamsi’s incredible spell guided South Africa to a 90-run win and also clinched the series 2-1.
Highest partnership
England’s Jos Buttler and Eoin Morgan hold the record for the highest partnership at The Rose Bowl in T20 international cricket. Jos Buttler and Eoin Morgan stitched an unbeaten 114-run stand for the third wicket while chasing Sri Lanka’s 140 in July 2016. While Buttler slammed 73 not out, Morgan remained unbeaten on 47 to help England chase down the target in 17.3 overs and win the game by eight wickets.
Photo credit: Imago
