The Bay Oval is a cricket ground situated in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty area of New Zealand.
In the 1950s, Blake Park, a multi-speciality arena, was established to host several sporting and public events, including cricket, in the Bay of Plenty area.
Northern Districts, a New Zealand first-class cricket team, used to play their domestic fixtures at Blake Park between the 1987/88 season and 2001/02. The women’s team, too, played two matches at Blake Park in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield’s 2004/05 campaign.
In 2005, however, the Bay Oval was constructed by the Bay of Plenty Cricket Association, the local governing body for the sport, in the vicinity of Blake Park.
Following a construction period of two years, the Northern Districts women's side played its first match on the ground in December 2007.
However, the Bay Oval hosted its first international match six years later in January 2014. The Netherlands and Canada squared off in the first-ever ODI at the venue during an ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier clash. Under the leadership of Peter Borren, the Netherlands won the game by eight wickets.
It later hosted its first T20 international played between hosts New Zealand and Sri Lanka in January 2016. The Kane Williamson-led Black Caps won the T20I by three runs.
To date, Bay Oval has hosted 12 T20Is, 11 ODIs and five Tests. With that being said, let’s have a look at Bay Oval T20 records and stats.
Bay Oval T20 records and stats
Highest total
The New Zealand cricket team recorded the highest total at the Bay Oval in T20 international cricket. During the third T20I of the West Indies’ tour of New Zealand in January 2018, the Kane Williamson-led hosts posted 243/5 in their 20 overs in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga. Electing to bat first, New Zealand rode on Colin Munro’s 53-ball 104 and Martin Guptill’s 63 off 38 balls to record the highest T20I total at the venue. In reply, West Indies were bowled out for 124 in 16.3 overs as New Zealand won the T20I by 119 runs.
Lowest total
The Bangladesh cricket team registered the lowest total at the Bay Oval in T20 international cricket. Bangladesh were bundled out for 110 against New Zealand in the third and final T20I of a three-match series in December 2023. Put in to bat, Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals as they were bowled out in 19.2 overs. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored for Bangladesh with 17 while Towhid Hridoy added 16. New Zealand later won the rain-hit third T20I by 17 runs (DLS method) to level the series 1-1.
Most runs
Former New Zealand cricketer Colin Munro has the most runs at the Bay Oval in the T20I format. Between 2016 and 2020, Colin Munro amassed 322 runs in six T20Is at the venue at an average of 53.66 and an impressive strike rate of 195.15. The swashbuckling southpaw slammed two centuries and one fifty in T20I cricket at the Bay Oval. His former teammate Kane Williamson features second on the list with 231 runs in seven matches at an average of 38.50 and a strike rate of 114.92.
Most wickets
New Zealand spinner Ish Sodhi has picked up the most wickets at this ground in T20 international cricket. The talented leg-spinner has already bagged 12 wickets in 12 T20Is at an average of 22.33 and an economy of 7.44. New Zealand T20I captain Mitchell Santner is second on the list with 10 wickets in 11 T20Is at an average of 22.30 and an economy of 7.96.
Highest individual score
India’s flamboyant batter Suryakumar Yadav registered the highest individual score at the Bay Oval in T20 international cricket. Batting at No.3, Suryakumar Yadav slammed an unbeaten 111 off just 51 balls against New Zealand in the second T20I of a three-match series in November 2022. His magnificent knock was laced with 11 fours and seven maximums. Suryakumar Yadav’s scintillating knock helped India post 191/6 in their allotted overs. Later, the Hardik Pandya-led India bowled out New Zealand for 126 in 18.5 overs to register a 65-run win.
Best bowling figures
India’s Deepak Hooda has the best bowling figures at the Bay Oval in T20 international cricket. The right-arm off-spinner recorded match-winning figures of 4/10 against New Zealand in the second T20I of a three-match series in November 2022. Defending 191, Deepak Hooda dismissed Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi and Tim Southee to bundle New Zealand for 126 in 18.5 overs. Deepak Hooda’s brilliant spell guided India to a dominant victory in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga
Highest partnership
New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips and Devon Conway hold the record for the highest partnership at the Bay Oval in T20 international cricket. Glenn Phillips and Devon Conway stitched an incredible 184-run stand for the third wicket against West Indies in the second T20I in November 2020. While Phillips hammered 108 off just 51 balls, Conway remained unbeaten on 65 to help New Zealand post 238/3 in their 20 overs. In reply, West Indies could only manage 166/9 in their allotted overs as New Zealand won the game by 72 runs.
Photo credit: Imago
