Buffalo Park is a cricket stadium in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa, with a seating capacity of 20,000 spectators.

The venue serves as a home ground for the Warriors cricket team and the principal home for Border. It hosted its first T20 match in 2009.

Buffalo Park. Photo: Outdoor Craziness / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Overview

Buffalo Park is a cricket stadium located in East London, South Africa. It serves as a home ground for the Warriors cricket team and is the principal home venue for Border. The stadium has a seating capacity of 20,000 spectators. It is also known as Mercedes-Benz Park.

Buffalo Park has hosted matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL). According to Cricsheet data, the venue hosted 26 IPL matches. The recorded matches span from 2009-04-20 to 2017-05-13. The first T20 match at the venue was played in 2009.

Available data does not capture the highest team total or lowest team total at Buffalo Park during these IPL matches. Specific batting and bowling records, including highest individual scores or best bowling figures, are not explicitly detailed in the provided source material. Tournament-specific events, such as final matches or semi-finals held at this venue, are not mentioned in the grounding data.

Venue profile

Buffalo Park is a cricket stadium located in East London, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The venue serves as one of the home grounds for the Warriors cricket team and acts as the principal home ground for Border. The stadium has a spectator capacity of 20,000. It superseded the Jan Smuts Ground during the 1987–88 season. The venue has hosted international cricket, including one Test match in October 2002 and several One Day Internationals (ODIs). As of 7 March 2020, six five-wicket hauls have been recorded at the ground. The first T20 match at Buffalo Park was played in 2009.

What are the highest and lowest team totals at Buffalo Park in the IPL?

Buffalo Park in East London, South Africa, has hosted matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The venue has a capacity of 20,000 spectators. The first T20 match at the ground was played in 2009. Statistical records for team totals at this venue are derived from Cricsheet ball-by-ball data.

Highest Team Total

The highest team total recorded at Buffalo Park in the IPL is 197/8. This score was achieved by the Delhi Daredevils against the Gujarat Lions. The match took place on 10 May 2017. This performance represents the peak scoring output by a franchise at this specific venue according to available match data.

Lowest Team Total

The lowest team total recorded at Buffalo Park in the IPL is 87/10. This score was posted by the Royal Challengers Bangalore against the Chennai Super Kings. The match occurred on 20 April 2009. This total reflects the lowest aggregate runs scored by a team in an IPL contest at this ground.

These records highlight the variance in scoring conditions at Buffalo Park during IPL fixtures. The data spans from the venue's first T20 match in 2009 through to the 2017 season. No other team totals exceeding 197/8 or falling below 87/10 are captured in the current dataset for this venue.

Individual batting and bowling records

The available data for Buffalo Park in East London, South Africa, highlights specific individual batting and bowling records from matches played at this venue. The stadium, which has a capacity of 20,000 spectators, hosted its first T20 match in 2009. While the venue is primarily known as a home ground for the Warriors and Border teams in domestic cricket, the provided statistics focus on individual performances recorded during this period.

The highest individual score at Buffalo Park is 114 runs, achieved by MK Pandey. This performance was delivered while representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise. The record was set on 2009-05-21. This innings stands out as a significant batting display at the venue, showcasing the potential for high individual scores on the East London pitch during that specific match.

In terms of bowling, the best figures recorded at Buffalo Park are 4 wickets for 6 runs (4/6). This exceptional bowling performance was achieved by RG Sharma. The record was set on 2009-05-06. These figures indicate a dominant spell, contributing significantly to the team's success in that particular encounter. The combination of a high individual score and exceptional bowling figures from the same year underscores the competitive nature of the matches held at Buffalo Park during its early T20 history.

These records provide a snapshot of individual excellence at the venue. The data confirms that both batting and bowling milestones have been reached at Buffalo Park, with MK Pandey's 114 and RG Sharma's 4/6 standing as the key individual achievements captured in the available statistics. The venue continues to be a notable location for T20 cricket in South Africa, with these records serving as benchmarks for future performances.

How does Buffalo Park compare to other IPL grounds?

Buffalo Park, located in East London, South Africa, served as a notable venue during the early years of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The stadium, which has a capacity of 20,000 spectators, hosted a total of 26 IPL matches. These fixtures were concentrated primarily between 2009 and 2017, establishing the ground as a key location for the tournament's initial decade. The first T20 match at Buffalo Park took place in 2009, marking the beginning of its international T20 pedigree.

The pitch characteristics at Buffalo Park during the IPL era displayed significant variability, offering different challenges to batting and bowling units. Available match data indicates that the surface could support high-scoring encounters, with team totals reaching 197/8, suggesting a track conducive to batting when conditions were favorable. Conversely, the ground also produced results indicative of a bowler's paradise, with one instance recording a total of 87/10. This range in team totals highlights the unpredictable nature of the pitch, where both batsmen and bowlers could dominate depending on the specific match conditions.

As of 2026, Buffalo Park's role in the IPL has evolved, with the majority of its matches occurring in the league's formative years. The venue's history in the competition is defined by these 26 matches, which provide a snapshot of the tactical approaches taken by franchises during the 2009–2017 period. While the stadium is also a home ground for the Warriors and Border teams in domestic cricket, its IPL legacy is distinct, characterized by the specific statistical outcomes recorded during those seasons. Detailed individual player records, such as the highest individual score or most wickets taken at this venue in the IPL, are not captured in the available data for this specific competition context.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capacity of Buffalo Park?

Buffalo Park has a stadium capacity of 20,000 spectators.

Which teams use Buffalo Park as a home ground?

The venue is one of the home grounds for the Warriors cricket team and the principal home ground for Border.

When was the first T20 match played at Buffalo Park?

The first T20 match at Buffalo Park took place in 2009.

Is Buffalo Park an IPL venue?

Buffalo Park is listed as a venue within the IPL league records.

See also