The Riverside Ground has hosted 84 T20 Blast matches between the Birmingham Bears and Durham, with the fixture first contested on 16 May 2014.

Durham dominates the venue's statistics, appearing in 82 of the 84 recorded games. The ground is known for extreme scoring variances, ranging from a highest team total of 231/5 to a lowest of 47/5.

Birmingham Bears vs Durham Vitality Blast all matches. Photo: The original uploader was Ngb at English Wikipedia. / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 1.0

Overview

The Birmingham Bears and Durham face off in the T20 Blast, a rivalry that has been contested at the Riverside Ground in Birmingham, England. This venue has hosted 205 T20 Blast matches between 2014 and 2026, serving as a primary stage for county cricket in the Midlands. In the broader head-to-head context, Durham has played 91 matches against the Bears, establishing a significant competitive history within the league structure.

Statistical records from the Riverside Ground highlight the scoring potential and bowling dominance observed during these encounters. The highest team total recorded at this venue is 231/5, achieved by Durham on 2025-07-04. This performance stands in contrast to the lowest team total of 47/5, posted by Northamptonshire on 2015-05-15. Individual brilliance has also been documented, with KK Jennings scoring the highest individual batting score of 108 on 2020-08-27. On the bowling front, Kasey Aldridge recorded the best bowling figures of 6/28, also on 2025-07-04.

Durham is the most active team at the Riverside Ground, having played 82 matches at this venue. The first T20 match at the Riverside Ground took place on 2014-05-16, marking the beginning of extensive T20 Blast activity in Birmingham. The most recent match recorded at this location occurred on 2026-05-29, continuing the venue's status as a key fixture in the English T20 calendar. These statistics provide a factual basis for analyzing team performance and player matchups in the T20 Blast.

What are the highest and lowest team totals at the Riverside Ground?

What are the highest and lowest team totals at the Riverside Ground?

The Riverside Ground has hosted 84 T20 Blast matches since the first contest on 2014-05-16, with the most recent fixture recorded on 2026-05-29. This extensive schedule provides a robust dataset for analyzing scoring extremes at the venue. The statistical record for the highest team total at this ground is 231/5, achieved by Durham on 2025-07-04. This performance stands as the peak scoring output among all teams competing at the venue during the specified period.

On the other end of the spectrum, the lowest team total recorded at the Riverside Ground is 47/5. This score was posted by Northamptonshire on 2015-05-15, highlighting the potential for batting collapses under specific pitch and weather conditions. The contrast between the 231/5 high and the 47/5 low illustrates the variability in match outcomes and scoring rates experienced by franchises playing at this venue.

Individual performances have also contributed to these team totals. The highest individual batting score at the Riverside Ground is 108, scored by KK Jennings on 2020-08-27. This innings represents the most significant individual contribution to a team's aggregate in the venue's T20 Blast history. In the bowling department, the best figures recorded are 6/28, achieved by Kasey Aldridge on 2025-07-04. These bowling stats coincide with the date of the highest team total, indicating a dominant all-round performance by Durham on that specific day.

Durham is the most active team at the Riverside Ground, having played 82 matches there. This high frequency of appearances suggests a strong home advantage or scheduling preference for the franchise. The venue continues to be a key location for T20 Blast action, with records continuing to be updated as matches are played through the 2026 season.

Individual Records at the Riverside Ground

Individual Records at the Riverside Ground

On the bowling front, the best figures recorded are 6 wickets for 28 runs, delivered by Kasey Aldridge on 2025-07-04. This spell occurred during the same match in which Durham posted the venue's highest team total of 231/5. Aldridge's performance remains the most economical and wicket-rich individual bowling effort in the Riverside Ground's T20 Blast records. These individual milestones highlight the depth of talent that has graced the pitch, complementing the team records that define the venue's statistical profile.

Durham's Match Frequency

Within the broader context of the Riverside Ground's T20 Blast history, Durham has established itself as the dominant fixture. The dataset identifies Durham as the most active team at the venue, with a total of 82 matches recorded. This high frequency of appearances underscores the strategic importance of the Birmingham ground for the county side, particularly in the latter stages of the Vitality Blast campaigns. The concentration of matches involving Durham contributes significantly to the overall match count at the venue, which stands at 84 T20 Blast games in total. This means that Durham is involved in the vast majority of contests held at the Riverside, often facing local rivals or traveling opponents in crucial group-stage or knockout fixtures.

The head-to-head dynamic between the Birmingham Bears and Durham is a central component of this venue's statistical profile. While the specific head-to-head record involves 91 matches in the broader dataset context, the venue-specific data highlights Durham's extensive usage of the ground. The first recorded match at the Riverside Ground took place on 2014-05-16, marking the beginning of a long tenure for T20 cricket in Birmingham. Since then, the venue has hosted consistent action, with the most recent match occurring on 2026-05-29. This span of over a decade provides a robust sample size for analyzing team performance trends.

Durham's performance metrics at the Riverside Ground reflect their frequent presence. The team achieved the highest team total recorded at the venue, scoring 231/5 on 2025-07-04. This standout performance coincided with the best bowling figures at the ground, as Kasey Aldridge claimed 6/28 on the same day. Such extreme statistical outliers highlight the competitive nature of matches involving Durham at this venue. In contrast, the lowest team total at the Riverside Ground was 47/5, scored by Northamptonshire on 2015-05-15, demonstrating the varying conditions and challenges faced by teams over the years.

Individual brilliance has also been a feature of Durham's matches at the Riverside. KK Jennings recorded the highest individual batting score at the venue with 108 runs on 2020-08-27. These individual milestones contribute to the overall narrative of Durham's strong association with the ground. The combination of high team totals, exceptional bowling performances, and standout batting displays illustrates why Durham is the most active team at the Riverside Ground. The venue's reputation in the T20 Blast is thus closely tied to the performances of this county side.

Frequently asked questions

What is the highest team total at the Riverside Ground?

The highest team total is 231/5, scored by Durham on 4 July 2025.

What is the lowest team total at the Riverside Ground?

The lowest team total is 47/5, scored by Northamptonshire on 15 May 2015.

Who holds the record for the highest individual score at the Riverside Ground?

KK Jennings holds the record with a score of 108, achieved on 27 August 2020.

What are the best bowling figures at the Riverside Ground?

Kasey Aldridge recorded the best bowling figures of 6/28 on 4 July 2025.

How many T20 Blast matches have been played at the Riverside Ground?

There have been 84 T20 Blast matches played at the Riverside Ground, starting from 2014.

Summary

The Riverside Ground has seen 84 T20 Blast matches since 2014, with Durham participating in 82 of them. Key records include a highest team total of 231/5 by Durham and a lowest of 47/5 by Northamptonshire. KK Jennings holds the highest individual score of 108, while Kasey Aldridge boasts the best bowling figures of 6/28.

See also