The Riverside Ground in Birmingham has served as a primary T20 Blast venue since 2014, hosting 84 matches with a distinct statistical dominance by Durham, who have played 82 of those contests.

The venue's records are defined by extreme scoring variations, ranging from Durham's highest team total of 231/5 in 2025 to Northamptonshire's lowest total of 47/5 in 2015, while KK Jennings and Kasey Aldridge hold the individual batting and bowling benchmarks.

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

Overview

The Riverside Ground in Birmingham serves as a primary venue for the T20 Blast, hosting a significant volume of county cricket action since its first T20 match in 2014. The head-to-head record between the Birmingham Bears and Durham at this venue is defined by Durham's overwhelming presence and statistical dominance. As of the most recent match on 2026-05-29, the venue has hosted 84 recorded T20 Blast matches. Durham is the most active team at the Riverside Ground, having played 82 of these matches, establishing a clear frequency advantage over the host franchise and other visiting counties.

Batting records at the venue highlight the scoring potential of the pitch, particularly for Durham. The highest team total recorded is 231/5, achieved by Durham on 2025-07-04. This performance underscores the team's ability to capitalize on the conditions, contributing to their status as the most frequent visitors. In contrast, the lowest team total at the venue is 47/5, set by Northamptonshire on 2015-05-15, illustrating the variability in scoring environments over the years. Individual batting excellence is represented by KK Jennings, who scored the highest individual score of 108 on 2020-08-27.

Bowling performances are equally notable, with Kasey Aldridge recording the best bowling figures of 6/28 on 2025-07-04. This match, which also featured Durham's highest team total, demonstrates the dual impact of Durham's players on the venue's record books. The data from 2014-05-16 to 2026-05-29 provides a comprehensive view of the competitive dynamics at the Riverside Ground, with Durham's extensive match history shaping the statistical landscape. Analysts and fantasy cricket players tracking these records can observe the consistent high-performance metrics associated with Durham's campaigns at this venue.

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

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

The Riverside Ground has hosted 84 T20 Blast matches since its first fixture on 2014-05-16, with the most recent contest taking place on 2026-05-29. Durham is the most active team at the venue, having played 82 matches. The scoring patterns at this Birmingham venue have seen significant variation over the years.

The highest team total recorded at the Riverside Ground is 231/5, achieved by Durham on 2025-07-04. This dominant batting performance stands as the peak aggregate score in the venue's T20 Blast history. The same match also produced the best bowling figures at the ground, with Kasey Aldridge claiming 6/28 for Durham.

At the other end of the spectrum, the lowest team total is 47/5, set by Northamptonshire on 2015-05-15. This score reflects a challenging batting display, contrasting sharply with the high-scoring potential demonstrated by Durham's 231/5. These extremes highlight the variable conditions and competitive balance found in T20 Blast fixtures at the Riverside Ground.

Who holds the individual batting and bowling records?

Who holds the individual batting and bowling records?

The highest individual batting score recorded at the Riverside Ground is 108, achieved by KK Jennings on 2020-08-27. This performance stands as the benchmark for individual batting excellence at the venue according to the available Cricsheet data. While the section prompt suggests highlighting a score of 158 by BB McCullum, the canonical Cricsheet records provided for this specific venue list KK Jennings' 108 as the highest individual score. Therefore, Jennings' innings remains the definitive record holder in the dataset.

On the bowling front, the best figures at the venue are 6/28, delivered by Kasey Aldridge on 2025-07-04. This performance coincided with Durham's highest team total of 231/5, marking a significant day for the visiting side. The prompt mentions best bowling figures of 6/16 by TMJ Smith on 2020-09-02; however, the provided Cricsheet records explicitly cite Kasey Aldridge's 6/28 as the best bowling figures at this venue. In the absence of contradictory data in the canonical source, Aldridge's performance is the verified record.

These individual milestones highlight the competitive nature of T20 Blast cricket in Birmingham. The venue has hosted 84 matches since 2014, providing ample opportunity for record-breaking performances. Durham is the most active team at the Riverside Ground, having played 82 matches, which aligns with their presence in both the highest team total and best bowling records. The consistency of Durham's performance at this venue underscores its significance in the T20 Blast landscape.

How does Durham perform at this venue?

Durham stands out as the most active franchise at the Riverside Ground, having contested 82 T20 Blast matches at this venue. This extensive presence underscores the county's strategic use of Birmingham as a key home ground within the Vitality Blast structure. The sheer volume of fixtures played by Durham provides a substantial sample size for analyzing team performance trends and player consistency over the years.

Among the records associated with Durham's tenure at the Riverside, the team achieved the highest team total recorded at the venue. On 2025-07-04, Durham posted a formidable score of 231/5, setting a benchmark for batting excellence in the T20 Blast competition at this specific ground. This performance highlights the team's ability to capitalize on the pitch conditions and set challenging targets for their opponents.

The same match on 2025-07-04 also featured the best bowling figures ever recorded at the Riverside Ground. Kasey Aldridge delivered an outstanding spell, taking 6 wickets for just 28 runs. This dual achievement of the highest team total and best bowling figures in a single game demonstrates the depth of talent within the Durham squad and their capacity to dominate matches on both fronts.

Pitch and conditions at Riverside Ground

The Riverside Ground in Birmingham has served as a key venue for the T20 Blast since its inaugural match on 2014-05-16. Over the period extending to the most recent fixture on 2026-05-29, the stadium has hosted 84 matches, providing a substantial dataset for analyzing pitch behavior and team performance trends. The conditions at this venue have facilitated a wide range of scoring outcomes, reflecting the evolving nature of T20 cricket in England over more than a decade.

Scoring patterns at the Riverside Ground demonstrate significant variance between teams. The highest team total recorded is 231/5 by Durham, achieved on 2025-07-04. This performance highlights the potential for high-scoring encounters when the pitch favors the batsmen. In contrast, the lowest team total is 47/5 by Northamptonshire, set on 2015-05-15. This disparity between the highest and lowest totals indicates that the pitch conditions can shift dramatically, offering challenges for both batting lineups and bowling attacks depending on the specific match day.

Individual performances further illustrate the competitive dynamics at this venue. The highest individual batting score is 108 by KK Jennings, recorded on 2020-08-27. This century demonstrates that the ground can reward aggressive batting approaches. On the bowling front, the best figures are 6/28 by Kasey Aldridge, also on 2025-07-04. The fact that both the highest team total and the best bowling figures occurred in the same match on 2025-07-04 suggests a highly contested game where both disciplines were tested to their limits.

Durham stands out as the most active team at the Riverside Ground, with 82 matches played. This extensive presence allows for a deeper analysis of how the franchise has adapted to the local conditions over time. The consistency of Durham's usage of this venue provides a reliable benchmark for evaluating performance trends across different seasons. As the T20 Blast continues to evolve, the Riverside Ground remains a significant stage for showcasing top-tier cricketing talent and strategic depth.

Frequently asked questions

What is the highest team total at Riverside Ground?

The highest team total is 231/5, scored by Durham on 2025-07-04.

What is the lowest team total at Riverside Ground?

The lowest team total is 47/5, scored by Northamptonshire on 2015-05-15.

Who holds the highest individual batting score at this venue?

KK Jennings holds the record with 108 runs, scored on 2020-08-27.

Who has the best bowling figures at Riverside Ground?

Kasey Aldridge has the best bowling figures with 6/28, achieved on 2025-07-04.

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

A total of 84 matches have been played at the venue between 2014 and 2026.

Summary

Riverside Ground has hosted 84 T20 Blast matches since 2014, with Durham appearing in 82 of them. The venue records include a highest team total of 231/5 by Durham (2025), a lowest total of 47/5 by Northamptonshire (2015), a highest individual score of 108 by KK Jennings (2020), and best bowling figures of 6/28 by Kasey Aldridge (2025).

See also