Boland Park in Paarl, South Africa, holds the record for the lowest team total in T20I cricket, with Qatar scoring just 3/1. The venue has hosted 242 matches since its first T20 game in 2005.
With a capacity of 10,000, the stadium is a key fixture for South African cricket, hosting teams like the Boland cricket team and the Paarl Royals.
Overview
Boland Park is a multi-purpose cricket stadium located in Paarl, South Africa. The venue has established itself as a significant ground for Twenty20 International cricket, hosting matches over a span of more than two decades. The stadium has a capacity of 10,000 spectators, providing a compact and atmospheric setting for both domestic and international fixtures. It is the home ground for the Boland cricket team and the Paarl Royals, who stage their home matches at the venue.
The ground has a long history in the shortest format of the game, with T20I hosting commencing in 2005. According to Cricsheet data, Boland Park has hosted a total of 242 T20 matches. The first recorded match at the venue took place on 17 February 2005, and the most recent fixture occurred on 10 May 2026, demonstrating the ground's consistent usage in the T20 calendar. This extensive schedule highlights Boland Park's role as a regular stop for touring teams and domestic leagues in South Africa.
New Zealand is the most active team at Boland Park, having played 65 matches at the venue. This high frequency of appearances underscores the ground's importance in bilateral series and multi-team tournaments involving the Kiwis. The pitch conditions and dimensions have accommodated a wide variety of batting and bowling styles over the years, contributing to the venue's reputation for producing competitive and high-scoring encounters.
What is the highest team total at Boland Park?
South Africa posted the highest team total at Boland Park, scoring 259/4 against the West Indies on 2023-03-26. This performance stands as the benchmark for batting dominance at the venue, reflecting the ground's capacity to support high-scoring T20I encounters. The chase or defense of such totals requires significant depth in the batting lineup, a factor that has influenced team selections in subsequent fixtures at the stadium.
Individual brilliance has also been on display within these team performances. E Lewis scored the highest individual batting score of 125 on 2017-07-09, a century that contributed significantly to his team's total. On the bowling front, OC McCoy recorded the best bowling figures of 6/16 on 2022-08-01, demonstrating the potential for dominant spells when the pitch offers assistance. These individual records complement the team totals, providing a comprehensive view of the statistical extremes at Boland Park.
Individual batting and bowling records
Individual batting and bowling records
On the bowling front, the best figures recorded are 6 wickets for 16 runs. These exceptional bowling statistics were posted by OC McCoy on 2022-08-01. Such a dominant spell demonstrates the impact a single bowler can have on the outcome of a T20 match at this location. The combination of wickets and economy rate makes this one of the most notable bowling achievements in the venue's history.
Historical context and other formats
Historical context and other formats
Boland Park has hosted cricket at the international level since 2005, but its history in the sport extends further back. The ground was a venue during the 2003 Cricket World Cup, hosting three matches in that tournament. This early exposure to global cricket helped establish the stadium as a key fixture in South African cricket infrastructure. The venue also holds records in the One Day International format, with a notable match occurring in 2012. In that encounter, South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by a margin of 258 runs, with Sri Lanka being bowled out for just 43 runs. This performance stands as a significant record in ODI history at the ground.
Statistical milestones in the ODI format have also been achieved at Boland Park. As of 2020, the venue had witnessed 10 centuries scored by batsmen. Additionally, bowlers have recorded two five-wicket hauls during ODI matches played there. These figures highlight the ground's versatility across different formats of the game. While the T20I records are well-documented, the ODI history adds depth to the stadium's overall profile. The capacity of the stadium is 10,000, providing a compact yet vibrant atmosphere for spectators. This size allows for an intimate viewing experience, particularly during evening matches under the lights.
How does Boland Park compare to other T20I grounds?
How does Boland Park compare to other T20I grounds?
With 242 matches recorded in the dataset, Boland Park stands as a significant venue in the T20I calendar. The ground has hosted international action since 2005, with the first match taking place on 2005-02-17 and the most recent on 2026-05-10. This volume of fixtures places Paarl among the more frequently used stadiums for the shortest format, reflecting its consistent selection for bilateral series and tournament games.
The scoring dynamics at this venue exhibit extreme variance, distinguishing it from grounds with more uniform pitch behavior. The highest team total of 259/4, set by South Africa on 2023-03-26, demonstrates the ground’s capacity for high-scoring encounters. Conversely, the lowest team total of 3/1, recorded by Qatar on 2024-03-01, highlights the potential for dramatic collapses. This range between 3/1 and 259/4 suggests that conditions can shift significantly between matches, offering challenges for both batsmen and bowlers.
Individual performances have also reached notable heights within this dataset. E Lewis scored 125 runs on 2017-07-09, marking the highest individual batting score at the venue. On the bowling front, OC McCoy achieved the best figures with 6/16 on 2022-08-01. These records underscore the venue’s ability to produce standout statistical milestones for individual players.
This frequency indicates a strong historical connection between the Kiwis and the Paarl ground, likely due to bilateral series scheduling. The stadium’s capacity of 10,000 provides a compact yet vibrant atmosphere for these encounters, supporting its role as a key T20I hub in South Africa.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest team total at Boland Park?
When did the first T20I take place at Boland Park?
The first T20 match at Boland Park took place on 2005-02-17.