T20 WC 2024 Final SA vs IND, Barbados pitch report-Kensington Oval, situated in the western part of Bridgetown, Barbados, is the island’s premier sporting facility, primarily used for cricket. It has hosted numerous significant matches involving local, regional, and international teams over its more than 120-year history.
History
Cricket here began in 1882 when the Pickwick Cricket Club assumed formal ownership of the ground. The first international match was held in 1895 when Slade Lucas’ side visited the island. The first Test match was played in January 1930, ending in a draw between the West Indies and England. Since then, the Oval has hosted a total of 43 Test matches, with the West Indies winning 21 of those. The new stadium was commemorated with two 2007 Barbadian postage stamps. Now India Faces South Africa in T20 WC Final at Barbados’ Prestigious Kensington Oval on 29th June.
Location and Overview
- Location: Bridgetown, Barbados
- Establishment: 1871
- Capacity: 28,000
- Tenants: Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), Barbados Royals
Structures and Facilities
The Kensington Oval underwent extensive redevelopment for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, with a BDS$90M (US$45 Million) investment. The old stadium was demolished in June 2006 after the first Test against Pakistan, and reconstruction began in late September 2006. The redevelopment included new utility poles and the resurfacing of Prescod Boulevard and Fontabelle Road. retained many of the names of the former stands, including the George Challenor stand, the Hall and Griffith, the Kensington, the Mitchie Hewitt, the Pickwick, and the Three Ws stand, along with the Peter Short Media Centre.Epic Battle Awaits: India vs South Africa at Barbados’ Celebrated Kensington Oval
Outfield of Kensington Oval
In 2004, the STRI construction team was chosen to redevelop the Kensington Oval outfield, previously involved with the Lord’s Cricket Ground outfield reconstruction. The previous outfield struggled with Bridgetown’s occasional heavy rainfall due to its sandy clay loam topsoil. The new outfield consists of 175mm of amended root-zone, 125mm of unamended root-zone sand, a 50mm blinding layer, and a 100mm gravel drainage layer. Tifway 419 hybrid Bermuda grass was chosen for its disease resistance, density, quick recovery, and close mowing capability. The pitch square was reconstructed with four main individual pitches and sown with Princess Bermuda grass.
Awards
In 2008, the Institution of Structural Engineers recognized Kensington Oval as one of its Structural Awards winners in the “Awards for Sports or Leisure Structures” category. They praised the stadium, stating, “This inspiring structure, created with meticulous attention to buildability, has added an outstanding addition to the Barbados skyline. It is already immensely popular with the most enthusiastic cricket audience in the world.”
T20 World Cup 2024 Final: India vs South Africa
Match Overview
In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final, India will face South Africa at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown in Barbados on Saturday, June 29. Although the weather forecast for Saturday is not encouraging, there is a reserve day in place for the final. As Rohit Sharma has reiterated multiple times, weather conditions are not in anybody’s control.
Head-to-Head Stats
Overall T20 Internationals
- Matches Played: 26
- India Wins: 14
- South Africa Wins: 11
T20 World Cups
- Matches Played: 6
- India Wins: 4
- South Africa Wins: 2
Bridgetown, Barbados Pitch Report
General Pitch Characteristics
The Barbados wicket is expected to be batting-friendly with an average score of 167 runs. Since 2022, the winning first innings score is 184. However, in the T20 World Cup 2024, the average first innings score has been 150, while 182 is the winning score when batting first.
Pace vs Spin
The records at the venue suggest that pacers are expected to enjoy more success at Kensington Oval. Fast bowlers have picked up 145 wickets compared to spinners’ 99 in 20 matches since 2022.
Key Points
- Venue: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
- Date: Saturday, June 29 (with a reserve day in place)
- Average Score: 167 runs
- Winning First Innings Score (since 2022): 184 runs
- Average First Innings Score (T20 WC 2024): 150 runs
- Winning First Innings Score (T20 WC 2024): 182 runs
- Wickets: Pacers – 145, Spinners – 99 (since 2022)
As the final approaches, fans can expect an exciting clash between two formidable teams, with conditions favoring both batsmen and pacers at different stages of the match.
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