Basin Reserve Pitch Report and Records, Wellington
Covers 51 international matches at this ground from Mar 2004 to Apr 2026.
Any Basin Reserve pitch report is mostly a Test story: 28 of the 51 internationals at the Wellington ground between Mar 2004 and Apr 2026 were Tests. Alongside them sit 6 men’s ODIs, 13 women’s ODIs and 4 women’s T20Is. No men’s T20I has been played here in the data.
New Zealand won the latest 3 matches, ending with a women’s ODI on 4 Apr 2026 that they took by 66 runs against South Africa. The New Zealand team page has the wider record.
Wellington Pitch Report: How Test Scores Change
Fielding first is the habit here. Of the toss winners, 40 put the opposition in and only 11 batted. That has barely paid off, with 23 wins in 43 decided matches.
Test scores slide steadily through a match. Opening innings bring 331 on average, replies 306, the third innings 285 and the last one 197. Still, 234 has been chased in the 4th innings. Draws have been uncommon: 7 in 28. Big totals are possible: New Zealand made 680/8 against India in Feb 2014, when Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) batted 559 balls for 302, the only triple hundred at the ground. Pakistan, by contrast, dismissed New Zealand for 99 in Dec 2009.
In the 5 men’s ODIs not settled by DLS, sides batting first made 256 on average against 207 for the chasers. The best successful pursuit is 236, and the team batting first won 4 of the 6. Women’s ODIs are even at 6 wins each, first innings averaging 243 and replies 195, though New Zealand chased 350 in Apr 2026.
Basin Reserve capacity and location
Capacity as published on the ground's Wikipedia page (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basin_Reserve). Figures change with redevelopment and temporary stands.
Ground
City
Country
Capacity
Basin Reserve
Wellington
New Zealand
6,800
Basin Reserve Records by Format
Format
Matches
Won batting first
Won chasing
Avg 1st inns
First match
Latest match
Tests
28
–
–
–
26 Mar 2004
10 Dec 2025
ODIs
6
4
2
266
1 Mar 2005
5 Jan 2025
ODIs (women)
13
6
6
247
13 Mar 2022
4 Apr 2026
T20Is (women)
4
2
2
159
9 Feb 2020
29 Mar 2024
Basin Reserve Pitch Report: Average Scores and Chasing
Matches with a result decided by DLS are left out of this table. The last column shows the most recent ten first innings where there are enough matches.
Format
Matches
Avg 1st inns
Avg 2nd inns
Highest chased
Lowest defended
Avg 1st inns, last 10
ODIs
5
256
207
236
271
–
ODIs (women)
11
243
195
350
234
–
T20Is (women)
4
159
131
154
171
–
Basin Reserve Test Pitch: Average Score by Innings
Format
Tests
1st inns
2nd inns
3rd inns
4th inns
Highest 4th-inns chase
Tests
28
331
306
285
197
234
Basin Reserve Tests records
Tests in this record book: 28, from Mar 2004 to Dec 2025.
Most Test Runs at the Basin Reserve
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
KS Williamson New Zealand
18
30
1,591
242*
63.64
58.19
5
6
LRPL Taylor New Zealand
15
23
1,279
200
60.90
63.25
3
8
BB McCullum New Zealand
16
27
998
302
36.96
55.23
2
4
HM Nicholls New Zealand
10
14
923
200*
76.92
58.64
4
4
TWM Latham New Zealand
15
25
909
264*
39.52
47.57
2
2
BJ Watling New Zealand
12
17
626
142*
39.12
39.30
2
2
DL Vettori New Zealand
10
18
585
110
36.56
73.22
1
4
TA Blundell New Zealand
7
11
462
115
57.75
64.62
2
1
KC Sangakkara Sri Lanka
3
6
433
203
86.60
64.92
2
0
JE Root England
3
5
367
153*
91.75
74.29
2
1
Most Test Wickets at the Basin Reserve
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
TG Southee New Zealand
18
33
63
6/68
34.05
3.29
3
CS Martin New Zealand
11
21
49
6/54
30.35
3.46
3
TA Boult New Zealand
11
20
48
6/40
27.96
3.21
1
N Wagner New Zealand
10
19
45
7/39
29.56
3.78
2
MJ Henry New Zealand
6
12
27
5/70
27.04
3.21
1
DL Vettori New Zealand
10
19
26
7/130
49.19
2.94
1
NM Lyon Australia
2
4
17
6/65
13.59
3.20
1
IE O’Brien New Zealand
4
7
16
4/66
30.44
3.44
0
SCJ Broad England
3
6
14
6/51
24.36
3.26
1
JM Anderson England
3
6
13
5/73
26.08
3.11
1
Basin Reserve Highest Score in Tests
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Against
Date
BB McCullum New Zealand
302
559
32
4
India
14 Feb 2014
TWM Latham New Zealand
264*
489
21
1
Sri Lanka
15 Dec 2018
KS Williamson New Zealand
242*
438
18
0
Sri Lanka
3 Jan 2015
AC Voges Australia
239
364
30
3
New Zealand
12 Feb 2016
L Vincent New Zealand
224
348
25
4
Sri Lanka
11 Apr 2005
Best bowling figures
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Against
Date
N Wagner New Zealand
7/39
14.4
West Indies
1 Dec 2017
DL Vettori New Zealand
7/130
42.3
Sri Lanka
15 Dec 2006
M Morkel South Africa
6/23
16.4
New Zealand
23 Mar 2012
TA Boult New Zealand
6/40
15
West Indies
11 Dec 2013
KA Maharaj South Africa
6/40
20.2
New Zealand
16 Mar 2017
Highest totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
New Zealand
680/8
210
India
Basin Reserve, Wellington
14 Feb 2014
Bangladesh
595/8
152
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
12 Jan 2017
New Zealand
580/4
123
Sri Lanka
Basin Reserve, Wellington
17 Mar 2023
New Zealand
578
157.3
Sri Lanka
Basin Reserve, Wellington
15 Dec 2018
Australia
570/8
140
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
18 Mar 2005
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
New Zealand
99
36.5
Pakistan
Basin Reserve, Wellington
3 Dec 2009
New Zealand
125
34.5
England
Basin Reserve, Wellington
6 Dec 2024
West Indies
128
46.2
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
10 Dec 2025
New Zealand
130
39.1
Sri Lanka
Basin Reserve, Wellington
15 Dec 2006
West Indies
131
56.4
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
11 Dec 2020
Basin Reserve ODIs records
ODIs in this record book: 6, from Mar 2005 to Jan 2025.
Most runs
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
MJ Guptill New Zealand
4
4
185
100
46.25
76.13
1
0
HM Nicholls New Zealand
4
4
151
82
37.75
84.83
0
2
KS Williamson New Zealand
3
3
147
115
49.00
86.47
1
0
DP Conway New Zealand
1
1
126
126
126.00
114.55
1
0
DJ Mitchell New Zealand
1
1
100
100*
–
108.70
1
0
Fakhar Zaman Pakistan
2
2
94
82*
94.00
91.26
0
1
C Munro New Zealand
2
2
92
58
46.00
155.93
0
1
WA Young New Zealand
1
1
90
90*
–
104.65
0
1
Shadab Khan Pakistan
2
2
82
54
41.00
75.23
0
1
LRPL Taylor New Zealand
3
3
78
59
26.00
77.23
0
1
Most wickets
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
MJ Henry New Zealand
4
4
12
4/19
11.83
3.74
0
TA Boult New Zealand
3
3
6
4/40
18.67
4.48
0
JDS Neesham New Zealand
1
1
5
5/27
5.40
3.52
1
MJ Santner New Zealand
5
5
5
3/40
29.80
4.38
0
Mohammad Amir Pakistan
2
2
4
3/28
21.25
4.95
0
Rumman Raees Pakistan
2
2
4
3/67
33.75
6.75
0
GD Elliott New Zealand
1
1
3
3/43
14.33
4.30
0
Hasan Ali Pakistan
1
1
3
3/61
20.33
6.10
0
Anwar Ali Pakistan
1
1
3
3/66
22.00
6.71
0
TG Southee New Zealand
2
2
3
3/22
22.67
4.48
0
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Against
Date
DP Conway New Zealand
126
110
17
0
Bangladesh
26 Mar 2021
KS Williamson New Zealand
115
117
8
1
Pakistan
6 Jan 2018
DJ Mitchell New Zealand
100*
92
9
2
Bangladesh
26 Mar 2021
MJ Guptill New Zealand
100
126
10
1
Pakistan
19 Jan 2018
WA Young New Zealand
90*
86
12
0
Sri Lanka
5 Jan 2025
Best bowling figures
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Against
Date
JDS Neesham New Zealand
5/27
7.4
Bangladesh
26 Mar 2021
MJ Henry New Zealand
4/19
10
Sri Lanka
5 Jan 2025
MJ Henry New Zealand
4/27
10
Bangladesh
26 Mar 2021
TA Boult New Zealand
4/40
9
Pakistan
25 Jan 2016
MJ Henry New Zealand
4/53
10
Pakistan
19 Jan 2018
Basin Reserve Highest Score in ODIs
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
New Zealand
318/6
50
Bangladesh
Basin Reserve, Wellington
26 Mar 2021
New Zealand
315/7
50
Pakistan
Basin Reserve, Wellington
6 Jan 2018
New Zealand
280/8
50
Pakistan
Basin Reserve, Wellington
25 Jan 2016
New Zealand
271/7
50
Pakistan
Basin Reserve, Wellington
19 Jan 2018
Pakistan
256
49
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
19 Jan 2018
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
Bangladesh
154
42.4
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
26 Mar 2021
Sri Lanka
178
43.4
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
5 Jan 2025
Pakistan
210
46
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
25 Jan 2016
New Zealand
233
49.5
Australia
Basin Reserve, Wellington
1 Mar 2005
Pakistan
256
49
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
19 Jan 2018
Basin Reserve ODIs (women) records
ODIs in this record book: 13, from Mar 2022 to Apr 2026.
Most runs
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
ML Green New Zealand
7
7
288
141*
96.00
88.07
1
1
AC Kerr New Zealand
7
7
264
179*
44.00
98.88
1
0
AJ Healy Australia
7
7
240
129
34.29
96.00
1
0
L Wolvaardt South Africa
4
4
231
90
57.75
82.50
0
3
SW Bates New Zealand
7
7
224
93*
37.33
75.68
0
3
Most wickets
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
A Gardner Australia
7
7
10
3/25
18.90
4.08
0
RA Mair New Zealand
4
4
9
5/50
27.22
6.26
1
AC Kerr New Zealand
7
7
9
4/54
38.44
5.09
0
JM Kerr New Zealand
5
5
8
4/23
27.62
4.60
0
JL Jonassen Australia
4
4
7
2/13
13.86
3.05
0
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Against
Date
AC Kerr New Zealand
179*
139
23
1
South Africa
1 Apr 2026
ML Green New Zealand
141*
128
15
0
South Africa
4 Apr 2026
MM Lanning Australia
135*
130
15
1
South Africa
22 Mar 2022
AJ Healy Australia
129
107
17
1
West Indies
30 Mar 2022
A Sutherland Australia
105*
81
11
2
New Zealand
21 Dec 2024
Best bowling figures
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Against
Date
RA Mair New Zealand
5/50
9.1
South Africa
4 Apr 2026
JM Kerr New Zealand
4/23
10
Bangladesh
11 Dec 2022
MM Penfold New Zealand
4/42
10
Australia
21 Dec 2024
AC Kerr New Zealand
4/54
10
Australia
23 Dec 2024
S Ecclestone England
3/15
10
Bangladesh
27 Mar 2022
Highest Women's ODI Totals in Wellington
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
New Zealand
350/8
49.4
South Africa
Basin Reserve, Wellington
1 Apr 2026
South Africa
346/6
50
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
1 Apr 2026
New Zealand
306/7
50
South Africa
Basin Reserve, Wellington
4 Apr 2026
Australia
305/3
45
West Indies
Basin Reserve, Wellington
30 Mar 2022
Australia
291/7
50
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
21 Dec 2024
Basin Reserve T20Is (women) records
T20Is in this record book: 4, from Feb 2020 to Mar 2024.
Most runs
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
SFM Devine New Zealand
2
2
182
105
91.00
149.18
1
1
ME Bouchier England
2
2
97
91
48.50
149.23
0
1
SW Bates New Zealand
4
4
85
47*
28.33
97.70
0
0
IC Gaze New Zealand
2
2
66
51*
66.00
146.67
0
1
NR Sciver-Brunt England
2
2
60
31
60.00
146.34
0
0
Most wickets
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
AC Kerr New Zealand
4
4
6
3/30
18.17
7.27
0
CE Dean England
2
2
5
4/26
11.60
7.25
0
S Ecclestone England
2
2
4
3/30
12.25
6.12
0
AM Peterson New Zealand
2
2
3
3/14
10.67
5.33
0
SFM Devine New Zealand
3
3
3
2/38
17.33
8.91
0
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Against
Date
SFM Devine New Zealand
105
65
12
3
South Africa
10 Feb 2020
ME Bouchier England
91
56
12
2
New Zealand
27 Mar 2024
SFM Devine New Zealand
77
57
7
4
South Africa
9 Feb 2020
IC Gaze New Zealand
51*
28
6
1
England
29 Mar 2024
SW Bates New Zealand
47*
46
3
0
South Africa
10 Feb 2020
Best bowling figures
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Against
Date
CE Dean England
4/26
4
New Zealand
27 Mar 2024
AM Peterson New Zealand
3/14
4
South Africa
10 Feb 2020
S Ecclestone England
3/30
4
New Zealand
29 Mar 2024
AC Kerr New Zealand
3/30
4
England
29 Mar 2024
A Khaka South Africa
2/14
3
New Zealand
9 Feb 2020
Highest totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
England
177/3
20
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
27 Mar 2024
New Zealand
171/2
20
South Africa
Basin Reserve, Wellington
10 Feb 2020
South Africa
154/5
19.5
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
9 Feb 2020
New Zealand
153/5
20
South Africa
Basin Reserve, Wellington
9 Feb 2020
England
138/5
18.5
New Zealand
Basin Reserve, Wellington
29 Mar 2024
Team results at Basin Reserve (men, all formats)
Team
Matches
Won
Lost
Drawn
Tied/NR
New Zealand
34
17
10
7
0
Sri Lanka
6
1
4
1
0
Australia
5
4
0
1
0
Pakistan
5
1
3
1
0
Bangladesh
4
0
4
0
0
England
4
2
1
1
0
West Indies
4
0
4
0
0
India
3
0
1
2
0
South Africa
3
2
0
1
0
Latest matches at Basin Reserve
Match
Date
Venue
Result
New Zealand v South Africa
4 Apr 2026
Basin Reserve, Wellington
New Zealand won by 66 runs
South Africa v New Zealand
1 Apr 2026
Basin Reserve, Wellington
New Zealand won by 2 wickets
West Indies v New Zealand
10 Dec 2025
Basin Reserve, Wellington
New Zealand won by 9 wickets
Sri Lanka v New Zealand
5 Jan 2025
Basin Reserve, Wellington
New Zealand won by 9 wickets
Australia v New Zealand
23 Dec 2024
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Australia won by 75 runs
Australia v New Zealand
21 Dec 2024
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Australia won by 65 runs (DLS)
England v New Zealand
6 Dec 2024
Basin Reserve, Wellington
England won by 323 runs
New Zealand v England
1 Apr 2024
Basin Reserve, Wellington
England won by 4 wickets
New Zealand v England
29 Mar 2024
Basin Reserve, Wellington
England won by 5 wickets
England v New Zealand
27 Mar 2024
Basin Reserve, Wellington
England won by 47 runs
Leading Players and Team Records at the Basin Reserve
Kane Williamson (New Zealand) is the leading Test scorer, 1,591 at 63.64, with 5 hundreds and a best of 242* against Sri Lanka. Ross Taylor (New Zealand) has 1,279, and Tom Latham (New Zealand) made 264* against Sri Lanka in Dec 2018. Among visitors, Joe Root (England) averages 91.75 from 3 Tests.
Tim Southee (New Zealand) has taken more Test wickets than anyone here, 63. The best Test spell is Neil Wagner’s 7/39 for New Zealand against West Indies in Dec 2017, and Nathan Lyon (Australia) took 17 wickets in just 2 Tests.
In women’s ODIs, Amelia Kerr (New Zealand) struck 179* from 139 balls versus South Africa on 1 Apr 2026, as New Zealand reached 350/8 to chase 346/6. Maddy Green (New Zealand) leads the women’s ODI runs with 288 at 96.00.
New Zealand’s men have played 34 games here: 17 won, 10 lost, 7 drawn. Australia are unbeaten in 5 with 4 wins, while West Indies and Bangladesh are both 0 from 4. Compare Wellington with Eden Park, Hagley Oval and Seddon Park.
Questions about Basin Reserve
Is the Basin Reserve pitch good for batting or bowling?
Batters get runs for most of a Test here, with 331 a typical opening innings and 285 still the norm in the 3rd. Only the final innings drops sharply, to 197. Captains plainly like to bowl first, having done so 40 times to 11 after winning the toss.
What is the highest score at the Basin Reserve?
India conceded the record team score, 680/8 in Feb 2014, and Brendon McCullum’s 302 in that innings is the only triple hundred here. In men’s ODIs New Zealand made 318/6 against Bangladesh in Mar 2021.
Which wins more at the Basin Reserve, batting first or chasing?
The team batting first won 4 of the 6 men’s ODIs, and no men’s ODI chase has topped 236. In women’s cricket it is even: 6 each in ODIs, 2 each in T20Is.
Who has scored the most Test runs at the Basin Reserve?
Kane Williamson: 1,591 from 30 innings, averaging 63.64. Ross Taylor is next on 1,279.
Which match is the latest at the Basin Reserve?
New Zealand’s 66-run women’s ODI win over South Africa on 4 Apr 2026. RA Mair took 5/50.
What is the seating capacity of Basin Reserve?
Basin Reserve holds about 6,800 spectators, going by its published capacity. Capacity can change after redevelopment or when temporary stands are added for big events.