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Cricket Record Book

Kensington Oval Pitch Report and Records, Barbados

Covers 90 international matches at this ground from Jun 2003 to Jul 2026.

The Kensington Oval pitch report below, drawn from 90 internationals between Jun 2003 and Jul 2026, answers one question first: does chasing pay in Bridgetown? In ODIs it does; in T20Is it does not. The ground is in Barbados, an island that plays its international cricket as part of the West Indies.

Men’s ODIs and men’s T20Is account for 33 games each, with 14 Tests, 8 women’s T20Is and a pair of women’s ODIs completing the list. Two World Cup finals were played here, in Apr 2007 and on 29 Jun 2024.

Barbados Pitch Report: Batting or Bowling, Chase or Defend

The two white-ball formats call for opposite plans. Chasing teams have taken 22 men’s ODIs here and defending teams just 10. Strip out DLS finishes and the ODI numbers read 224 batting first and 203 in pursuit, yet England still chased 364/4 against West Indies’ 360/8 on 20 Feb 2019. Across the 10 most recent ODIs, first-innings scores average 208, a touch below the long-run mark, so scores are not rising.

Over 20 overs, defending wins 18 to 12. Opening scores average 158 and replies 144, with 183 the biggest chase and 133 the smallest total defended. Women’s T20Is are split four apiece.

Tests usually reach a finish, 3 draws in 14. Scores build to 306 and 321 before dropping to 235 and 170. The fourth-innings chase record stands at 194, which makes a target near 200 a stiff one. West Indies piled up 749/9 against England in Feb 2009, while England were rolled over for 77 here in Jan 2019.

Calling right has been worth something, 50 wins in 83 decided games; captains chose to bowl 47 times against 43 to bat.

Barbados Cricket Stadium Stats by Format

FormatMatchesWon batting firstWon chasingAvg 1st innsFirst matchLatest match
Tests14–––21 Apr 200525 Jun 2025
ODIs3310222247 Jun 200321 Jul 2026
ODIs (women)22024616 Sep 201822 Sep 2018
T20Is33181215820 Jun 200810 Nov 2024
T20Is (women)84410816 May 201022 Dec 2022

Kensington Oval 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.

FormatMatchesAvg 1st innsAvg 2nd innsHighest chasedLowest defendedAvg 1st inns, last 10
ODIs25224203364201208
ODIs (women)2246169–201–
T20Is31158144183133156
T20Is (women)810898108106–

Kensington Oval Test Pitch Report by Innings

FormatTests1st inns2nd inns3rd inns4th innsHighest 4th-inns chase
Tests14306321235170194

Kensington Oval Tests records

Tests in this record book: 14, from Apr 2005 to Jun 2025.

Most Test Runs at Kensington Oval

BatterMInnsRunsHSAvgSR100s50s
S Chanderpaul West Indies916631103*48.5440.3515
KC Brathwaite West Indies81650016033.3335.8913
JO Holder West Indies611462202*46.2060.9513
RR Sarwan West Indies4739029155.7164.0410
D Ramdin West Indies61035216639.1153.7411
AN Cook England24342139*114.0047.1721
DM Bravo West Indies6123358230.4542.3003
RL Chase West Indies4827313134.1247.5611
J Blackwood West Indies2426110287.0053.1611
AB de Villiers South Africa23255178127.5047.0511

Most wickets

BowlerMInnsWktsBestAvgEcon5w
KAJ Roach West Indies714325/1718.562.791
JO Holder West Indies612255/4115.162.191
ST Gabriel West Indies510215/1117.052.661
SJ Benn West Indies47176/8136.763.082
FH Edwards West Indies59175/7638.473.591
JM Anderson England35156/4220.402.772
JE Taylor West Indies48113/3337.273.310
A Nel South Africa12106/328.802.341
I Sharma India12106/5510.802.611
BA Stokes England36104/5925.602.740

Highest individual scores

BatterScoreBalls4s6sAgainstDate
RR Sarwan West Indies291452302England26 Feb 2009
JO Holder West Indies202*229238England23 Jan 2019
AB de Villiers South Africa178352151West Indies21 Apr 2005
BC Lara West Indies176224211South Africa21 Apr 2005
D Ramdin West Indies166268200England26 Feb 2009

Best bowling figures

BowlerFiguresOversAgainstDate
RL Chase West Indies8/6021.4England23 Jan 2019
Yasir Shah Pakistan7/9439.5West Indies30 Apr 2017
A Nel South Africa6/3216.2West Indies21 Apr 2005
JM Anderson England6/4212.4West Indies1 May 2015
S Shillingford West Indies6/4916Zimbabwe12 Mar 2013

Kensington Oval Highest Score in Tests

TeamTotalOversAgainstVenueDate
West Indies749/9194.4EnglandKensington Oval, Bridgetown26 Feb 2009
England600/6153.2West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown26 Feb 2009
South Africa548/9177.5West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown21 Apr 2005
England507/9150.5West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown16 Mar 2022
West Indies449/9153AustraliaKensington Oval, Bridgetown7 Apr 2012

Lowest all-out totals

TeamTotalOversAgainstVenueDate
England7730.2West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown23 Jan 2019
Pakistan8134.4West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown30 Apr 2017
West Indies9331.2Sri LankaKensington Oval, Bridgetown23 Jun 2018
Zimbabwe10741.4West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown12 Mar 2013
England12342.1West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown1 May 2015

Kensington Oval ODIs records

ODIs in this record book: 33, from Jun 2003 to Jul 2026.

Most runs

BatterMInnsRunsHSAvgSR100s50s
SD Hope West Indies16164636433.0771.1203
CH Gayle West Indies7739113555.86111.0813
KU Carty West Indies88290128*48.3377.5411
DM Bravo West Indies101027610227.6076.8810
MN Samuels West Indies8826812538.2980.7211
SO Hetmyer West Indies1010256104*32.00103.2311
N Pooran West Indies992529131.50100.4003
JE Root England3323910279.6797.5520
KA Pollard West Indies992116226.3887.9202
AC Gilchrist Australia2218314991.50141.8610

Most wickets

BowlerMInnsWktsBestAvgEcon5w
AS Joseph West Indies1414334/3217.554.690
JO Holder West Indies1212193/2424.634.890
MA Starc Australia66145/4814.864.511
SS Cottrell West Indies66135/4618.775.191
JR Hazlewood Australia44115/5010.823.531
G Motie West Indies66115/4720.824.191
AJ Hosein West Indies66113/2822.554.200
DJ Bravo West Indies66104/1920.704.360
MW Forde West Indies4493/2917.444.240
HR Walsh West Indies5595/3921.004.221

Highest individual scores

BatterScoreBalls4s6sAgainstDate
AC Gilchrist Australia149104138Sri Lanka28 Apr 2007
CH Gayle West Indies135129312England20 Feb 2019
KU Carty West Indies128*114152England6 Nov 2024
MN Samuels West Indies125134142Australia21 Jun 2016
JJ Roy England12385153West Indies20 Feb 2019

Best bowling figures

BowlerFiguresOversAgainstDate
AJ Hall South Africa5/1810England17 Apr 2007
HR Walsh West Indies5/3910Australia20 Jul 2021
SS Cottrell West Indies5/469England22 Feb 2019
G Motie West Indies5/4710New Zealand19 Jul 2026
MA Starc Australia5/488West Indies20 Jul 2021

Kensington Oval Highest Score in ODIs

TeamTotalOversAgainstVenueDate
England364/448.4West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown20 Feb 2019
West Indies360/850EnglandKensington Oval, Bridgetown20 Feb 2019
England32850West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown9 Mar 2017
New Zealand307/547.1West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown21 Aug 2022
England301/949.5West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown21 Apr 2007

Lowest all-out totals

TeamTotalOversAgainstVenueDate
Ireland9130AustraliaKensington Oval, Bridgetown13 Apr 2007
West Indies11423IndiaKensington Oval, Bridgetown27 Jul 2023
England11741.3West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown27 Mar 2009
West Indies12326.2AustraliaKensington Oval, Bridgetown20 Jul 2021
Bangladesh13143.5West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown19 Apr 2007

Kensington Oval T20Is records

T20Is in this record book: 33, from Jun 2008 to Nov 2024.

Most runs

BatterMInnsRunsHSAvgSR100s50s
JC Buttler England8831783*45.29160.9103
N Pooran West Indies10102697033.62121.7201
PD Salt England88265103*44.17176.6711
DA Warner Australia772527236.00140.7803
R Powell West Indies7724410748.80165.9910
CH Gayle West Indies551899837.80133.1001
KP Pietersen England3317373*86.50149.1402
BA King West Indies8814852*21.14107.2501
SD Hope West Indies5514482*36.00132.1101
MM Ali England881416317.62139.6001

Most wickets

BowlerMInnsWktsBestAvgEcon5w
JO Holder West Indies77185/2711.898.341
AU Rashid England1111163/3217.756.760
R Shepherd West Indies88113/5924.1811.240
AJ Hosein West Indies99104/3020.906.530
CJ Jordan England88104/1025.309.790
DP Nannes Australia4494/1810.116.070
LS Livingstone England8892/1619.338.700
DJ Bravo West Indies7782/2725.258.420
RJ Sidebottom England3373/2311.007.000
K Santokie West Indies2264/218.006.000

Highest individual scores

BatterScoreBalls4s6sAgainstDate
R Powell West Indies10753410England26 Jan 2022
PD Salt England103*5496West Indies9 Nov 2024
DPMD Jayawardene Sri Lanka98*5694West Indies7 May 2010
CH Gayle West Indies986657India9 May 2010
CL White Australia85*4966Sri Lanka9 May 2010

Best bowling figures

BowlerFiguresOversAgainstDate
JO Holder West Indies5/272.5England30 Jan 2022
JO Holder West Indies4/73.4England22 Jan 2022
CJ Jordan England4/102.5USA23 Jun 2024
DP Nannes Australia4/184Bangladesh5 May 2010
K Santokie West Indies4/214England11 Mar 2014

Barbados Cricket Stadium T20 Records: Highest Totals

TeamTotalOversAgainstVenueDate
West Indies224/520EnglandKensington Oval, Bridgetown26 Jan 2022
England204/920West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown26 Jan 2022
Australia201/720EnglandKensington Oval, Bridgetown8 Jun 2024
Sri Lanka195/320West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown7 May 2010
England193/620West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown29 Jan 2022

Lowest all-out totals

TeamTotalOversAgainstVenueDate
Sri Lanka8716.2AustraliaKensington Oval, Bridgetown9 May 2010
England10319.4West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown22 Jan 2022
Oman10919.4NamibiaKensington Oval, Bridgetown2 Jun 2024
Bangladesh11418.4AustraliaKensington Oval, Bridgetown5 May 2010
USA11518.5EnglandKensington Oval, Bridgetown23 Jun 2024

Kensington Oval T20Is (women) records

T20Is in this record book: 8, from May 2010 to Dec 2022.

Most runs

BatterMInnsRunsHSAvgSR100s50s
SIR Dunkley England441294432.25114.1600
AJ Healy Australia4411858*39.33147.5001
MM Lanning Australia227654*–95.0001
B Cooper West Indies33683922.6795.7700
HK Matthews West Indies44673516.75104.6900

Most wickets

BowlerMInnsWktsBestAvgEcon5w
CE Dean England44114/195.914.640
JL Jonassen Australia3374/75.293.080
LK Bell England2264/125.505.500
ML Schutt Australia3363/3110.335.640
HK Matthews West Indies4463/1511.334.860

Highest individual scores

BatterScoreBalls4s6sAgainstDate
AJ Healy Australia58*43100West Indies16 Sep 2019
MM Lanning Australia54*5460West Indies14 Sep 2019
SIR Dunkley England443160West Indies17 Dec 2022
SR Taylor West Indies44*5132Australia14 Sep 2019
HC Knight England432751West Indies17 Dec 2022

Best bowling figures

BowlerFiguresOversAgainstDate
JL Jonassen Australia4/74West Indies18 Sep 2019
LK Bell England4/123West Indies18 Dec 2022
CE Dean England4/194West Indies17 Dec 2022
FR Davies England3/22.2West Indies22 Dec 2022
AN Davidson-Richards England3/52West Indies22 Dec 2022

Highest totals

TeamTotalOversAgainstVenueDate
England157/620West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown17 Dec 2022
England141/620West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown14 Dec 2022
West Indies140/820EnglandKensington Oval, Bridgetown17 Dec 2022
England131/820West IndiesKensington Oval, Bridgetown18 Dec 2022
West Indies125/820EnglandKensington Oval, Bridgetown14 Dec 2022

Team Results at the Barbados Cricket Stadium

TeamMatchesWonLostDrawnTied/NR
West Indies59272831
England31141421
Australia1914401
New Zealand85300
South Africa84301
Pakistan72401
India62310
Sri Lanka53200
Bangladesh40400
Ireland41300

Latest matches at Kensington Oval

MatchDateVenueResult
New Zealand v West Indies21 Jul 2026Kensington Oval, BridgetownWest Indies won by 2 wickets
West Indies v New Zealand19 Jul 2026Kensington Oval, BridgetownNew Zealand won by 1 wicket
Australia v West Indies25 Jun 2025Kensington Oval, BridgetownAustralia won by 159 runs
West Indies v England10 Nov 2024Kensington Oval, BridgetownEngland won by 7 wickets
West Indies v England9 Nov 2024Kensington Oval, BridgetownEngland won by 8 wickets
England v West Indies6 Nov 2024Kensington Oval, BridgetownWest Indies won by 8 wickets
India v South Africa29 Jun 2024Kensington Oval, BridgetownIndia won by 7 runs
USA v England23 Jun 2024Kensington Oval, BridgetownEngland won by 10 wickets
USA v West Indies21 Jun 2024Kensington Oval, BridgetownWest Indies won by 9 wickets
Australia v England8 Jun 2024Kensington Oval, BridgetownAustralia won by 36 runs

Leading Players and Big Innings at Kensington Oval

Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies) scored the ground’s biggest innings, 291 against England on 26 Feb 2009. Jason Holder (West Indies) added 202 not out against the same opponents in Jan 2019, in the Test where Roston Chase (West Indies) took 8/60. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) has the most Test runs, 631, and Kemar Roach (West Indies) the most Test wickets, 32. That rivalry has its own page, England vs West Indies.

In ODIs, no one has beaten Adam Gilchrist’s 149 for Australia in the Apr 2007 final with Sri Lanka. Shai Hope (West Indies) has 463 one-day runs, more than anyone, and Alzarri Joseph (West Indies) 33 one-day wickets.

Holder also leads for T20I wickets with 18. Rovman Powell (West Indies) hit 107 from 53 balls against England in Jan 2022, and West Indies’ 224/5 that day is the T20I high. See the West Indies team records, or browse the T20 World Cup records and compare Providence Stadium.

Questions about Kensington Oval

Is the Kensington Oval pitch good for batting or bowling?

Scores here are moderate rather than huge: 224 is the typical men’s ODI first innings and 158 the T20I one, while fourth-innings Test sides average only 170. Bowlers have had their days, such as the Jan 2019 Test in which England collapsed for 77.

What is the highest score at Kensington Oval?

Ramnaresh Sarwan of West Indies made 291 against England in Feb 2009, and his side reached 749/9 in that innings, the best team total. England’s 364/4 tops the ODI list, and in T20Is West Indies’ 224/5.

Should captains bat first or chase at Kensington Oval?

In ODIs, chase: 22 of the 33 men’s games went to the chasing team. In men’s T20Is defending sides lead 18 to 12, and nothing above 183 has been chased.

In which country is the Barbados cricket stadium?

Kensington Oval is in Bridgetown, Barbados. For international cricket Barbados is part of the West Indies, whose men have played 59 internationals at the ground in this data.

Which game is the newest in the Kensington Oval data?

An ODI on 21 Jul 2026 that West Indies won by 2 wickets against New Zealand. In the game before, on 19 Jul 2026, New Zealand had won there by 1 wicket.

Source: ball-by-ball match data from Cricsheet.org (ODC-BY). See how we compile these records.