{{short description|Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Use South African English|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox cricket ground | ground_name = City Oval | nickname = Alexandra Park <br /> Pietermaritzburg Oval | image = CityOval Pietermaritzburg.jpg | country = South Africa | location = Pietermaritzburg | coordinates = {{coord|29|36|37.17|S|30|22|50.97|E|region:ZA_type:landmark|display=title}} | establishment = 1888 | seating_capacity = 12,000 | end1 = Duzi End | end2 = Hulett End | international = true | firsttestdate = | firsttestyear = | firsttesthome = | firsttestaway = | lasttestdate = | lasttestyear = | lasttesthome = | lasttestaway = | firstodidate = 12 February | firstodiyear = 2003 | firstodihome = Bangladesh | firstodiaway = Sri Lanka | lastodidate = 23 February | lastodiyear = 2003 | lastodihome = India | lastodiaway = Namibia
| firstwodidate = | firstwodiyear = | firstwodihome = | firstwodiaway = | lastwodidate = | lastwodiyear = | lastwodihome = | lastwodiaway = | onlywodidate = 28 September | onlywodiyear = 2023 | onlywodihome = South Africa | onlywodiaway = New Zealand | firstwt20idate = 18 May | firstwt20iyear = 2019 | firstwt20ihome = South Africa | firstwt20iaway = Pakistan | lastwt20idate = 19 May | lastwt20iyear = 2019 | lastwt20ihome = South Africa | lastwt20iaway = Pakistan | year1 = | club1 = KwaZulu-Natal | year2 = | club2 = KwaZulu-Natal Inland | date = 7 September | year = 2020 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/ground/59151.html cricinfo }} '''City Oval''' (formerly '''Alexandra Park'''<ref name="ndtv.com">{{cite web|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/grounds/2039-city-oval-pietermaritzburg-groundprofile|title=City Oval, Pietermaritzburg|work=NDTVSports.com}}</ref> and sometimes called the '''Pietermaritzburg Oval'''),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.supersport.com/cricket/international/city-oval-info |title=International | Venues | City Oval Pietermaritzburg - SuperSport - Cricket |website=SuperSport.com |date=2015-10-06 |accessdate=2016-01-27}}</ref> is a multi-purpose stadium in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The 12,000 capacity stadium is currently used predominantly for cricket matches, with the ground being used by KwaZulu-Natal Inland men's and women's teams, KwaZulu-Natal and Dolphins (who also play at Kingsmead, Durban),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcboard.com.pk/Grounds/1631_misc.html|title=Pakistan Cricket – 'our cricket' website|website=Pcboard.com.pk|accessdate=2016-01-26|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102175012/http://www.pcboard.com.pk/Grounds/1631_misc.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/ground/59151.html|title=City Oval – South Africa – Cricket Grounds – ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}}</ref> and hosted two matches during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. It is one of only three first-class cricket grounds in the world to have a tree within the boundary ropes (the others being St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury, United Kingdom<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=AMYGBgAAQBAJ&q=city+oval+Pietermaritzburg+2003+world+cup&pg=PA64| title= ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP – Facts, Trivia & Records Book| last=Agrawal| first=Pankaj| page= 64| publisher= CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |date=October 2014|access-date=6 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/cricketgrounds.htm#.Vo2IFfmLTIU|title=South Africa's cricket grounds|website=Southafrica.com|accessdate=2016-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000127/http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/cricketgrounds.htm#.Vo2IFfmLTIU|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead}}</ref> and VRA Cricket Ground in Amstelveen, Netherlands),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/icc-cricket-world-cup-1999-history-matches-numbers-trivia-and-key-players-of-the-7th-cricket-world-cup-245915|title = ICC Cricket World Cup 1999: History, matches, numbers, trivia, and key players of the 7th cricket World Cup|date = 7 February 2015}}</ref> and any cricketer that scores a century or takes a five-wicket haul in a match at the City Oval gets to plant a tree at the ground.<ref name="Book" /> The City Oval Pavilion is based on the design of Queen's Park cricket ground in Chesterfield, United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/cwc2003/spl/venues_guide/html/pietermaritzburg.stm|title=BBC Sport – Cricket – World Cup 2003 – Venues Guide|publisher=BBC|access-date=2016-01-26}}</ref>
==History== The City Oval, then known as Alexandra Park, hosted its first first-class cricket match in 1894/95.<ref>{{cite web|last=Griffith |first=Peter D |url=http://sporttoday.org/5_acfffbb62bc20861_1.htm |title=South African First-Class Grounds |website=Sporttoday.org |date=1996-03-11 |accessdate=2016-01-27}}</ref> Between 1895 and 1957, the City Oval hosted 9 first-class matches between Natal and Marylebone Cricket Club.<ref name="cricketarchive.com">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/23/1631_f.html|title=The Home of CricketArchive|publisher=}}</ref>
The ground has been used to host many matches between South African A sides and touring cricket teams.<ref name="ndtv.com" /> First class matches were also played between Natal and Australians touring team in 1950 and 1958.<ref name="cricketarchive.com" /> In 2000, the City Oval hosted a List A match between Bangladesh and the South African Board President's XI; Charl Langeveldt took 5/7 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 51, and lost the match by 10 wickets.<ref name="ndtv.com" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/70/70789.html|title=The Home of CricketArchive|publisher=}}</ref> South Africa A have additionally played List A matches at the City Oval against Australia A in 2002/03 and Sri Lanka A in 2008/09.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/23/1631_a.html|title=The Home of CricketArchive|publisher=}}</ref> In July 2015, City Oval hosted three youth ODIs between South Africa U-19 team and Bangladesh U-19 team; South Africa U-19 won 2 matches, and Bangladesh U-19 won one match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/23/1631_uo.html|title=The Home of CricketArchive|publisher=}}</ref>
In December 2015, the ground hosted a warmup match between South Africa A and England, which England won by an innings and 91 runs; Alastair Cook and Joe Root both hit centuries, and Moeen Ali took 6/77 in the second innings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/moeen-ali-spins-england-convincing-warm-win-ahead-south-africa-series-1534515|title=Moeen Ali spins England to convincing warm-up win ahead of South Africa series|first=Nick|last=Howson|work=International Business Times UK|date=22 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35154980|title=Alastair Cook & Joe Root hit tour centuries against South Africa A|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>
==2003 Cricket World Cup == The City Oval has hosted two One Day International (ODI) matches, both of them in the 2003 Cricket World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/23/1631_o.html|title=The Home of CricketArchive|publisher=Cricketarchive.com|accessdate=2016-01-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015-hagley-oval-christchurch-all-set-to-become-the-100th-world-cup-venue-249248|title=ICC cricket World Cup 2015: Hagley Oval, Christchurch all set to become the 100th World Cup venue|work=Cricket Country|date=13 February 2015}}</ref>
Prior to the World Cup, the ground was renovated, with the introduction of the Jubilee Stand, named to commemorate Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee in 1897.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/01/1043804572216.html|title=The 15 World Cup venues|website=Theage.com|date=February 2003|accessdate=7 January 2016}}</ref>
The first ODI at the ground was played between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. In the first over of the match, Sri Lankan Chaminda Vaas took 4 wickets, including a hat-trick with the first three balls of the match, the first time this had occurred in international cricket.<ref name="Book">{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nUOmzE4O1UEC&q=city+oval+Pietermaritzburg+2003+world+cup&pg=PT14| title= The Penguin Book Of South African Sports Trivia| last=O'Sullivan| first= David |publisher=Penguin Books |date=September 2012 | isbn= 9780143027348|access-date= 6 January 2015}}</ref> Vaas' wickets were Hannan Sarkar bowled off the first ball, Mohammed Ashraful caught and bowled off the second ball, Ehsanul Haque was caught by Mahela Jayawardene at slip off the third ball, and Sanwar Hossain off the fifth ball, making the score 5/4 from 1 over.<ref name="espncricinfo.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/126663.html|title=Fiery Vaas brings Bangladesh to their knees|work=Cricinfo|accessdate=7 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=BC2jf1cWCJEC&q=Pietermaritzburg+cricket+ground&pg=PT13| title= The Extraordinary Book of SA Cricket| last1= O'Sullivan| first1=David| last2= McCallum| first2= Kevin| publisher= Penguin Books|date=September 2012 | isbn= 9780143527893|access-date= 6 January 2015}}</ref> He finished with figures of 6/25 from 9.1 overs with 2 maidens, as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 10 wickets.<ref name="espncricinfo.com" /><ref name="ndtv.com" />
The second ODI was between India and Namibia; Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly scored a 244 run partnership for the second wicket, the seventh highest partnership at the Cricket World Cup as of 2016. Ganguly made 112 from 119 balls, and Tendulkar made 152 runs from 151 balls, his highest score in World Cup matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/35320.html?class=2;filter=advanced;orderby=high_score;template=results;trophy=12;type=batting;view=match|title=Batting records – One-Day Internationals – Cricinfo Statsguru – ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}}</ref> India scored 311 runs, eventually winning the match by 181 runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportslook.net/10-highest-partnerships-in-icc-world-cup/|title=10 Highest Partnerships in ICC World Cup|author=|work=Sports Look|date=14 March 2015|accessdate=2016-01-26}}</ref> Tendulkar was awarded the man of the match award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/engine/match/65257.html|title=25th Match: India v Namibia at Pietermaritzburg, Feb 23, 2003 – Cricket Scorecard – ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo|accessdate=2016-01-26}}</ref>
===International centuries=== Two ODI centuries have been scored at the venue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2;filter=advanced;ground=197;orderby=start;runsmin1=100;runsval1=runs;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|title=Statistics / Statsguru / One-Day Internationals / Batting records|accessdate=27 December 2016|work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%" ! No. !! Score !! Player !! Team !! Balls !! Opposing team !! Date !! Result |- | 1 || 152 || Sachin Tendulkar || {{cr|IND}} || {{ntsh|1100}} 151 || {{cr|NAM}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2003|February|23}} || Won |- | 2 || 112* || Saurav Ganguly || {{cr|IND}} || {{ntsh|1100}} 119 || {{cr|NAM}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2003|February|23}} || Won |}
===Five-wicket hauls=== There has been only one five-wicket haul at the venue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2;filter=advanced;ground=197;orderby=start;qualmin1=5;qualval1=wickets;size=200;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings|title=Statistics - Statsguru - One-Day Internationals - Bowling records|accessdate=31 August 2019|work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%" ! No. !! Bowler !! Date !! Team !! Opposing team !! Inn !! Overs !! Runs !! Wkts !! Econ !! Result |-align="center" | 1 || Chaminda Vaas || {{dts|format=dmy|2003|2|14}} || {{cr|SRI}} || {{cr|BAN}} || {{nts|1}} || {{nts|9.1}} || {{nts|25}} || {{nts|6}} || {{nts|2.72}} || Won |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/ground/59151.html Cricinfo Website – Ground Page] * [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/23/1631.html Cricket Archive page]
Category:Cricket grounds in South Africa Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in South Africa Category:Sports venues in KwaZulu-Natal Category:1888 establishments in the Colony of Natal Category:Sports venues completed in 1888 Category:Pietermaritzburg Category:19th-century architecture in South Africa