Gymkhana Club Ground

{{short description|Cricket ground and team in Nairobi, Kenya}} {{Infobox cricket ground | ground_name = Nairobi Gymkhana Club | nickname = | country = Kenya | location = [[Nairobi]], [[Kenya]] | seating_capacity = 7,000 | end1 = City End | end2 = Forest Road End | international = true | firstodidate = 28 September | firstodiyear = 1996 | firstodihome = Kenya | firstodiaway = Sri Lanka | lastodidate = 11 October | lastodiyear = 2010 | lastodihome = Kenya | lastodiaway = Afghanistan | lastodiawayvar = 2004 | firstt20idate = 1 September | firstt20iyear = 2007 | firstt20ihome = Kenya | firstt20iaway = Bangladesh | lastt20idate = 19 October | lastt20iyear = 2024 | lastt20ihome = Zimbabwe | lastt20iaway = Seychelles | firstwt20idate = 13 December | firstwt20iyear = 2022 | firstwt20ihome = Kenya | firstwt20iaway = Uganda | lastwt20idate = 21 December | lastwt20iyear = 2022 | lastwt20ihome = Kenya | lastwt20iaway = Uganda

| year1 = 1958–1986 | club1 = [[East Africa cricket team|East Africa]] | year2 = 1986–present | club2 = [[Kenya cricket team|Kenya]] | date = 19 October | year = 2024 | source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/16/1329.html CricketArchive }}

'''Nairobi Gymkhana Club''' is a [[cricket]] ground and team in [[Nairobi]], [[Kenya]]. It hosted two matches during the [[2003 Cricket World Cup]]. The ground has a capacity of 7,000 people. It is located north of the central business district, but not far from it. The ground is the main cricket venue in the country and the only one which could in any way be described as a major ground.

==Cricket==

The ground is home to a cricket team of the same name, which is one of the oldest cricket clubs in [[Kenya]]. Earlier the ground was called Suleman Verjee Indian Gymkhana having been donated by the [[Suleman Verjee]] family at a time when no recreational facilities of scale were available to [[Indians in Kenya]]. The land was allocated by the [[List of colonial governors and administrators of Kenya|Governor of Kenya]] to the Indian Association in 1927.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nairobi Gymkhana – NG |url=https://nairobigymkhana.com/ |access-date=30 August 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The ground is home to one of Kenya's oldest and most influential clubs, the Gymkhana has hosted colonial and other important matches since the early 1900s but it really began to develop as Kenya became a serious force in world cricket in the 1990s.

It has become the main cricket ground in [[Kenya]] and hosts International games for the National team. It was at this ground, that [[Shahid Afridi]] scored the (then) [[List of One Day International cricket records#Fastest centuries|fastest ODI century]] in 1997 from just 37 balls.

Investment in the ground accelerated with ICC grants which enabled it to host the [[2000 ICC Champions Trophy]] although since then it has suffered from a lack on investment resulting from Kenya's internal problems. The ground itself is a mixture of grass banking and wooden stands, with a modern pavilion on one side and a new media centre, constructed for the 2000 tournament, at one end.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/kenya/content/story/251675.html|title=Procter inspects Kenyan facilities|work=Cricinfo|access-date=2018-04-20|language=en}}</ref>

As with many such clubs in Kenya, the Gymkhana is home to a variety of other sports as well as providing comfortable accommodation. Situated almost 5,500 feet above sea level, it is one of the highest first-class grounds.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/kenya/content/story/388941.html|title=Nairobi Gymkhana's days could be numbered|work=Cricinfo|access-date=2018-04-20|language=en}}</ref>

The 2026 Asian Legends League (Season 2) is scheduled to be held at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club from 2 to 14 June 2026<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2026 |title=Gymkhana Club Ground to host Asian Legends League 2026 |url=https://touchcrictv.com/asian-legends-league/ |website=Touchcrictv.com}}</ref>. The tournament is expected to feature six Asian teams competing in a total of 19 Twenty20 (T20) matches during the season.

==Facilities==

The Gymkhana club also has a small inside area with a badminton court and further in, an outdoor area with a swimming pool and a restaurant.

==Transportation==

Nairobi Gymkhana is situated a 20-minute taxi ride and is about 15 km from the airport. Parking near the ground is limited.

==List of Centuries== ===One Day Internationals===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%" |- ! No. !! Score !! Player !! Team !! Balls !! Inns. !! Opposing team !! Date !! Result |- | 1 || 100* || [[Romesh Kaluwitharana]] || {{cr|SRI}} || 89 || 2 || {{cr|KEN}} || 28 September 1996 || Won<ref name=odi1120>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8551/scorecard/66052/kenya-vs-sri-lanka-1st-match-kca-centenary-tournament-1996-97 |title=1st Match, KCA Centenary Tournament at Nairobi (Gym), Sep 28 1996|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 2 || 124 || [[Daryll Cullinan]] || {{cr|RSA}} || 117 || 1 || {{cr|PAK}} || 29 September 1996 || Won<ref name=odi1121>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8551/scorecard/66053/pakistan-vs-south-africa-2nd-match-kca-centenary-tournament-1996-97 |title=2nd Match, KCA Centenary Tournament at Nairobi (Gym), Sep 29 1996|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 3 || 121 || [[Jonty Rhodes]] || {{cr|RSA}} || 114 || 1 || {{cr|PAK}} || 29 September 1996 || Won<ref name=odi1121 /> |- | 4 || 115 || [[Saeed Anwar]] || {{cr|PAK}} || 120 || 1 || {{cr|SRI}} || 4 October 1996 || Won<ref name=odi1125>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8551/scorecard/66057/pakistan-vs-sri-lanka-6th-match-kca-centenary-tournament-1996-97 |title=6th Match, KCA Centenary Tournament at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 4 1996|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 5 || 102 || [[Shahid Afridi]] || {{cr|PAK}} || 40 || 1 || {{cr|SRI}} || 4 October 1996 || Won<ref name=odi1125 /> |- | 6 || 122 || [[Aravinda de Silva]] || {{cr|SRI}} || 116 || 2 || {{cr|PAK}} || 4 October 1996 || Lost<ref name=odi1125 /> |- | 7 || 118* || [[Gary Kirsten]] || {{cr|RSA}} || 127 || 2 || {{cr|PAK}} || 6 October 1996 || Won<ref name=odi1126>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8551/scorecard/66058/pakistan-vs-south-africa-final-kca-centenary-tournament-1996-97 |title=Final, KCA Centenary Tournament at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 6 1996|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 8 || 122 || [[Dipak Chudasama]] || {{cr|KEN}} || 113 || 1 || {{cr|BAN}} || 10 October 1997 || Won<ref name=odi1239>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8555/scorecard/66116/kenya-vs-bangladesh-1st-match-presidents-cup-1997-98 |title=1st match, President's Cup at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 10 1997|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 9 || 144 || [[Kennedy Otieno]] || {{cr|KEN}} || 146 || 1 || {{cr|BAN}} || 10 October 1997 || Won<ref name=odi1239 /> |- | 10 || 101* || [[Lance Klusener]] || {{cr|RSA}} || 105 || 2 || {{cr|ZIM}} || 28 September 1999 || Won<ref name=odi1505>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8566/scorecard/66243/south-africa-vs-zimbabwe-3rd-match-lg-cup-1999-00 |title=3rd Match, LG Cup at Nairobi (Gym), Sep 28 1999|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 11 || 139 || [[Sourav Ganguly]] || {{cr|IND}} || 147 || 1 || {{cr|ZIM}} || 1 October 1999 || Won<ref name=odi1508>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8566/scorecard/66246/india-vs-zimbabwe-6th-match-lg-cup-1999-00 |title=6th Match, LG Cup at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 1 1999 1999|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 12 || 132 || [[Avishka Gunawardene]] || {{cr|SRI}} || 146 || 1 || {{cr|WIN}} || 4 October 2000 || Won<ref name=odi1631>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8037/scorecard/66171/sri-lanka-vs-west-indies-2nd-pqf-icc-knockout-2000-01 |title=2nd PQF, ICC KnockOut at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 4 2000|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 13 || 105* || [[Saeed Anwar]] || {{cr|PAK}} || 134 || 2 || {{cr|SRI}} || 8 October 2000 || Won<ref name=odi1634>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8037/scorecard/66174/pakistan-vs-sri-lanka-2nd-qf-icc-knockout-2000-01 |title=2nd QF, ICC KnockOut at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 8 2000|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 14 || 104 || [[Saeed Anwar]] || {{cr|PAK}} || 115 || 1 || {{cr|NZL}} || 11 October 2000 || Lost<ref name=odi1637>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8037/scorecard/66177/new-zealand-vs-pakistan-1st-sf-icc-knockout-2000-01 |title=1st SF, ICC KnockOut at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 11 2000|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 15 || 141* || [[Sourav Ganguly]] || {{cr|IND}} || 142 || 1 || {{cr|RSA}} || 13 October 2000 || Won<ref name=odi1638>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8037/scorecard/66178/india-vs-south-africa-2nd-sf-icc-knockout-2000-01 |title=2nd SF, ICC KnockOut at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 13 2000|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 16 || 117 || [[Sourav Ganguly]] || {{cr|IND}} || 130 || 1 || {{cr|NZL}} || 15 October 2000 || Lost<ref name=odi1639>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8037/scorecard/66179/india-vs-new-zealand-final-icc-knockout-2000-01 |title=Final, ICC KnockOut at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 15 2000|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 17 || 102* || [[Chris Cairns]] || {{cr|NZL}} || 113 || 2 || {{cr|IND}} || 15 October 2000 || Won<ref name=odi1639 /> |- | 18 || 146 || [[Matthew Hayden]] || {{cr|AUS}} || 128 || 1 || {{cr|PAK}} || 30 August 2002 || Won<ref name=odi1868>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8574/scorecard/66344/australia-vs-pakistan-2nd-match-pso-tri-nation-tournament-2002 |title=2nd Match, PSO Tri-Nation Tournament at Nairobi (Gym), Aug 30 2002|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 19 || 116 || [[Jeremy Bray (cricketer)|Jeremy Bray]] || {{cr|IRE}} || 136 || 1 || {{cr|SCO}} || 30 January 2007 || Lost<ref name=odi2492>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8602/scorecard/267380/ireland-vs-scotland-3rd-match-icc-world-cricket-league-division-one-2006-07 |title=3rd Match, ICC World Cricket League Division One at Nairobi (Gym), Jan 30 2007|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 20 || 100 || [[Neil McCallum (cricketer)|Neil McCallum]] || {{cr|SCO}} || 92 || 2 || {{cr|IRE}} || 30 January 2007 || Won<ref name=odi2492 /> |- | 21 || 104 || [[Darron Reekers]] || {{cr|NED}} || 82 || 1 || {{cr|IRE}} || 5 February 2007 || Won<ref name=odi2509>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8602/scorecard/267392/ireland-vs-netherlands-15th-match-icc-world-cricket-league-division-one-2006-07 |title=15th Match, ICC World Cricket League Division One at Nairobi (Gym), Feb 5 2007|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 22 || 111* || [[Thomas Odoyo]] || {{cr|KEN}} || 113 || 2 || {{cr|CAN}} || 18 October 2007 || Won<ref name=odi2634>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/14199/scorecard/296685/kenya-vs-canada-1st-odi-canada-tour-of-kenya-and-namibia-2007-08 |title=1st ODI, Canada tour of Kenya and Namibia at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 18 2007|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 23 || 102 || [[Steve Tikolo]] || {{cr|KEN}} || 99 || 1 || {{cr|ZIM}} || 19 October 2008 || Won<ref name=odi2768>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8599/scorecard/325583/kenya-vs-zimbabwe-3rd-match-tri-nation-tournament-in-kenya-2008-09 |title=3rd Match, Tri-Nation Tournament in Kenya at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 19 2008|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 24 || 109* || [[Ryan ten Doeschate]] || {{cr|NED}} || 121 || 1 || {{cr|KEN}} || 16 February 2010 || Lost<ref name=odi2956>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/13342/scorecard/441782/kenya-vs-netherlands-1st-odi-netherlands-tour-of-kenya-2009-10 |title=1st ODI, Netherlands tour of Kenya at Nairobi (Gym), Feb 16 2010|work=ESPN Cricinfo| access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> |}

==List of five-wicket hauls==

===One Day Internationals=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Five-wicket hauls in Men's One Day Internationals at Gymkhana Club Ground |- ! No. ! Bowler ! Date ! Team ! Opposing Team ! scope="col" style="width:20px;"|Inn ! scope="col" style="width:20px;"|O ! scope="col" style="width:20px;"|R ! scope="col" style="width:20px;"|W ! Result |- | 1 || [[Allan Donald]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1996|10|3}} || {{cr|SA}} || {{cr|KEN}} || 2 || 9 || 23 || 6 | South Africa won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8551/game/66056/kenya-vs-south-africa-5th-match-kca-centenary-tournament-1996-97 5th Match, KCA Centenary Tournament at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 3 1996], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-02-14.</ref> |- | 2 || [[Waqar Younis]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1996|10|4}} || {{cr|PAK}} || {{cr|SL}} || 2 || 8.5 || 52 || 5 | Pakistan won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8551/game/66057/pakistan-vs-sri-lanka-6th-match-kca-centenary-tournament-1996-97 6th Match, KCA Centenary Tournament at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 4 1996], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-02-14.</ref> |- | 3 || [[Aasif Karim]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1997|10|10}} || {{cr|KEN}} || {{cr|BAN}} || 2 || 10 || 33 || 5 | Kenya won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8555/game/66116/kenya-vs-bangladesh-1st-match-presidents-cup-1997-98 1st Match, President's Cup at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 10 1997], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-02-14.</ref> |- | 4 || [[Sunil Joshi]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1999|9|26}} || {{cr|IND}} || {{cr|SA}} || 1 || 10 || 6 || 5 | India won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8566/game/66242/india-vs-south-africa-2nd-match-lg-cup-1999-00 2nd Match, LG Cup at Nairobi (Gym), Sep 26 1999], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-02-14.</ref> |- | 5 || [[Shayne O'Connor]] || {{dts|format=dmy|2000|10|11}} || {{cr|NZ}} || {{cr|PAK}} || 1 || 9.2 || 46 || 5 | New Zealand won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8037/game/66177/new-zealand-vs-pakistan-1st-sf-icc-knockout-2000-01 1st SF, ICC KnockOut at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 11 2000], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-02-14.</ref> |- | 6 || [[Jason Gillespie]] || {{dts|format=dmy|2002|8|30}}{{efn|This match was part of the [[PSO Tri-Nation Tournament 2002]] played between Australia, Pakistan and Kenya.}} || {{cr|AUS}} || {{cr|PAK}} || 2 || 10 || 22 || 5 | Australia won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8574/game/66344/australia-vs-pakistan-2nd-match-pso-tri-nation-tournament-2002 2nd Match, PSO Tri-Nation Tournament at Nairobi (Gym), Aug 30 2002], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-02-14.</ref> |- | 7 || [[Jason Gillespie]] || {{dts|format=dmy|2002|9|7}}{{efn|This was the final of the [[PSO Tri-Nation Tournament 2002]].}} || {{cr|AUS}} || {{cr|PAK}} || 1 || 10 || 70 || 5 | No result{{efn|Rain meant that it was not possible to complete the match. The title was shared between Australia and Pakistan.<ref>Agha Akbar (2002) [https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/23169519/rain-provides-reprieve-pakistan Rain provides reprieve to Pakistan], [[CricInfo]], 2002-09-07. Retrieved 2020-02-14.</ref>}}<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8574/game/66349/australia-vs-pakistan-final-pso-tri-nation-tournament-2002 Final, PSO Tri-Nation Tournament at Nairobi (Gym), Sep 7 2002], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-02-14.</ref> |- | 8 || [[Collins Obuya]] || {{dts|format=dmy|2003|2|24}}{{efn|The match was part of the [[2003 Cricket World Cup]].}} || {{cr|KEN}} || {{cr|SL}} || 2 || 10 || 24 || 5 | Kenya won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8039/game/65258/kenya-vs-sri-lanka-26th-match-icc-world-cup-2002-03 26th Match, ICC World Cup at Nairobi (Gym), Feb 24 2003], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-02-14.</ref> |- | 9 || [[Mashrafe Mortaza]] || {{dts|format=dmy|2006|8|15}} || {{cr|BAN}} || {{cr|KEN}} || 1 || 10 || 26 || 6 | Bangladesh won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/14564/game/249380/kenya-vs-bangladesh-3rd-odi-bangladesh-tour-of-kenya-2006 3rd ODI, Bangladesh tour of Kenya at Nairobi (Gym), Aug 15 2006], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-02-14.</ref> |- | 10 || [[Chris Mpofu]] || {{dts|format=dmy|2008|10|19}} || {{cr|ZIM}} || {{cr|KEN}} || 1 || 10 || 52 || 6 | Kenya won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8599/game/325583/kenya-vs-zimbabwe-3rd-match-tri-nation-tournament-in-kenya-2008-09 3rd Match, Tri-Nation Tournament in Kenya at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 19 2008], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-02-14.</ref> |}

===Twenty20 Internationals=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Five-wicket hauls in Men's Twenty20 Internationals at Gymkhana Club Ground |- ! No. ! Bowler ! Date ! Team ! Opposing Team ! scope="col" style="width:20px;"|Inn ! scope="col" style="width:20px;"|O ! scope="col" style="width:20px;"|R ! scope="col" style="width:20px;"|W ! Result |- | 1 || [[Nehemiah Odhiambo]] || {{dts|format=dmy|2010|2|4}} || {{cr|KEN}} || {{cr|SCO}} || 1 || 4 || 20 || 5 | Kenya won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8637/game/441640/kenya-vs-scotland-6th-match-kenya-t20-tri-series-2009-10 Kenya won by 10 wickets (with 33 balls remaining)], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-02-14.</ref> |- | 2 || [[Sandeep Lamichhane]] || {{dts|format=dmy|2022|8|29}} || {{cr|NEP}} || {{cr|KEN}} || 1 || 4 || 9 || 5 | Kenya won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/nepal-in-kenya-2022-1328462/kenya-vs-nepal-4th-t20i-1328477/full-scorecard Kenya won by 7 runs ], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2023-02-17.</ref> |- |}

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/ground/58661.html Cricinfo] * [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/16/1329.html CricketArchive]

[[Category:Asian-Kenyan culture in Nairobi]] [[Category:Indian-Kenyan culture]] [[Category:Club cricket teams in Kenya]] [[Category:Cricket grounds in Kenya]] [[Category:Sports venues in Nairobi]] [[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in Kenya]]