The stage is set for a thrilling final showdown in the 2024 T20 World Cup, as India and South Africa prepare to lock horns at the iconic Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. The venue itself has witnessed a fair share of action in the ongoing tournament, hosting eight matches, out of which six produced a result. Interestingly, the teams batting first and second have emerged victorious in an equal number of games, with three wins each, while one match concluded in a tie.
Kensington Oval has established itself as the third-fastest scoring ground in the tournament, with an impressive run rate of 7.78 per over. Only the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St. Lucia and the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua have seen a faster rate of scoring in this edition of the T20 World Cup.
Looking at the historical data of all T20 Internationals held at this venue, a clear trend emerges: the team batting first has held a commanding advantage, winning 19 out of 29 completed matches. However, the last two matches hosted here have witnessed a shift in favor of the chasing team. The pitch at Kensington Oval has generally favored pace bowlers over spinners. Fast bowlers have claimed 59 wickets at an average of 20.22, while spinners have managed to pick up only 32 wickets at an average of 26.40. Although slightly more economical, spinners have gone at 7.28 runs per over, compared to the pacers’ 7.88.
The surface has typically been conducive to batting, although seamers can extract some early movement with the new ball, especially in early morning matches. The most recent match held at the Kensington Oval, between the United States of America and England, featured almost equidistant boundaries (64m and 62m), with a straight boundary stretching to 74m.
Historically, the team winning the toss has enjoyed a significant advantage at this venue, winning 18 out of 29 completed T20I matches. Teams electing to bat first have done so on 13 occasions, winning 10 of those matches. On the other hand, teams opting to bowl first on 19 occasions have secured victory in just eight matches, while losing nine.
In the ongoing tournament, the team winning the toss has emerged victorious in three out of the six matches that resulted in a decision. Out of the eight games played, captains have opted to bat first on three occasions and chase on five occasions. The team choosing to bat first has won one out of three games, while the team choosing to chase has secured three wins out of five games.
With both teams possessing formidable batting lineups and capable bowling attacks, this final encounter promises to be an intense and exciting contest. The Kensington Oval is likely to be packed with passionate fans, eagerly anticipating a thrilling spectacle of cricket.
