Potchefstroom is synonymous with Varsity Cricket having hosted all four previous editions, but how well do you know the main venue, Senwes Park?
The ground will host 14 of the 2019 tournament’s 31 matches, including the semi-finals and final on Saturday, 7 September, with the other fixtures taking place next door at the NWU-Puk and Ibbies ovals.
Here varsitysportssa.com runs you through the stats and facts you need to know about Senwes Park:
2 – Two Test matches have been held at the venue, with South Africa hosting – and thrashing – Bangladesh in both 2002 and 2017. Similarly, only two T20 Internationals have been held at Senwes Park, with the Proteas beating Bangaladesh (2017) and Zimbabwe (2018) respectively.
4 – There have been six individual hundreds in Varsity Cricket and four have been scored at Senwes Park: JL Marais (Maties – 2015), Evan Jones (Tuks – 2016), Stefan Klopper (UJ – 2017) and Tony de Zorzi (Tuks – 2018).
8 – Only eight of the nine teams who have qualified for Varsity Cricket since its 2015 launch have won at Senwes Park. CUT, who replaced their neighbours UFS in 2018, will be aiming to become the ninth to do so this year.
15 – Tuks are the most successful team when playing at Senwes Park as they’ve won 15 times on the ground – including the 2015, 2016 and 2018 finals. Next best are home team and 2017 champions NWU, with 12 wins.
18 – Senwes Park has hosted 18 one-day internationals since earning international status in 2000. South Africa have played in nine of those fixtures, winning six times, tying once (against Australia in 2002) and losing last time they played there against New Zealand. Ironically, the first ODI played there was rained out.
53 – The 2018 final, when Tuks beat NWU by five wickets with two balls to spare, was the 53rd Varsity Cricket game at Senwes Park since 2015. Only two have ended as a no result due to inclement weather.
The 2019 edition once again takes place in Potchefstroom from 2-7 September and tickets to all the matches are available now – click here: https://varsitysportsa.plankton.mobi/
by Carlo Jonkerman
