Kensington Oval - Bridgetown, Barbados
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denben
N 13° 06.357 W 059° 37.365
21P E 215616 N 1450329
The Kensington Oval is a stadium located to the west of the capital city Bridgetown on the island of Barbados. It is the pre-eminent sporting facility on the island and is primarily used for cricket.
Waymark Code: WMNGPV
Location: Barbados
Date Posted: 03/13/2015
Views: 5
Locally referred to as "The Mecca" of cricket, the Kensington Oval has hosted many important and exciting cricket games between local, regional, and international teams during its more than 120 year history.
The stands of the Kensington Oval were extensively rebuilt for the 2007 Cricket World Cup in a BDS$90M (US$45 Million) redevelopment. The Oval was formally reopened on 17th February 2007 and hosted seven matches of the ICC CWC 2007 including the Final on 28th April 2007 when Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 53 runs (DL method) to lift their 4th World Cup trophy and 3rd in succession.
The 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Final was held at the Kensington Oval on 16 May 2010. The match was won by England, delivering the team its first ever victory in a worldwide limited overs tournament, and its first International Cricket Council trophy. England defeated Australia in the final. Kevin Pietersen was named as player of the tournament.
The Kensington Oval has also hosted many non-cricket events such as matches of the Barbados national football team, hockey, inter-school athletics, Miss Barbados pageants, and concert events. The ground also has a jumbo TV screen and also a jacuzzi type area, for fans to watch while relaxing in the pool (similar to Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona). Behind this is a large grassy hill for fans to have picnics on, which has a bunker underneath for the media.
A statue of His Excellency, The Right Honorable Sir Garfield Sobers, National Hero of Barbados, universally recognized as the world’s greatest cricketer and in whose honour the Players Pavilion is named, dominates the entry to the Oval.
In 2008 the Institution of Structural Engineers recognised the Kensington Oval as one of its Structural Awards winners; this was under the section of "Awards for Sports or Leisure Structures". In summing up the stadium the ISE stated: "…This inspiring structure, created with meticulous attention to buildability, has added an outstanding addition to the Barbados skyline. It is already immensely popular with the most enthusiastic cricket audience in the world...
Guided tours are available Monday to Friday every 1/2 hour from 9:00am to 3:30pm.
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