The highly anticipated clash between India and Ireland in the ongoing T20 World Cup will be played at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York today (Wednesday, June 5). With both teams looking to secure a strong start to their campaign, a lot will depend on how the pitch behaves. Early indications suggest a challenging surface that could favor bowlers, particularly in the early stages of the innings.
This modular stadium is a one-of-a-kind venue made especially for the T20 World Cup and will also host the high-octane fixture between India and Pakistan.
Before the IND vs IRE clash begins, let's look at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium's pitch history and stats.
Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York T20I stats
This particular stadium has hosted two matches thus far. However, with one of those being a warm-up encounter (India vs Bangladesh), the record and stats will only include the international fixture (South Africa vs Sri Lanka).
Made on the grounds of Eisenhower Park, this is a makeshift venue, that not only has a drop-in pitch but also has an artificial outfield.
Here are some other stats to know from the only T20I hosted by this ground:
T20I matches played: 1
Won by batting first: 0
Won by batting second: 1
Abandoned: 0
Highest individual score: 20 - Quinton de Kock (SA) vs SL, 2024
Best bowling figures: 4/7 - Anrich Nortje (SA) vs SL, 2024
Highest team total: 80/4 - SA vs SL, 2024
Lowest team total: 77 - SL vs SA, 2024
Highest successful run-chase: 80/4 - SA vs SL, 2024
Average first-innings score: 77
Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York Pitch Report
The exact IND vs IRE pitch report will be live before the two captains walk out for the toss. Based on the South Africa vs Sri Lanka encounter, the surface seems to be on the slower side, offering a challenge for batters. The sluggish nature of the wicket makes strokeplay even more critical, and forcing the big shots early on might not be the best strategy.
During the press conference on the eve of the match, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma even opined that the par score here could be around 140-150. Swing bowlers might be enough help off the deck, especially in the powerplay overs.
Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York Last T20I
The last T20I between South Africa and Sri Lanka on Monday, June 3, was a one-sided affair. It was a match dominated by South Africa, who secured a convincing six-wicket victory at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
The hero of the day for the Proteas was their fast bowler Anrich Nortje. He ripped through the Sri Lankan batting lineup, registering career-best figures of 4/7 in his four overs. Sri Lanka struggled against Nortje's pace and accuracy and were bundled out for a paltry 77 runs, their lowest-ever total in T20Is.
Chasing a modest target, South Africa themselves didn't have a breezy run. The Sri Lankan bowlers kept things tight as the Proteas lost a few early wickets. However, contributions from Quinton de Kock, Tristan Stubbs, and Heinrich Klaasen ensured they reached the target with six wickets and four overs to spare.
Here's a summary of the scorecard:
Brief scores: SL 77/10 (Kusal Mendis 19, Anrich Nortje 4/7) lost to SA 80/4 (Quinton de Kock 20, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/22) by 6 wickets.
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