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A happy hunting ground
Wisden CricInfo staff - February 11, 2002
There have been 34 previous one-day matches at Christchurch. New Zealand have played in 32 of them, winning 16 and losing 16.
The toss at Christchurch has been a good one to lose. In the 34 matches, the side winning the toss has won only 14 times (41.2%).
Sides batting first have won on 19 occasions,
Sides have chosen to bat on 14 occasions, winning seven times (50%).
Sides have chosen to field on 20 occasions, also winning seven times (35%).
Overall, it is easier to defend than chase at Christchurch: sides batting first have won 19 times in 34 matches.
Australia's 349-6 against New Zealand in 1999-2000 is the highest total made on the ground. In total, 650 runs were made in the match (the sixth highest ODI aggregate).
New Zealand's 94 all out against Australia in 1989-90 is the lowest total made on the ground. Their chief tormentor was Simon O'Donnell, who took 5 for 13 – still the best individual bowling figures on the ground.
Other five-fors at Christchurch have been taken by Richard Collinge, Richard Hadlee, Terry Alderman and Danny Morrison. Meyrick Pringle took 4 for 11 against the West Indies during the 1991-92 World Cup.
Gordon Greenidge's buccaneering 133* against New Zealand in 1986-87 is the highest individual innings in ODIs at Christchurch. Greenidge dominated an unbroken partnership of 192 with Desmond Haynes as West Indies surged to a 10-wicket victory.
Greenidge also notched 103 at Christchurch in 1979-80. Adam Gilchrist is another tourist to have had fun there, flaying match-winning tons in 1997-98 and 1999-2000. Other centuries have been scored by Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Ramiz Raja, Dean Jones and Ken Wadsworth.
Of current New Zealand players, Chris Harris has been most successful at Christchurch. In 15 matches he has scored 491 runs at 70.14, and taken 16 wickets at 34.50.
England have a fine record at Christchurch. They have won five out of the six one-day matches at the ground. Their only defeat came on their first appearance in 1982-83, when they collapsed from 94 for 2 to record their lowest total of 127 all out.
The highest total made at Christchurch in matches between the two sides is 255 for 7 by England in 1991-92. On that occasion Ian Botham walloped 79 off 73 balls, his highest one-day score.
New Zealand's highest and lowest totals against England are 222 for 6 in 1996-97, and 134 all out in 1983-84 respectively.
The highest individual score made here in matches between the sides is 85 by Robin Smith in 1991-92. The best individual bowling is 5 for 32 by Richard Hadlee in 1983-84
Christchurch was the venue when New Zealand's Bevan Congdon became the first man to make his ODI debut on his birthday. Congdon was 35 when he played against Pakistan on February 11, 1973.
The last time England played at Christchurch, they won by four wickets, with Phil Tufnell taking 4 for 22 from 10 overs. They are the best figures of Tufnell's ODI career, though he hasn't played a one-day match since.
© Wisden CricInfo Ltd
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