Salem Oval


The Salem Oval is a cricket ground located in the village of Salem, Montserrat. The ground was constructed following the destruction of Montserrat's main cricket ground in Plymouth, which was destroyed in the Soufrière Hills eruption of 1997.

History

The ground was completed by the year 2000, with the first match held at the ground seeing Montserrat play a minor match against Antigua and Barbuda. The following year, the touring South Africans played at the ground against the University of West Indies Vice-Chancellor's XI, with half the islands population reportedly attending. This match did not hold first-class status, it was not until 2003 that first-class cricket returned to Montserrat when the Leeward Islands played West Indies B in the 2002/03 Carib Beer Cup. The ground has held two more first-class matches for the Leeward Islands, one in the 2004/05 Carib Beer Cup against Trinidad and Tobago and another in the 2007/08 Carib Beer Cup against Barbados. Seven first-class centuries have been scored there, while five five wicket hauls have been taken. Montserrat continue to play minor matches there, with the ground serving as their main home ground.

Records

First-class