Newlands Cricket Ground

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Capacity: 25,000
Home teams:

• The Cape Cobras
• Capetown Blitz

Opened in 1888, Newlands Stadium (Known as PPC Newlands for sponsorship reasons) is the home of Cape Cobras, who play in the Sunfoil Series, Momentum 1 Day Cup and RamSlam Pro20 competitions. It is also the venue for One-Day International, Twenty-Twenty and Test match cricket fixtures. Sitting at the base of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak it is regarded as one of the most beautiful cricket grounds. It is also close to Newlands Stadium where rugby union and football are played.

When cricket first arrived at Newlands, this region has vastly covered with pine trees. The Western Province Cricket Club took out a 25 year lease on the site in 1888 which cost £100. Each member donated £25 each to raise enough funds to build a pavillion (£350). The ground was leveled and opened with a two-day match between Mother Country and Colonial Born which went on to become a regular fixture.

Five years after test cricket began at Lord’s, Newlands hosted its first test match between South Africa and England which ended in victory to England by an innings and 202 runs. The match may not have been memorable, but the location certainly left a lasting impression.