5 Cricket grounds which have recorded the highest RPO in ODIs 

One Day International cricket used to be the form of the game that was all about big scores, big hits, and soaring scoring rates before T20 came along.

Needless to say, the particular format of the game has seen many highs as far as big scoring goes and it has been especially true in case of certain venues across the world.

Some grounds simply have the sort of pitch, outfield and perhaps the dimensions that provide the batting side with the perfect combination of factors for quick scoring.

Hence, it would be interesting to see which particular grounds across the world have been fastest scoring ones in ODI history and the runs per over stat is without a doubt the most appropriate one to look for in such an exercise.

Only grounds which have hosted 50 or more ODIs have been considered and here is a look at the 5 which have recorded the highest RPO.

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#5 Shere Bangla Stadium, Mirpur, Bangladesh

The Shere Bangla Stadium became one of the principal venues in Bangladesh over the past decade and has hosted a whopping 105 ODIs so far since 2006.

Considering the sheer number of ODIs that have been played at the venue, it is quite staggering that batting sides have scored at 4.86 runs an over, over the course of so many games.

A generally flat pitch coupled with a fast outfield and lack of assistance for bowlers has been largely responsible for the glut of big scores at Mirpur over the years.

Talking about outliers, Mirpur was the venue where Bangladesh had been dismissed for 58 while chasing 106 for a rare win against their sub-continental rivals. It goes without saying that it was an outlier.

Needless to say, a lot of it has to do with the fact that Bangladesh did not have a particularly effective for a long time and that led to many a big score at Mirpur.

That being said, one can expect the RPO to increase in the years to come since batsmen are going become far more adventurous in the years ahead.

#4 The Oval, London, England

Ben Stokes in action at The Oval

Even when it comes to Test matches, the historic Oval in London is regarded as one of those venues that has been kind to batsmen and that same reputation has translated to ODIs as well.

The pitch is generally a flat one, which offers even bounce and the carpet-like outfield ensures that the ball speeds to the boundaries if the batsmen are able to beat the infield.

The Oval hosted its first ODI back in 1973 and till date, it has hosted 66 games over the course of the last 45 years.

The RPO at the venue is 4.95 runs an over and the highest score was made by New Zealand in 2015 when they plundered 398 in 50 overs against England.

However, the fact that England ended up scoring 365 in their chase in that same game speaks volumes about the Oval's reputation as a batsman's paradise.

Considering the direction in which limited overs cricket is going, it won’t be long before that average RPO rises significantly.

#3 Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

A match in progress at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

Back in the days when Zimbabwean cricket wasn’t in the doldrums like it has been over the past decade, Bulawayo used to be one of the two venues where the team hosted visitors from all over the world.

The first ODI at Queens Sports Club ground in Bulawayo took place back in 1996 and till date, the ground has hosted as many as 75 games in total.

One of the most memorable innings at the ground was the 194 not outscored by Charles Coventry against Bangladesh back in 2009-10 season.

Over the course of its existence as an international venue, the ground has emerged as one of the fastest scoring grounds in the world and in fact, batting sides have recorded the third highest RPO in history while playing at Bulawayo.

Some huge scores have been put up over the years and it is no surprise that the average RPO is 5. Nowadays, the biggest teams hardly ever visit Zimbabwe and that could be one of the reasons why the RPO might drop in the years to come.

#2 SuperSport Park, Centurion, South Africa

Virat Kohli celebrates his ton at Centurion Park

For cricket fans all over the world, the ground is better known as Centurion Park and over the course of the last quarter of a century or so; it has been one of the most popular venues in South Africa.

The ground has often been a difficult place for batsmen in Test cricket but in ODI cricket, it has often proven to be a batting paradise.

At the same time, it is important to note that batting under the lights at Centurion Park is often a tough ask and teams often struggle to get going when they are asked to chase a big total in the evening.

The boundaries at Centurion Park are pretty short, while the pitch offers consistent bounce and these factors are primarily responsible for the fact that teams have scored at a rate of 5.21 runs an over in 52 ODIs so far.

The highest score at Centurion is 392/6, that was piled up by South Africa against Pakistan back in 2007. 300-plus scores are regular occurrences at the ground and the ground’s overall RPO will only rise in the years to come.

#1 Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan

A match in progress at #1 Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

After a hiatus of almost six years, the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore hosted an international cricket match in 2015, when Zimbabwe played an ODI there.

It is a historic stadium and over the course of its history, it has remained one of the most batsman-friendly ground in the world.

The Gaddafi Stadium has been one of the principal venues in Pakistan for decades and it is no surprise that it has hosted as many as 61 ODIs so far.

The fast outfield and pitches which are generally flat have helped teams put on big scores with impunity.

The average runs per over recorded at the ground across 61 ODIs is a whopping 5.24 and it is, at least statistically, the most batsman-friendly venue in the world.

Once international cricket returns with some regularity to Pakistan, cricket fans can expect more big scores in ODIs staged at the Gaddafi Stadium.