South Africa were the first of the big guns of world cricket to play at the Western Bay of Plenty international venue, making their debut with two ODI's in October 2014.
 
Since then, England, West Indies, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have made multiple visits to the Bay Oval. While the wait for our near neighbours from across the ditch has been long, the NZC 2025/26 international schedule has rewarded Bay Oval fans with the entire T20 International three-match series.
 
Black Cap fans will have little time to wait in the new season, with game one scheduled for Wednesday, 1st October, followed by back-to-back encounters on Friday and Saturday, 3rd & 4th October 2025.
 
When the Black Caps played Sri Lanka in the Bay Oval's first T20 International match in January 2016, the lightning-fast form of the game was still regarded as something of a novelty. 

 

Today T20 cricket has become a staple of our great game. Few would have imagined that Black Caps would forgo NZC National contracts to pursue T20 tournament contracts around the globe.
 
Since the Black Cap versus Sri Lanka clash in early 2016, the Bay Oval has hosted 15 T20 International games, winning 9, losing three, with three games not producing a result.
 
Colin Munro was the star of the Black Caps' first five T20 appearances at Blake Park, which all resulted in a W for the home team in the scorebook. Munro belted 101 in his side's 47-run win over Bangladesh and went on the rampage twelve months later with 104 in his side's victory against the West Indies.
 
New Zealand's first T20I loss at the Bay Oval came against the enigmatic Pakistan team in early 2018. Pakistan posted a strong target after reaching 181/6. The matches top score of 59 belted by Martin Guptil wasn't enough as the Kiwi side were held to 163 for the loss of six wickets. 
 
A full house greeted India when they paid a visit to the Bay Oval in February 2020. The Asian powerhouse batted first and posted 165 for the loss of just three wickets. RG Sharma belted his side's top score of 60 before retiring hurt, with KL Rahul the next best with 45 runs. Half-centuries hit by Ross Taylor and Tim Seifert weren't enough as New Zealand were removed ten runs short of their target.
 
The Black Caps flexed their muscles when the West Indies paid a visit to the Western Bay of Plenty in November 2022. Glenn Philips took control of the twenty overs per side clash, hammering 108 runs, as New Zealand blasted 238 for the loss of three wickets. Devon Conway also impressed with 65 runs. The visitors were restricted to166/9 to hand the hosts a 74-run win.
 
India inflicted the Black Caps with further T20 pain when they returned to Blake Park during November 2022. SA Yadav showcased his outstanding skills with his willow weapon with a dashing 111 not out in his team's total of 191/6.  New Zealand had few answers to a top-flight Indian bowling attack, being removed some 66 runs short of victory.
 
New Zealand provided another inspired performance against Pakistan at the tail end of last season. A target of 221 awaited Pakistan when they went out to bat. However, the match belonged to the host bowlers, who ran through the Pakistan batting attack to dismiss them for 105, with Jacob Duffy (4/20) and Zak Folks (3/25) doing great damage with the ball. 

Bay Oval ICC International Twenty 20 Matches (15)

 

7 January 2016 - Black Caps v Sri Lanka (1st T20 International)

New Zealand 182/4 (MJ Guptil 58, KS Williamson 53, C Munro 36) defeated Sri Lanka 179 (MD Gunathilleke 46, TAM Siriwardene 42; TA Boult 3/21)
Player of the Match: TA Boult
 
6 January 2017 - Black Caps v Bangladesh (2nd T20 International)

New Zealand 195/7 (C Munro 101, TC Bruce 59; Rubel Hossain 3/37) defeated Bangladesh 148 (Sabbir Rahman 48, Soumya Sarkar 39; IS Sodhi 3/36)
Player of the Match: C Munro

8 January 217 - Black Caps v Bangladesh (3rd T20 International)
New Zealand 194/4 (CJ Anderson 94no, KS Williamson 60; Rubel Hossain 3/31) defeated Bangladesh 167/6 (Soumya Sakar 42, Ahakib Al Hasan 41)
Player of the Match: CJ Anderson
 
1 January 2018 - Black Caps v West Indies (2nd T20 International) – No Result
New Zealand 102/4 after nine overs (C Munro 66) game abandoned
3 January 2018           Black Caps v West Indies (3rd T20 International)
New Zealand 243/5 (C Munro 104, MJ Guptil 63) defeated West Indies 124 (ADS Fletcher 46, TG Southee 3/21)
Player of the Match: C Munro
 
28 January 2018 - Black Caps v Pakistan (3rd T20 International)
Pakistan 181/6 (Fakhar Zaman 46) defeated New Zealand 163/6 (MJ Guptil 59; Shadab Khan 2/19)
Player of the Match: Shadab Khan
 
2 February 2020 - Black Caps v India (5th T20 International)
India 165/3 (RG Sharma 60 retired hurt, KL Rahul 45, SS Iver 33) defeated New Zealand 156 (RLPL Taylor 53, TL Seifert 50; JJ Bumrah 3/12)
Player of the Match: JJ Bumrah
 
29 November 2020 - Black Caps v West Indies (2nd T20 International)
New Zealand 238/3 (GD Phillips 108, DP Conway 65) defeated West Indies 166/9 (KA Pollard 28)

 

30 November 2020 - Black Caps v West Indies (3rd T20 International) – No Result
West Indies 25/1 after 2.2 over – game abandoned
 
20 November 2022 - Black Caps v India (2nd T20 International)
India 191/6 (SA Yadav 111no) defeated New Zealand 126 (KS Williamson 61; D Hooda 4/10)
Player of the Match: SA Yadav
 
29th December 2023 - Black Caps v Bangladesh (2nd T20 International)
Rained Out – no result
 
31st December 2023  - Black Caps v Bangladesh (3rd T20 International)
Bangladesh 110 (MJ Santner 4/16) lost to NZ Black Caps 95 from 14.4 overs (FH Allen 38) – DL method of deciding rain affected matches
Player of the Match: MJ Santner
 
28th December 2024 - Black Caps v Sri Lanka (1st T20I)
New Zealand 172/8 (DJ Mitchell 62, MG Bracewell 59) defeated Sri Lanka 164/8 (PS Nissanka 90, BKG Mendis 46; JA Duffy 3/21)
Player of the Match: JA Duffy

 30th December 2024 -  Black Caps v Sri Lanka (2nd T20I)  
New Zealand 186/5 (MS Chapman 42, TB Robinson 41, MJ Hay 41) defeated Sri Lanka 141 (MDKJ Perera 48, PS Nissanka 37; JA Duffy 4/15)
Player of the Match: MJ Hay

23 March 2025  - Black Caps v Pakistan (4th T20I)
New Zealand 220/6 (FH Allen 50, MG Bracewell 46, TL Seifert 44; Haris Rauf 3/27) defeated Pakistan 105 (JA Duffy 4/20, ZG Foulkes 3/25)
Player of The Match: FH Allen
 

New Zealand Black Caps Bay Oval Record (2016-2025)

Played 15 - Won 9 (Sri Lanka x 3, Bangladesh x 3, West Indies x 2, Pakistan ) Lost 3 (India x 2, Pakistan) No Result 3.