beginning in 1995, the soufrière hills volcano on the island began to erupt, causing great damage to large parts of the island. cricket continued to be played at sturge park until 1997, with the last fixture seeing montserrat play a minor match against antigua and barbuda in may. in june 1997, a major eruption of the volcano destroyed plymouth and along with it sturge park, burying the ground under layers of ash. a replacement ground, the salem oval, was opened in 2000 on the north of the island.