Sophia Gardens in Cardiff is the primary venue for the Birmingham Bears vs Glamorgan Vitality Blast matchup, hosting 79 T20 matches since 2014. This ground is notable for extreme scoring variations, including the highest team total of 243/4 and the lowest of 9/0, both achieved by Glamorgan.
The venue has been exclusively dominated by Glamorgan, who have played all 79 recorded matches there. Key individual records include KS Carlson's highest score of 135 and MG Hogan's best bowling figures of 6/16.
Overview
The Birmingham Bears and Glamorgan contest in the Vitality Blast represents a significant fixture within the T20 cricket calendar. These two franchises have met repeatedly at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Wales, a venue that has become central to the competition's structure since the introduction of the T20 format in the region. The rivalry is defined by the statistical dominance of the home side, Glamorgan, who have utilized the ground as their primary fortress throughout the tournament's history.
Sophia Gardens has hosted a total of 79 T20 Blast matches between 2014 and 2026. The first match at the venue took place on 2014-05-30, establishing the ground as a key location for the league. The most recent match recorded at the stadium occurred on 2026-05-29, demonstrating the venue's continued relevance in the modern T20 landscape. Glamorgan is the most active team at the venue, having played all 79 matches listed in the dataset. This extensive home record allows for a deep statistical analysis of their performance compared to visiting sides like the Birmingham Bears.
The scoring patterns at Sophia Gardens reveal a venue capable of producing both high-scoring thrillers and low-scoring tactical battles. The highest team total recorded at the ground is 243/4, achieved by Glamorgan on 2024-07-19. This innings was anchored by the highest individual batting score at the venue, 135 runs by KS Carlson, who also contributed to that same 2024-07-19 match. On the other end of the spectrum, the lowest team total is 9/0, also by Glamorgan, recorded on 2022-06-05. This range highlights the variable nature of the pitch conditions at Sophia Gardens.
Bowling performances at the venue have also produced notable records. The best bowling figures at Sophia Gardens are 6/16, achieved by MG Hogan on 2017-08-03. These statistics provide a comprehensive overview of the competitive dynamics between Birmingham Bears and Glamorgan at this specific location. The data underscores Glamorgan's familiarity with the conditions, as they hold the records for both the highest team total and the lowest team total at the ground. The venue's history from 2014 to 2026 offers a rich dataset for analyzing head-to-head matchups and individual player performances in the Vitality Blast.
What are the highest and lowest team totals at Sophia Gardens?
The highest team total recorded at Sophia Gardens stands at 243/4, achieved by Glamorgan in a T20 Blast encounter against Somerset on 19 July 2024. This score represents the peak offensive output at the venue according to Cricsheet data, highlighting the potential for high-scoring chases or dominant batting displays when conditions favor the batters. The 243-run total was constructed over the standard 20-over format, demonstrating the capacity of the Cardiff ground to produce substantial team aggregates in the Vitality Blast competition.
This unusual scoreline occurred during a match against Surrey on 5 June 2022. A total of 9 runs without losing a wicket indicates a specific match context, such as a rain-affected game or a short innings, resulting in a minimal aggregate. This figure contrasts sharply with the venue's highest score, illustrating the wide variance in team performances at the ground over the years.
These two extremes define the range of team totals at the venue. The difference between the highest score of 243/4 and the lowest of 9/0 underscores the diverse conditions and match situations that have occurred during the 79 matches held at Sophia Gardens. Analysts and fantasy cricket players tracking team performance at this venue must account for this variability, as the ground has hosted both high-scoring affairs and exceptionally low aggregates.
Who holds the individual batting and bowling records at Sophia Gardens?
Who holds the individual batting and bowling records at Sophia Gardens?
Individual performances at this Cardiff venue are defined by the statistics provided in the Cricsheet records. The highest individual batting score at Sophia Gardens is 135, achieved by KS Carlson for Glamorgan on 2024-07-19. This innings contributed to the venue's highest team total of 243/4, also recorded by Glamorgan on that same date. The data does not support the claim of a 158-run score by BB McCullum; therefore, KS Carlson's 135 stands as the canonical record holder for individual batting at this ground.
This performance took place on 2017-08-03. These wickets and runs remain the benchmark for individual bowling excellence at the venue according to the available match data. No other bowler has surpassed these specific figures in the 79 matches played at the ground between 2014 and 2026.
The contrast between the highest individual score and the best bowling figures highlights the varying conditions and match dynamics at Sophia Gardens. While KS Carlson's 135 represents a dominant batting display, MG Hogan's 6/16 illustrates the potential for a single bowler to dismantle a batting lineup. These records are derived strictly from the Cricsheet data for T20 Blast matches held at the venue.
How does Glamorgan perform at their home ground?
Glamorgan holds the distinction of being the most active team at Sophia Gardens, having contested 79 matches at this Cardiff venue since the first T20 fixture was played on 2014-05-30. As the primary tenant, the side has accumulated the most extensive statistical sample at the ground, with their most recent appearance recorded on 2026-05-29. This long-term tenure provides a comprehensive view of how the team performs under varying pitch and weather conditions over more than a decade of T20 Blast cricket.
The team's batting capabilities at home are highlighted by the venue's highest team total. On 2024-07-19, Glamorgan posted 243/4, a score that remains the benchmark for team performance at Sophia Gardens. This aggregate was driven significantly by KS Carlson, who scored 135 runs in that same match. Carlson's century stands as the highest individual batting score recorded at the venue, underscoring the potential for high-scoring encounters when Glamorgan bats at home.
Conversely, the team has also experienced significant volatility, as evidenced by the lowest team total at the ground. On 2022-06-05, Glamorgan was dismissed for just 9 runs, a score of 9/0 that represents the statistical floor for team performance at Sophia Gardens. The contrast between the 243/4 high and the 9/0 low illustrates the wide range of outcomes possible for the home side, depending on batting depth and bowling pressure.
Bowling performances by Glamorgan players have also contributed to the venue's record books. This spell demonstrates the effectiveness of Glamorgan's bowling attack on the home surface, capable of restricting opponents to low scores while maintaining an economical run rate. These individual milestones, combined with the team's frequent presence, define Glamorgan's statistical legacy at Sophia Gardens.
What is the match history between Birmingham Bears and Glamorgan?
Sophia Gardens in Cardiff serves as the primary venue for T20 Blast encounters involving Glamorgan, with the ground hosting its first T20 match on 2014-05-30. The venue has seen 79 total matches up to the most recent fixture on 2026-05-29. Glamorgan holds the distinction of being the most active team at this location, having played all 79 recorded matches there. This concentration of fixtures underscores the ground's role as the definitive home base for the Welsh franchise within the Vitality Blast structure.
The statistical record at Sophia Gardens reflects significant variance in team performance. These extremes highlight the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket at this venue, where a single match can feature a dominant batting display or a near-collapse.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest team total at Sophia Gardens?
What is the lowest team total at Sophia Gardens?
Who holds the highest individual batting score at Sophia Gardens?
What are the best bowling figures at Sophia Gardens?
How many T20 matches have been played at Sophia Gardens?
A total of 79 T20 matches have been played at Sophia Gardens, starting from 2014-05-30 to 2026-05-29.