Essex vs Glamorgan head-to-head records at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff are defined by Glamorgan's status as the venue's most active team, with 79 T20 Blast matches played there since the first contest on 30 May 2014.

The ground has hosted significant statistical outliers, including a highest team total of 243/4 and a lowest team total of 9/0, both achieved by Glamorgan, highlighting the venue's influence on the rivalry.

Overview

Sophia Gardens in Cardiff serves as the primary venue for the head-to-head rivalry between Essex and Glamorgan in the Vitality Blast. According to Cricsheet data, the ground has hosted a total of 79 T20 Blast matches, with the first contest recorded on 2014-05-30 and the most recent fixture taking place on 2026-05-29. Glamorgan is the most active team at this venue, accounting for all 79 matches in the dataset.

The pitch at Sophia Gardens has produced significant statistical extremes during this period. The highest team total recorded 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 on the same date. Conversely, the lowest team total is 9/0, also by Glamorgan, recorded on 2022-06-05. These figures highlight the variability of conditions, ranging from dominant batting performances to defensive collapses.

Bowling records at the venue are equally notable. The best bowling figures are 6/16, delivered by MG Hogan on 2017-08-03. These statistics provide a baseline for analyzing team performance and player matchups in the Essex vs Glamorgan Vitality Blast series. The data spans over a decade of competition, offering a comprehensive view of historical trends at this English county ground.

What are the team total records at Sophia Gardens?

The highest team total recorded at Sophia Gardens in the Vitality Blast is 243/4, achieved by Glamorgan. This score was set during a match against Somerset on 2024-07-19. The innings was anchored by a standout individual performance from KS Carlson, who scored 135 runs in the same game. This remains the benchmark for batting dominance at the venue, with the total reflecting the pitch's capacity to reward aggressive stroke-play when conditions are favorable.

At the other end of the spectrum, the lowest team total at Sophia Gardens is 9/0, also recorded by Glamorgan. This unusual scoreline occurred in a match against Surrey on 2022-06-05. Such a low aggregate highlights the variability of T20 cricket, where a combination of early wickets or tactical field placements can suppress the run rate significantly. The contrast between the 243/4 high and the 9/0 low underscores the diverse outcomes possible on this surface.

These records frame the statistical range of team performances at the Cardiff venue. The 2024 chase against Somerset demonstrated the upper limits of scoring potential, while the 2022 encounter with Surrey illustrated how quickly momentum can shift. Analysts tracking team form at Sophia Gardens often reference these extremes to contextualize current match scenarios. The data from 79 total matches provides a robust sample size for evaluating these team total benchmarks.

Who holds the individual batting and bowling records?

Who holds the individual batting and bowling records?

Individual performances at Sophia Gardens have produced standout statistical markers within the Vitality Blast. The highest individual batting score recorded at the venue is 135 runs, achieved by KS Carlson. This innings was delivered by Glamorgan on 2024-07-19, contributing significantly to the team's highest total of 243/4 on the same date. Carlson's century remains the benchmark for individual batting excellence in the head-to-head encounters between Essex and Glamorgan at this Cardiff ground.

On the bowling front, the best figures recorded at Sophia Gardens are 6/16. These figures were set by MG Hogan on 2017-08-03. Hogan's performance represents the peak of individual bowling achievement in the dataset spanning from the first match on 2014-05-30 to the most recent encounter on 2026-05-29. With 79 total matches played at the venue, primarily featuring Glamorgan as the most active team, these individual records highlight the variance in player impact across nearly two decades of T20 Blast cricket.

Glamorgan's dominance at Sophia Gardens

Glamorgan's dominance at Sophia Gardens

Glamorgan holds the position of the most active team at Sophia Gardens, having contested all 79 recorded matches at the venue since the first fixture on 2014-05-30. This extensive tenure establishes the county as the primary statistical reference point for the ground's T20 Blast history, with their performance metrics defining the venue's record books. The team's presence spans over a decade, concluding with the most recent match on 2026-05-29, providing a long-term dataset for analyzing pitch evolution and team strategy.

Offensive records at the venue are directly tied to Glamorgan's batting lineups. The highest team total of 243/4 was achieved by Glamorgan on 2024-07-19, a performance that also featured the highest individual batting score at the ground. KS Carlson scored 135 runs in that same match, anchoring the innings and setting a benchmark for individual contributions. This dual record highlights the capacity of the pitch to support high-scoring chases or dominant batting displays when Glamorgan is at the crease.

Defensive milestones are similarly attributed to the home side. The lowest team total recorded at Sophia Gardens is 9/0, also by Glamorgan, which occurred on 2022-06-05. This extreme variance between the highest and lowest team totals illustrates the unpredictable nature of the surface. While the venue has produced significant statistical outliers, Glamorgan's consistent participation ensures that the majority of these records are held by the local franchise, reinforcing their status as the definitive team for this venue.

How do these records impact the Essex vs Glamorgan rivalry?

The statistical profile of Sophia Gardens reveals a venue defined by extreme variance, a factor that fundamentally shapes the tactical approach in the Vitality Blast. With 79 matches recorded between 2014 and 2026, the ground has established itself as a primary stage for T20 cricket in Cardiff. The disparity between the highest and lowest team totals suggests that conditions can shift dramatically, requiring teams to adapt quickly to either aggressive batting or defensive consolidation.

Offensive potential at this venue is substantial, as evidenced by the highest team total of 243/4 achieved by Glamorgan on 2024-07-19. This performance was anchored by KS Carlson, who scored 135 runs in the same match. Such high-scoring affairs indicate that when the pitch favors the bat, the boundary dimensions and surface behavior allow for significant run accumulation. Teams facing Glamorgan at home must account for this ceiling, knowing that a chase can quickly become manageable if the home side capitalizes on favorable conditions.

Conversely, the venue can also produce remarkably low scores, with the lowest team total recorded as 9/0 by Glamorgan on 2022-06-05. This extreme defensive outcome highlights the potential for the pitch to slow down or offer significant assistance to bowlers, particularly in the early stages of an innings. The contrast between a 243-run chase and a 9-run collapse demonstrates that the head-to-head dynamic is not static; it depends heavily on how the surface behaves on any given day.

Bowling excellence further complicates the matchup, with MG Hogan recording the best figures of 6/16 on 2017-08-03. These figures suggest that spin or seam can dominate if the ball finds purchase, allowing bowlers to restrict scoring rates effectively. For Essex, understanding this range is critical. The team must prepare for both high-scoring thrillers and low-scoring tactical battles, as the venue has proven capable of producing both extremes within the same competition framework.

Frequently asked questions

What is the highest team total at Sophia Gardens?

The highest team total at Sophia Gardens is 243/4, scored by Glamorgan on 19 July 2024.

What is the lowest team total at Sophia Gardens?

The lowest team total at Sophia Gardens is 9/0, also scored by Glamorgan on 5 June 2022.

Who holds the highest individual batting score at Sophia Gardens?

KS Carlson holds the highest individual batting score at Sophia Gardens with 135 runs, scored on 19 July 2024.

Who holds the best bowling figures at Sophia Gardens?

MG Hogan holds the best bowling figures at Sophia Gardens with 6/16, achieved on 3 August 2017.

How many T20 Blast matches have been played at Sophia Gardens?

A total of 79 T20 Blast matches have been played at Sophia Gardens, with the first match occurring on 30 May 2014 and the most recent on 29 May 2026.

Summary

Sophia Gardens has hosted 79 T20 Blast matches, with Glamorgan being the most active team at the venue. The ground records include a highest team total of 243/4 by Glamorgan (2024) and a lowest team total of 9/0 by Glamorgan (2022).

Individual records at the venue are held by KS Carlson, who scored the highest individual batting score of 135 in 2024, and MG Hogan, who took the best bowling figures of 6/16 in 2017. The first match at the venue was played on 30 May 2014, and the most recent was on 29 May 2026.

See also