The highest team total at Sophia Gardens in the Vitality Blast is 243/4, set by Glamorgan on 19 July 2024. This record stands as the benchmark for batting dominance at Cardiff's primary T20 venue.
Sophia Gardens has hosted 79 T20 Blast matches since 2014, with Glamorgan appearing in every game. The ground also holds the record for the lowest team total in the competition, 9/0 by Glamorgan, highlighting the pitch's variable nature.
Overview
Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Wales, serves as a primary venue for the T20 Blast, hosting a significant volume of franchise cricket over more than a decade. The ground has been a consistent fixture in the league calendar since its first T20 match on 2014-05-30. As of the most recent fixture on 2026-05-29, the stadium has hosted a total of 79 matches in the competition. This extensive schedule underscores the venue's importance to the Welsh county and the broader T20 Blast structure.
Glamorgan holds the distinction of being the most active team at Sophia Gardens, featuring in all 79 matches recorded at the venue. This dominance reflects the franchise's status as the primary tenant and home side for the ground. The consistent presence of Glamorgan has shaped the competitive dynamics of the venue, providing a familiar backdrop for both batting and bowling performances over the years. The team's extensive history at the ground offers a rich dataset for analyzing home advantage and pitch behavior across different seasons.
What is the highest team total at Sophia Gardens in the Vitality Blast?
The highest team total recorded at Sophia Gardens in the Vitality Blast is 243/4, achieved by Glamorgan against Somerset on 2024-07-19. This score stands as the benchmark for batting dominance at the Cardiff venue, surpassing previous high-scoring encounters in the county's T20 history. The match took place during the 2024 season, marking a significant milestone in the 79 matches played at the ground since the first T20 fixture on 2014-05-30.
Central to this record-breaking performance was KS Carlson, who scored 135 runs on the same date. Carlson's century provided the backbone of Glamorgan's chase, demonstrating the pitch's capacity to reward aggressive stroke-play when conditions align. The individual score of 135 remains the highest individual batting score at Sophia Gardens in the Vitality Blast, highlighting the correlation between high team totals and standout individual contributions.
The 2024 encounter represents a peak in scoring rates at the venue, contrasting with the more defensive totals seen in earlier years. While the lowest team total at the ground is 9/0 by Glamorgan on 2022-06-05, the 243/4 total illustrates the wide variance in match outcomes possible at Sophia Gardens. The pitch can facilitate both extreme collapses and expansive batting displays, depending on weather and ball behavior.
Lowest Team Total and Bowling Records
The lowest team total recorded at Sophia Gardens stands at 9/0, achieved by Glamorgan against Surrey on 2022-06-05. This score represents a statistical extreme in T20 Blast history, highlighting the volatility of conditions at the Cardiff venue. Such a low aggregate total underscores the potential for batting collapses or exceptionally tight bowling performances during the competition.
On the bowling front, the best figures at the ground are 6/16, delivered by MG Hogan on 2017-08-03. This performance remains the benchmark for individual bowling excellence at the stadium. The six-wicket haul demonstrates the capacity for a single bowler to dominate a match, contrasting sharply with the high-scoring potential seen in other fixtures.
The disparity between the highest and lowest team totals illustrates the range of outcomes possible at Sophia Gardens. While the venue has hosted a record 243/4, the 9/0 total shows how quickly momentum can shift. These extremes are critical for analysts evaluating pitch behavior and team strategies in the T20 Blast. The data from 79 matches provides a robust sample size for understanding these variations.
Pitch and Conditions at Sophia Gardens
The surface at Sophia Gardens has demonstrated significant variability between 2014 and 2026, accommodating both extreme batting dominance and severe bowling advantages. The venue hosted 79 T20 Blast matches during this period, with the pitch behavior shifting dramatically from one encounter to another. The highest team total of 243/4, achieved by Glamorgan on 2024-07-19, indicates conditions that favored aggressive stroke-play and consistent boundary-hitting. This performance was anchored by KS Carlson, who scored 135 runs in the same match, highlighting how the surface can reward technical precision and power-hitting when the ball comes onto the bat easily.
Bowling excellence has also been a defining feature of the venue's history. MG Hogan recorded the best bowling figures of 6/16 on 2017-08-03, demonstrating that spinners or seamers can exploit specific pitch conditions to dismantle a batting lineup efficiently. This performance complements the low team total record, showing that when the surface assists the ball, individual bowlers can achieve remarkable consistency. The data from 79 matches confirms that Sophia Gardens does not favor one side uniformly. The pitch characteristics have evolved or varied year by year, requiring captains to assess the surface conditions—such as moisture, grass cover, or wear and tear—before deciding on the toss and the initial batting order.
The range of outcomes at Sophia Gardens reflects the dynamic nature of T20 Blast cricket in Cardiff. From the high-scoring 243/4 chase to the minuscule 9/0 total, the venue has hosted matches that test different aspects of team composition. Batsmen like KS Carlson have capitalized on flat tracks, while bowlers like MG Hogan have thrived on surfaces offering grip or movement. This variability ensures that no single team or player type holds an absolute advantage, making each match at Sophia Gardens a unique contest dependent on the day's specific pitch behavior.
How does Sophia Gardens compare to other T20 Blast grounds?
Comparing Sophia Gardens to other T20 Blast venues reveals distinct statistical outliers. The highest team total of 243/4, achieved by Glamorgan on 2024-07-19, stands as a significant benchmark within the league. This score, driven by KS Carlson's 135, demonstrates the venue's capacity for high-scoring encounters. Such individual brilliance is rare in the T20 Blast context, where scores often fluctuate based on pitch conditions and weather.
The lowest team total of 9/0 by Glamorgan on 2022-06-05 presents a stark contrast to the 243/4 high. This extreme variance highlights the unpredictable nature of cricket at Sophia Gardens. A total of 9/0 is exceptionally low for a T20 match, indicating a dominant bowling performance or a batting collapse under pressure. This record underscores the venue's ability to produce both offensive and defensive masterclasses.
The disparity between the highest and lowest totals at Sophia Gardens is notable. While many T20 Blast grounds see moderate scoring patterns, Sophia Gardens has produced extremes. The 135 by KS Carlson and the 9/0 total by Glamorgan are key data points for understanding the venue's character. These records provide valuable insights for team strategies and player selections in future matches.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest team total at Sophia Gardens in the Vitality Blast?
The highest team total is 243/4 by Glamorgan, achieved on 19 July 2024.
What is the lowest team total at Sophia Gardens in the Vitality Blast?
The lowest team total is 9/0 by Glamorgan, recorded on 5 June 2022.
Who holds the record for the highest individual score at Sophia Gardens?
KS Carlson holds the record with 135 runs, scored on 19 July 2024.
What are the best bowling figures at Sophia Gardens in the Vitality Blast?
The best bowling figures are 6/16 by MG Hogan, 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, from 30 May 2014 to 29 May 2026.
Summary
Sophia Gardens in Cardiff has hosted 79 T20 Blast matches since 2014. The highest team total is 243/4 by Glamorgan (2024), and the lowest is 9/0 by Glamorgan (2022). KS Carlson holds the highest individual score (135), and MG Hogan holds the best bowling figures (6/16).