Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Wales, is the home ground of Glamorgan in the T20 Blast, hosting 79 matches between 2014 and 2026. The venue is notable for extreme batting records, including the highest team total in the competition and the highest individual score.
Glamorgan has played all 79 matches at the venue. The ground has witnessed significant statistical outliers, such as a team total of 243/4 and an individual century by KS Carlson.
Overview
Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Wales, serves as the primary T20 Blast venue for Glamorgan. The ground has hosted 79 matches in the competition between 2014 and 2026. The first fixture took place on 2014-05-30, with the most recent match recorded on 2026-05-29. Glamorgan is the most active team at the venue, featuring in all 79 matches.
What is the highest team total at Sophia Gardens?
The highest team total recorded at Sophia Gardens in the T20 Blast is 243/4, achieved by Glamorgan. This benchmark was set during a match against Somerset on 2024-07-19. The innings stands as the most prolific scoring performance by any franchise at the Cardiff venue since the first T20 match was played there in 2014.
KS Carlson was the primary architect of this high-scoring effort, registering the highest individual batting score at the ground with 135 runs. His century came on the same date as the team record, anchoring Glamorgan's total against Somerset. This performance by Carlson remains the standout individual batting achievement in the venue's T20 Blast history.
With 79 total matches played at Sophia Gardens between 2014-05-30 and 2026-05-29, Glamorgan has been the most active team at the venue, appearing in all 79 fixtures. The 243/4 total represents the upper limit of scoring potential demonstrated in this sample size. No other team has surpassed this aggregate in the Vitality Blast competition at this specific stadium.
Lowest team total and batting records
Batting records at Sophia Gardens are dominated by KS Carlson, who scored the highest individual score of 135 runs. This performance was part of Glamorgan's 243/4 total on 2024-07-19. Carlson's century demonstrates the potential for high individual outputs when the pitch favors the batsman. The 135-run innings remains the benchmark for individual batting excellence at the venue, surpassing other notable scores in the 79 matches played since 2014.
Best bowling figures at Sophia Gardens
Best bowling figures at Sophia Gardens
Among the most dominant individual performances recorded at the venue, MG Hogan delivered the best bowling figures in the Vitality Blast. On 2017-08-03, Hogan claimed 6 wickets for just 16 runs, a statistical outlier that stands as the benchmark for bowlers at this Cardiff ground. This performance remains the highest wicket haul with the lowest economy rate combination for a single match at Sophia Gardens since the venue hosted its first T20 Blast fixture in 2014.
The 6/16 figures by Hogan represent a significant achievement in a format where consistency is often harder to maintain than in longer formats. Over the course of 79 total matches played at the venue, spanning from the inaugural game on 2014-05-30 to the most recent contest on 2026-05-29, no other bowler has surpassed this specific combination of wickets and runs conceded. The match took place during the 2017 season, a period when Glamorgan, the most active team at the venue with 79 matches, was establishing its home-ground advantage.
Bowling records at Sophia Gardens are defined by this standout performance by Hogan. While batting records show extreme variance, with team totals ranging from a low of 9/0 to a high of 243/4, the bowling record remains anchored by Hogan's 2017 display. The 16 runs conceded for 6 wickets highlights the pitch's potential to reward precise line and length, particularly when conditions favor the bowler. This record is a key statistic for analysts reviewing historical performance at the venue, offering a clear benchmark for future bowlers aiming to make an impact in the Vitality Blast.
How does Sophia Gardens compare to other T20 Blast grounds?
The 79-match sample size at Sophia Gardens provides a focused dataset for analyzing T20 Blast performance trends. This volume of fixtures, spanning from 2014-05-30 to 2026-05-29, represents the complete hosting history for Glamorgan in the competition. The concentration of matches at a single venue allows for distinct patterns in scoring rates and bowling effectiveness to emerge, distinguishing it from grounds with more fragmented usage across multiple county teams.
Scoring extremes at this Cardiff venue highlight the volatility inherent in the T20 Blast format. The highest team total of 243/4, achieved by Glamorgan on 2024-07-19, demonstrates the potential for high-scoring encounters. This total was anchored by KS Carlson’s individual score of 135, indicating that large team aggregates often rely on dominant individual performances. Such scores place Sophia Gardens among the more batting-friendly environments in the league, where chasing teams can push totals beyond the 240-mark.
Bowling excellence is also evident in the venue’s records. MG Hogan’s best bowling figures of 6/16 on 2017-08-03 stand out as a significant individual achievement. This performance contributes to the broader understanding of how bowlers can exploit pitch conditions at Sophia Gardens. The combination of high batting totals and exceptional bowling spells creates a dynamic environment that tests both batting depth and bowling consistency across the 79 matches played.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest team total at Sophia Gardens?
The highest team total is 243/4 by Glamorgan, achieved on 2024-07-19.
Who holds the record for the highest individual score at Sophia Gardens?
KS Carlson holds the record with a score of 135, also achieved on 2024-07-19.
What are the best bowling figures at Sophia Gardens?
The best bowling figures are 6/16 by MG Hogan, recorded on 2017-08-03.
When did the first T20 match take place at Sophia Gardens?
The first match was played on 2014-05-30.
How many T20 Blast matches have been played at Sophia Gardens?
A total of 79 matches have been played at Sophia Gardens, with the most recent on 2026-05-29.
Summary
Sophia Gardens has hosted 79 T20 Blast matches from 2014 to 2026. The venue's highest team total is 243/4 by Glamorgan, and the highest individual score is 135 by KS Carlson. The best bowling figures are 6/16 by MG Hogan.