Sophia Gardens in Cardiff is the primary venue for the Glamorgan vs Gloucestershire head-to-head in the Vitality Blast, hosting 79 T20 matches since the league's inception in 2014.

The ground has witnessed extreme statistical outliers, including Glamorgan's highest team total of 243/4 and KS Carlson's individual century of 135, making it a key battleground for batting records in Welsh T20 cricket.

Glamorgan vs Gloucestershire Vitality Blast top scorers. Photo: John Sutton / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

Overview

Sophia Gardens in Cardiff serves as the primary venue for the T20 Blast rivalry between Glamorgan and Gloucestershire. This head-to-head matchup represents a significant fixture in the Welsh county's home schedule, with the ground hosting a substantial volume of competitive action over more than a decade. The venue has been the stage for 79 T20 Blast matches, spanning from the inaugural contest on 2014-05-30 to the most recent encounter on 2026-05-29. This extensive dataset provides a robust statistical foundation for analyzing team performance, individual brilliance, and tactical trends specific to this venue.

Individual records at Sophia Gardens further illustrate the venue's capacity for standout performances. The highest individual batting score is 135 runs, scored by KS Carlson on 2024-07-19, coinciding with the highest team total. On the bowling front, the best figures are 6/16, delivered by MG Hogan on 2017-08-03. These milestones define the statistical landscape of the Glamorgan vs Gloucestershire rivalry at this venue. This article details the top scorers and key records that characterize this long-standing T20 Blast contest, providing essential data for fans, analysts, and fantasy cricket players tracking performance trends at Sophia Gardens.

What is the highest team total at Sophia Gardens?

The highest team total recorded at Sophia Gardens stands at 243/4, achieved by Glamorgan in a match against Somerset on 2024-07-19. This score represents the peak offensive output at the venue within the Vitality Blast records. The innings was anchored by KS Carlson, who scored 135 runs in the same match, securing the highest individual batting score at the ground. This performance by Carlson and the team total of 243/4 occurred during the 2024 season, marking a significant milestone in the venue's statistical history.

Top individual batting records

The highest individual batting score recorded at Sophia Gardens in the T20 Blast is 135 runs, achieved by KS Carlson. This performance stands as the benchmark for individual excellence at the venue, surpassing all other innings in the 79-match history of the ground. Carlson reached this milestone on 2024-07-19, a date that also marks the occasion of the highest team total at the stadium. The alignment of the top individual and team records on the same day underscores the significance of that specific match in the venue's statistical profile.

Carlson's 135-run innings contributed directly to Glamorgan's highest team total of 243/4. This score represents the peak of batting output at Sophia Gardens, reflecting the pitch's capacity to support high-scoring encounters under favorable conditions. The 2024-07-19 match serves as a key reference point for analysts examining batting trends at the Cardiff venue. No other player has surpassed this individual mark in the T20 Blast fixtures held at the ground since the first match was played on 2014-05-30.

The record highlights the variability of batting performances at Sophia Gardens. While Carlson's 135 represents the upper extreme, the venue has also witnessed significantly lower individual outputs, contributing to the lowest team total of 9/0 by Glamorgan on 2022-06-05. The contrast between these two extremes illustrates the diverse challenges batters face at the ground. The T20 Blast competition at Sophia Gardens has seen 79 matches contested, with Glamorgan being the most active team at the venue. The most recent match at the ground took place on 2026-05-29, continuing the statistical accumulation at this Welsh venue.

Best bowling figures at Sophia Gardens

Best bowling figures at Sophia Gardens

MG Hogan delivered the most dominant bowling performance in the venue's T20 Blast history, claiming 6 wickets for 16 runs on 2017-08-03. This spell stands as the best individual bowling record at Sophia Gardens, showcasing exceptional control and wicket-taking ability in the shortest format. The figures of 6/16 are particularly notable given the typically high-scoring nature of T20 cricket in Cardiff, where batsmen often exploit the dimensions of the ground.

Hogan's achievement remains unmatched in the 79 matches played at the venue since the first T20 match in 2014. The consistency required to take six wickets in a single innings highlights the pressure exerted on the batting lineup during that specific encounter. Such a performance is rare in T20 cricket, where bowlers often concede runs quickly while searching for wickets.

The record underscores the variability of bowling performances at Sophia Gardens, where conditions can favor both batsmen and bowlers depending on the match situation. Hogan's 6/16 spell provides a benchmark for future bowlers aiming to leave a mark at this historic Welsh venue. The date of this performance, 2017-08-03, marks a significant moment in the head-to-head history between Glamorgan and Gloucestershire at Sophia Gardens.

How does Sophia Gardens compare to other T20 Blast grounds?

The 79 matches hosted at Sophia Gardens between 2014 and 2026 represent a significant concentration of Vitality Blast action for Glamorgan. This volume of fixtures establishes the Cardiff venue as a primary hub for the county's T20 campaign, with the team participating in every recorded match at the ground during this period. The consistency of hosting since the inaugural game on 2014-05-30 through to 2026-05-29 underscores the stadium's central role in the league structure.

Pitch characteristics at the venue are defined by extreme variability, as evidenced by the disparity between the highest and lowest team totals. The record high of 243/4, set by Glamorgan on 2024-07-19, indicates conditions that can heavily favor aggressive batting. Conversely, the record low of 9/0 by Glamorgan on 2022-06-05 suggests that the surface can also present significant challenges for the strike rotation. This range from 9 to 243 runs highlights the unpredictable nature of the track, requiring teams to adapt their strategies based on specific match-day conditions.

Individual performances at Sophia Gardens further reflect these contrasting environments. KS Carlson's score of 135 on 2024-07-19 contributed directly to the highest team total, showcasing the potential for dominant batting displays. On the bowling front, MG Hogan's figures of 6/16 on 2017-08-03 demonstrate the wicket-taking ability available to spinners or seamers depending on the phase of the match. These records illustrate that while the venue can produce high-scoring affairs, it also rewards precise bowling performances.

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 2024-07-19.

Who holds the record for the highest individual score at Sophia Gardens?

KS Carlson holds the record for the highest individual score at Sophia Gardens with 135 runs, achieved on 2024-07-19.

What are the best bowling figures at Sophia Gardens?

The best bowling figures at Sophia Gardens are 6/16 by MG Hogan, recorded on 2017-08-03.

When was the first T20 match played at Sophia Gardens?

The first T20 match at Sophia Gardens was played on 2014-05-30.

What is the lowest team total recorded at Sophia Gardens?

The lowest team total recorded at Sophia Gardens is 9/0 by Glamorgan, achieved on 2022-06-05.

Summary

Sophia Gardens has hosted 79 T20 Blast matches, with the most recent contest taking place on 2026-05-29. Glamorgan is the most active team at the venue, featuring in all 79 matches.

Key records include a highest team total of 243/4 by Glamorgan, a lowest team total of 9/0 by Glamorgan, KS Carlson's highest individual score of 135, and MG Hogan's best bowling figures of 6/16.

See also