Hampshire vs Sussex Vitality Blast head to head records are anchored at The Rose Bowl in Southampton, a venue that has hosted 79 T20 Blast matches since 2014. This fixture represents one of the most frequent county rivalries in England's premier T20 competition.

Hampshire vs Sussex Vitality Blast head to head. Photo: GaryReggae / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

Overview

The Vitality Blast rivalry between Hampshire and Sussex is defined by their frequent encounters at The Rose Bowl in Southampton, England. This venue serves as the primary home ground for Hampshire in the T20 Blast competition. The statistical record at The Rose Bowl spans from 2014 to 2026, capturing the evolution of the county T20 format over more than a decade. The first T20 match at this venue took place on 2014-05-16, establishing the ground as a key fixture in the southern English cricket calendar. The most recent match recorded in the dataset occurred on 2026-05-29, demonstrating the venue's continued relevance in the modern T20 landscape.

Hampshire stands out as the most active team at The Rose Bowl. The Cricsheet records indicate that Hampshire has played 79 matches at this venue. This high volume of games underscores the strategic importance of The Rose Bowl for the Hampshire franchise. The team's extensive history at this ground provides a rich dataset for analyzing performance trends, pitch behavior, and head-to-head matchups against visiting counties like Sussex. The concentration of matches also highlights the venue's capacity to host high-quality T20 cricket consistently over the years.

The statistical profile of The Rose Bowl reveals significant variations in team performances. The highest team total recorded at the venue is 230/7, achieved by Hampshire on 2025-05-30. This score reflects the batting-friendly conditions that can emerge during the T20 Blast season. Conversely, the lowest team total is 54/1, set by Glamorgan on 2023-06-30. This low score indicates the potential for bowling dominance, particularly when the pitch offers assistance to fast bowlers or spinners. The range between these extremes highlights the dynamic nature of T20 cricket at The Rose Bowl.

What are the team total records at The Rose Bowl?

The statistical profile of The Rose Bowl reveals significant variance in team scoring outputs across the 79 matches recorded at the venue. The highest team total is 230/7, achieved by Hampshire on 2025-05-30. This performance stands as the ceiling for batting dominance in the T20 Blast fixtures held in Southampton. Conversely, the lowest team total recorded is 54/1, set by Glamorgan on 2023-06-30. These extremes highlight the fluctuating pitch conditions and strategic approaches employed by visiting and home sides alike.

Individual performances have also left a mark on the venue's statistical ledger. The highest individual batting score is 116, recorded by LJ Wright on 2014-07-18. This innings remains a benchmark for batting consistency at the ground. On the bowling front, the best figures are 6/16, delivered by Shaheen Shah Afridi on 2020-09-20. These individual milestones provide context for the team totals, illustrating how single-player exertions can shift match outcomes.

Hampshire stands out as the most active team at the venue, having participated in all 79 matches documented in the Cricsheet records. This frequency of play underscores the franchise's central role in the T20 Blast structure at The Rose Bowl. The data spans from the first match on 2014-05-16 to the most recent fixture on 2026-05-29, offering a comprehensive view of the venue's evolution over more than a decade of competition.

Individual batting and bowling records

The highest individual batting score recorded at The Rose Bowl is 116 runs, achieved by LJ Wright on 18 July 2014. This performance remains the benchmark for individual batting excellence at the venue according to Cricsheet data. While the section prompt mentions a score of 121 by MM Ali on 6 September 2019, the canonical Cricsheet records provided list LJ Wright's 116 as the highest individual batting score. Therefore, LJ Wright's innings stands as the definitive record holder for the highest individual score at this ground.

In the bowling department, the best figures at The Rose Bowl are 6 wickets for 16 runs, taken by Shaheen Shah Afridi on 20 September 2020. This spell represents the most dominant individual bowling performance in the venue's T20 Blast history. Shaheen Shah Afridi's achievement highlights the potential for bowlers to exploit the conditions at Southampton, securing the record for best bowling figures among the 79 matches played at the venue.

Match history and frequency

The Vitality Blast fixture list at The Rose Bowl spans from 2014-05-16 through 2026-05-29, encompassing 79 recorded matches in the Cricsheet dataset. This venue serves as the primary home ground for Hampshire, who have participated in all 79 of these contests, establishing them as the most active team at the location. The frequency of play has been consistent over more than a decade, providing a substantial sample size for analyzing head-to-head dynamics between Hampshire and visiting sides like Sussex.

The longevity of the competition at The Rose Bowl allows for meaningful comparisons of team performance across different eras. Hampshire's dominance in terms of match volume reflects their status as a core franchise in the Southern Division of the T20 Blast. The venue has hosted matches across various seasons, with the most recent entry dated 2026-05-29, indicating ongoing relevance in the county cricket calendar. This extended timeline provides analysts with a robust dataset to evaluate trends in batting aggression and bowling effectiveness specific to the Southampton pitch conditions.

How does The Rose Bowl compare to other T20 Blast venues?

What is the lowest team total at The Rose Bowl?

The lowest team total at The Rose Bowl is 54/1 by Glamorgan, recorded on 2023-06-30.

Who holds the record for the highest individual batting score at The Rose Bowl?

LJ Wright holds the record for the highest individual batting score at The Rose Bowl with 116 runs, scored on 2014-07-18.

Who has the best bowling figures at The Rose Bowl?

Shaheen Shah Afridi has the best bowling figures at The Rose Bowl with 6/16, achieved on 2020-09-20.

How many T20 Blast matches have been played at The Rose Bowl?

A total of 79 T20 Blast matches have been played at The Rose Bowl, with the first match taking place on 2014-05-16.

Summary

The Rose Bowl in Southampton has hosted 79 T20 Blast matches since 2014, featuring a highest team total of 230/7 by Hampshire and a lowest team total of 54/1 by Glamorgan. LJ Wright's 116 and Shaheen Shah Afridi's 6/16 stand out as key individual records at this venue.

See also