Somerset vs Sussex Vitality Blast head to head at the County Ground, Hove, is defined by extreme statistical outliers, including the venue's highest team total and lowest team total records.

The ground hosted its first T20 match in 2014, with 518 matches recorded in the Cricsheet database through 2026-05-31. Somerset is the most active team at the venue, having played 105 matches.

Overview

The Somerset versus Sussex head-to-head in the Vitality Blast represents a key regional rivalry within the T20 Blast competition. These two county sides have met on numerous occasions, with their encounters contributing significantly to the statistical history of the tournament. The County Ground in Hove serves as a primary venue for these clashes, providing a distinct pitch profile that often influences the outcome of matches between the Sharks and the West of County Cricket Club.

Statistical records indicate that the County Ground, Hove has hosted a total of 81 T20 Blast matches involving this specific head-to-head context. The first recorded match in this series took place on 2019-07-24, marking the beginning of a sustained period of competition between the two franchises. The most recent encounter in this dataset occurred on 2026-05-30, demonstrating the ongoing relevance of this matchup in the modern T20 calendar. This span of nearly seven years provides a robust sample size for analyzing team performance trends and player form across different seasons.

Sussex has played 44 matches in this specific head-to-head context at the venue. This volume of games highlights the frequency with which the Sharks have faced Somerset at their home ground. The distribution of matches suggests a balanced scheduling approach, allowing both teams to test their strategies against each other under varying conditions. Fans and analysts track these numbers to understand the competitive balance between the two counties, noting how home advantage at Hove has influenced results over time.

The broader context of T20 cricket at Hove includes a total of 518 matches recorded in the Cricsheet database, with the first match dating back to 2014-05-18. While the Somerset-Sussex rivalry is a subset of this larger dataset, the venue's overall history provides insight into the pitch characteristics and scoring patterns that affect both teams. The most recent match at the venue was recorded on 2026-05-31, indicating that the ground remains an active and competitive stage for T20 cricket in England.

What is the highest team total in this head to head?

What is the highest team total in this head to head?

The highest team total recorded at the County Ground, Hove in the T20 Blast is 265/5, achieved by Somerset against Derbyshire on 2022-07-09. This score represents the peak offensive output for any franchise at this venue within the broader dataset of 518 matches spanning from 2014-05-18 to 2026-05-31. Somerset is the most active team at Hove, having played 105 matches, which provides a substantial sample size for evaluating their scoring potential on this specific pitch. The 265/5 total stands out significantly when compared to the venue's lowest team total of 10/0 by Essex on 2020-08-27, illustrating the wide variance in batting conditions and match dynamics at the ground.

Individual performances contribute heavily to these team totals. The highest individual batting score at the venue is 153 by LJ Wright, recorded on 2014-07-25. While Wright's century is a notable individual milestone, the 265/5 team effort by Somerset demonstrates a more collective batting dominance, likely involving contributions from multiple order batsmen to push the score beyond the 250-mark. Such high scores are critical in T20 Blast matches, where the balance between bat and ball can shift rapidly depending on the state of the pitch and weather conditions.

Bowling records at the venue also provide context for how difficult it is to contain the bat. The best bowling figures are 6/8 by BW Sanderson on 2025-06-06. Achieving six wickets for just eight runs requires exceptional precision and often benefits from a seam-friendly or spin-assisted surface, contrasting with the flat tracks that facilitate totals like Somerset's 265/5. The presence of such diverse records—ranging from a 10-run collapse to a 265-run onslaught—highlights the strategic depth required for teams like Sussex and Somerset when planning their line-ups and game plans at Hove.

What is the lowest team total in this head to head?

The lowest team total recorded at the County Ground, Hove in the T20 Blast is 10/0, achieved by Essex on 2020-08-27. This figure represents the minimum aggregate score in the venue's statistical history, highlighting the potential for batting collapses or dominant bowling performances on the Hove surface. The match in which this record was set occurred during the 2020 season, a period that saw significant activity at the ground.

In the specific head-to-head context between Somerset and Sussex, the lowest team total is 23/3 by Sussex against Essex on 2025-06-13. This score reflects the competitive dynamics between these two county sides at this venue. The 23-run total indicates a tight contest or a dominant spell by the opposing bowlers, contributing to the overall statistical profile of the Somerset versus Sussex matchup.

These low scores contrast sharply with the venue's highest team total of 265/5 by Somerset on 2022-07-09. The range between 10/0 and 265/5 demonstrates the variability of the pitch conditions and match situations at the County Ground, Hove. Such extremes are common in T20 cricket, where a single over can shift the momentum significantly.

The venue has hosted 518 matches in total, with the first recorded game on 2014-05-18 and the most recent on 2026-05-31. Somerset is the most active team at this ground, having played 105 matches. The frequency of Somerset's appearances contributes to the depth of statistical records available for analysis.

Individual performances also play a crucial role in shaping these team totals. The highest individual batting score at the venue is 153 by LJ Wright on 2014-07-25, while the best bowling figures are 6/8 by BW Sanderson on 2025-06-06. These records underscore the impact of standout players on the overall team performance and the venue's historical data.

Individual Records at County Ground, Hove

Individual Records at County Ground, Hove

Individual performances contribute heavily to these team totals. The venue has hosted 518 matches in total, providing a substantial sample size for statistical analysis. Among the most notable batting achievements, LJ Wright recorded the highest individual score of 153 runs on 2014-07-25. This innings stands as the benchmark for individual batting excellence at the County Ground, Hove, within the T20 Blast competition. The match took place during the early years of the tournament's history at this specific venue, which first hosted a T20 match in 2019 according to the head-to-head context, though the broader venue history dates back to 2014-05-18.

On the bowling front, BW Sanderson achieved the best bowling figures of 6/8 on 2025-06-06. These figures represent the most dominant individual bowling performance recorded at the venue. The combination of high wicket count and low runs conceded highlights the potential for bowlers to exploit the pitch conditions at Hove. Somerset, the most active team at the venue with 105 matches, has seen several players contribute to these individual records, including the highest team total of 265/5 in 2022-07-09.

While the prompt mentions specific records for JM Vince and SM Curran, the canonical Cricsheet data provided lists LJ Wright and BW Sanderson as the record holders for highest score and best bowling respectively. Therefore, the verified records are Wright's 153 runs and Sanderson's 6/8. The lowest team total of 10/0 by Essex on 2020-08-27 further illustrates the variability of individual and team performances at this ground. Analysts and fantasy cricket players should note that these records are based on the 518 matches played between 2014 and 2026.

Match Frequency and Venue Context

The County Ground in Hove serves as a primary venue for the Vitality Blast, hosting a significant volume of T20 cricket over the years. The facility has recorded 518 total matches in the competition, with activity spanning from 2014-05-18 to the most recent fixture on 2026-05-31. This extensive schedule establishes Hove as a consistent stop for county teams, providing a large sample size for analyzing team performance trends and pitch behavior across different seasons.

Within the broader dataset, Somerset emerges as the most active team at this venue, having played 105 matches. This high frequency of appearances underscores the strategic importance of the ground for the West Country side. The volume of games played by Somerset allows for a detailed examination of their adaptability to the Hove conditions, distinguishing them from other counties that may use the venue as a secondary home ground or a frequent away destination.

When focusing on the specific head-to-head context between Somerset and Sussex, the data highlights a substantial number of encounters. The prompt indicates that 81 matches have been hosted in this rivalry context between 2019 and 2026. Additionally, Sussex has played 44 matches within this specific Somerset vs Sussex framework. These figures suggest that the rivalry is a recurring feature of the Blast schedule, with both teams utilizing the venue frequently to test their squads against each other.

The concentration of matches between these two teams at Hove provides a unique statistical subset for analysts. With such a high number of head-to-head fixtures, patterns in scoring rates, bowling averages, and fielding efficiency can be more reliably identified compared to rivalries with fewer meetings. The venue's role in facilitating these frequent clashes makes it a key location for understanding the competitive dynamics between Somerset and Sussex in the T20 format.

Frequently asked questions

What is the highest team total in this head to head?

The highest team total at the County Ground, Hove, is 265/5 by Somerset, achieved on 2022-07-09.

What is the lowest team total in this head to head?

The lowest team total recorded at the venue is 10/0 by Essex, set on 2020-08-27.

Who holds the highest individual batting score at this venue?

LJ Wright holds the record for the highest individual batting score with 153, scored on 2014-07-25.

Who has the best bowling figures at this venue?

BW Sanderson recorded the best bowling figures of 6/8 on 2025-06-06.

Which team has played the most matches at this venue?

Somerset is the most active team at the County Ground, Hove, with 105 matches played.

Summary

The County Ground, Hove, has hosted 518 T20 matches since 2014-05-18. Key records include Somerset's highest team total of 265/5 and Essex's lowest team total of 10/0. LJ Wright's 153 and BW Sanderson's 6/8 remain the standout individual performances.

See also