The Rose Bowl, Southampton. Photo: GaryReggae / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

Overview

The Rose Bowl, located in Southampton, England, serves as a prominent venue for T20 cricket within the T20 Blast competition. The ground is the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club, who have utilized the facility as their primary base since 2001. This year, 2001, also marks the debut of the first T20 match played at the stadium, establishing it as one of the earlier adopters of the shortest format of the game in English county cricket.

Known for sponsorship reasons as the Utilita Bowl, the venue is situated in the West End of Southampton. It functions not only as a cricket ground but also as a hotel complex, offering a combined sporting and hospitality experience for visitors. The stadium has a capacity of 15,000 spectators, providing a compact yet significant atmosphere for T20 Blast fixtures. This size allows for an intimate viewing experience, which is often cited as a characteristic of county grounds compared to larger international arenas.

As a key fixture in the T20 Blast calendar, The Rose Bowl hosts numerous matches each season, contributing to the statistical records of the league. The venue's history in T20 cricket spans over two decades, beginning with its inaugural T20 match in 2001. Over the years, it has been a consistent host for Hampshire CCC, providing a familiar pitch and boundary dimensions for both home and away teams. The ground's role in the T20 Blast highlights its importance in the domestic structure of English cricket, bridging the gap between traditional county cricket and the fast-paced nature of the T20 format.

While specific match scores and individual player records are detailed in separate statistical sections, the venue itself remains a central hub for T20 action in the south of England. The Rose Bowl's establishment in 2001 coincided with the early growth of T20 cricket, allowing it to accumulate a substantial history of matches. Fans and analysts refer to the Utilita Bowl when discussing Hampshire's home advantage and the specific conditions presented by the Southampton pitch. The stadium continues to be a vital component of the T20 Blast, hosting games that contribute to the league's overall narrative and statistical depth.

Venue Profile

The Rose Bowl, currently known as the Utilita Bowl for sponsorship reasons, is a cricket ground and hotel complex located in West End, Hampshire, England. It serves as the primary home venue for Hampshire County Cricket Club, who have played matches there since 2001. The stadium holds a capacity of 15,000 spectators. The venue has undergone redevelopment to accommodate international cricket fixtures. The first T20 match at the ground was played in 2001. The Rose Bowl is a key venue in the T20 Blast league. Available data does not capture the highest team total at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the lowest team total at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the highest individual score at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the best bowling figures at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most runs scored by a batsman at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most wickets taken by a bowler at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most centuries scored by a batsman at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most five-wicket hauls by a bowler at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most sixes hit by a batsman at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most fours hit by a batsman at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most catches taken by a fielder at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most stumpings by a wicket-keeper at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most hat-tricks by a bowler at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most consecutive wins by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most consecutive losses by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the highest partnership at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the fastest fifty by a batsman at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the fastest century by a batsman at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most dot balls by a bowler at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most wides by a bowler at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most no-balls by a bowler at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most maidens by a bowler at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most runs conceded by a bowler at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most runs scored in a powerplay by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most runs scored in the death overs by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most wickets taken in the powerplay by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most wickets taken in the death overs by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most runs scored by a team in a chase at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most runs scored by a team in a target set at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most wins by a team in a chase at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most wins by a team in a target set at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most losses by a team in a chase at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most losses by a team in a target set at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most draws by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most ties by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most no-results by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most matches played by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most matches won by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most matches lost by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most matches drawn by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most matches tied by a team at this venue across this competition. Available data does not capture the most matches with no-result by a team at this venue across this competition.

T20 Blast Records

The Rose Bowl, located in Southampton, England, serves as the home ground for Hampshire County Cricket Club in the T20 Blast. The venue has hosted T20 matches since 2001 and has a stadium capacity of 15,000 spectators. According to Cricsheet data, the ground has hosted 79 T20 Blast matches to date.

Team Records

The highest team total recorded at the Rose Bowl in the T20 Blast is 230/7. This score was achieved by Hampshire against Essex in 2025. The lowest team total at the venue is 54/1, set by Glamorgan against Hampshire in 2023.

Individual Records

The highest individual score at the venue is 116 runs, scored by LJ Wright. The best bowling figures recorded are 6/16, achieved by Shaheen Shah Afridi.

What is the highest team total at The Rose Bowl in T20 Blast?

The highest team total recorded at The Rose Bowl in the T20 Blast is 230/7, achieved by Hampshire against Essex on 30 May 2025. This performance stands as the benchmark for batting dominance at the venue within this specific competition. The match took place at Hampshire's home ground, which has hosted county cricket since 2001. The stadium, also known as the Utilita Bowl for sponsorship reasons, has a capacity of 15,000 spectators.

Scoring 230 runs in a T20 Blast match indicates a high-scoring encounter, often influenced by pitch conditions and boundary dimensions typical of English county grounds. Hampshire's total of 230/7 suggests a strong contribution from the middle and lower order, or a dominant opening partnership that set the platform for a chase or a target-setting innings. The loss of seven wickets implies that while the run rate was high, the batting lineup faced pressure from Essex's bowling attack, preventing a potentially higher maximum score.

This record highlights the competitive nature of the T20 Blast, where teams frequently post totals exceeding 200 runs. The 2025 season saw this specific matchup produce one of the highest scores in the venue's recent history. For fantasy cricket players and analysts, understanding such high-scoring trends at The Rose Bowl is crucial for predicting player performance and team strategies. The data confirms that Hampshire's batting lineup is capable of exploiting the conditions at West End, Hampshire, to post formidable totals against strong opponents like Essex.

Pitch and Conditions

The Rose Bowl, located in Southampton, England, serves as the home ground for Hampshire County Cricket Club in the T20 Blast. The venue has hosted T20 matches since 2001. The stadium has a capacity of 15,000 spectators.

Historical pitch behavior at The Rose Bowl has evolved over time. In the early years of T20 cricket at the venue, the pitch conditions favored seamers, which often resulted in lower team totals. In later years, the surface has seen higher scoring rates, reflecting changes in pitch preparation and batting approaches.

While the T20 Blast is the primary competition discussed here, the venue's broader cricketing history includes notable first-class records that provide context for its batting potential. The highest team total in first-class cricket at The Rose Bowl is 714/5. Additionally, John Crawley recorded a first-class score of 311 not out at the ground. These figures highlight the venue's capacity to produce high-scoring matches, although T20 Blast scores are typically lower due to the format's 20-over structure.

Available data does not capture the highest individual score or highest team total specifically for the T20 Blast competition at The Rose Bowl. For detailed ball-by-ball statistics and specific player records within the T20 Blast, further analysis of Cricsheet data is required.

Notable International Matches

The Rose Bowl, located in Southampton, England, serves as the home ground for Hampshire County Cricket Club in the T20 Blast. The venue has hosted T20 matches since 2001. The stadium has a capacity of 15,000 spectators.

While the ground is noted for hosting the 2019-21 ICC World Test Championship final and serving as a biosecure venue in 2020, these events fall outside the scope of T20 Blast records. The provided data does not contain specific T20I records, such as Aaron Finch's 156, within the context of the T20 Blast competition.

Available data does not capture the highest team total, lowest team total, or highest individual score at The Rose Bowl specifically for the T20 Blast. Detailed ball-by-ball statistics for franchise matchups or player records in this league are not included in the current grounding.

For T20 Blast analysis, the Rose Bowl is one of the key county grounds. However, without specific match scores or player performances from the T20 Blast archives in the source material, further statistical breakdowns of head-to-head records or seasonal trends cannot be verified.

Readers seeking information on international T20 records at this venue should note that the current dataset is limited to the T20 Blast league context. Any claims regarding specific tournament finals or player milestones in other formats are omitted to maintain strict adherence to the available T20 Blast data.

See also