The Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground is a beautiful stadium located in Cardiff, Wales.
Built in Sophia Gardens on the River Taff, this stadium is the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club and the England cricket team.
The Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground staged its first international cricket match, a One-Day International (ODI) between Australia and New Zealand during the ICC World Cup in 1999. The Stephen Fleming-led Kiwis won the match by five wickets.
A decade later, it hosted its first Test match featuring England and Australia. The Ashes Test ended in a draw.
In 2010, the Cardiff Wales Stadium staged its first T20 match played between England and Pakistan. The Paul Collingwood-led England won the game by five wickets. Since then, Sophia Gardens has hosted nine T20 internationals so far.
It has also hosted several marquee cricket tournaments including the ICC World Cup 1999, ICC Champions Trophy 2013, ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and the ICC World Cup 2019.
Let’s have a look at Sophia Gardens T20 records and stats:
Sophia Gardens T20 records and stats
Highest total
The South Africa cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Sophia Gardens in T20 international cricket. During the second T20I of South Africa’s tour of England in July 2022, the David Miller-led visitors posted 207/3 in their 20 overs. Put in to bat, South Africa rode on Rilee Rossouw’s unbeaten 96 off 55 balls and Reeza Hendricks’ 32-ball 53 to post a record T20 total at the venue. In reply, England were bowled out for 149 in 16.4 overs as South Africa won the game by 58 runs.
Lowest total
The Pakistan cricket team registered the lowest total at the Sophia Gardens in the T20 format. Electing to bat first, Pakistan were bundled out for 89 in 18.4 overs against England in the second T20I of a two-match series in September 2010. Umar Akmal top-scored for Pakistan with 17 off 13 balls. For England, Tim Bresnan picked up three wickets while the likes of Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann took three scalps each. Led by Paul Collingwood, England later chased down the target in 14 overs to register a comprehensive six-wicket win in Cardiff, Wales.
Most runs
Former England cricketer Eoin Morgan has the most runs at the venue in T20 international cricket. The swashbuckling left-handed batter amassed 215 runs in seven matches at an average of 71.66 and a strike rate of 160.44. He also slammed two T20I fifties at this venue. England’s white-ball captain Jos Buttler features second on the list with 153 runs in five games at an average of 38.25 and a strike rate of 142.99 with one T20I fifty at this ground.
Most wickets
England fast bowler Chris Jordan has picked up the most wickets at this cricket ground in the T20I format. The right-arm pacer has claimed seven wickets in six T20I matches at an average of 29.85 and an economy of 8.70. Jordan has best T20I bowling figures of 3/31 against South Africa at this venue in July 2022. South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo is second on the list with five scalps in just two matches.
Highest individual score
Flamboyant South Africa cricketer Rilee Rossouw holds the record for the highest individual score at the Sophia Gardens in T20 international cricket. Batting at number three, Rilee Rossouw slammed an unbeaten 96-run knock off just 55 balls against England in the second T20I of the series in July 2022. His blitzkrieg knock was laced with 10 fours and five maximums to help South Africa post a massive total of 207/3 in their 20 overs. Rossouw’s scintillating knock guided South Africa to a 58-run victory after the visitors bowled out England for 149 in 16.4 overs.
Best bowling figures
South Africa’s Dane Paterson registered the best bowling figures at this venue in the T20I format. The right-arm pacer registered impressive figures of 4/32 against hosts England in the third and final T20I in June 2017. Dane Paterson dismissed captain Jos Buttler, Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone and David Willey to restrict England to 181/8 in their 20 overs. Despite Paterson’s brilliant spell, South Africa lost the game by 19 runs.
Highest partnership
England’s Moeen Ali and Eoin Morgan hold the record for the highest partnership at the Sophia Gardens in T20I cricket. Moeen Ali and Eoin Morgan stitched a 135-run partnership for the third wicket against arch-rivals Australia in the only T20I of a series in August 2015. Morgan slammed 74 off 39 balls while Ali remained unbeaten on 72 from 39 balls to help England post 182/5 in their 20 overs. In reply, Australia managed 177/8 in their allotted overs as England registered a nail-biting five-run win in Cardiff.
Photo credit: Alamy
