Sophia Gardens.

Cardiff · Wales · 2005–2025

Sophia Gardens, Cardiff: Pitch Conditions, Records and Match Stats

Explore records Who plays here

At a glance

Matches

136

All formats

Par score

173

1st-innings average

Chase success

53%

Balanced

Bat-first win

43%

Long-sample record

Pitch & conditions

Reading the Sophia Gardens deck

The patterns we see repeat across the matches on record — what works at Sophia Gardens, and what captains should plan for.

Chasing sides hold a slim overall edge

Across 135 matches at Sophia Gardens, sides batting second have won 53% of the time. That slight toss-influenced advantage is reinforced by captains fielding first at a 67% rate, suggesting the pitch can quicken under lights or as dew arrives in evening fixtures.

Powerplays are measured, not explosive

The average powerplay at Sophia Gardens yields 46 runs at a cost of 1.51 wickets, which sits below the more generous powerplay averages seen at flatter white-ball venues. Batting sides that build rather than blast in the first six overs tend to post competitive totals here.

Middle overs carry most of the scoring weight

The average middle-overs contribution of 87 runs is the largest phase total at the ground, well ahead of the death-overs figure of 33. Batters who rotate and find the boundary selectively through overs seven to fifteen can set or chase down totals more reliably than those relying on a late blitz.

England's dominant record in international fixtures

England have won 21 of their 31 matches at Sophia Gardens, a win rate of 78%. That record spans ODIs, T20 internationals and the three Tests staged here, making the ground historically one of their stronger home venues.

Glamorgan's home ground hosts the widest competition spread

Sophia Gardens is the home of Glamorgan, who have played 77 matches here across the Vitality Blast and other formats. The ground also stages Welsh Fire fixtures in the Hundred, giving it one of the broader domestic competition footprints of any county venue.

By the numbers

Historical records

Career aggregates from the matches LuckySpire tracks at Sophia Gardens. Drawn from Cricsheet ball-by-ball data under ODC-BY licence.

Avg 1st inn

173

T20-era par

Avg 2nd inn

158

Chasing average

Chase success

53%

All formats

Highest total

674

On record

Lowest total

Complete innings

Phase-by-phase · scoring trajectory

Where the runs come

Cumulative scoring trajectory across a typical white-ball innings at Sophia Gardens. Phase bands show Powerplay (overs 1–6), Middle (7–15) and Death (16–20) — the death-overs acceleration is where the ground's character shows up most sharply.