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Sophia Gardens, Cardiff Overview
Part of the Cardiff Wales Stadium, Sophia Gardens is a premier cricket venue located in Cardiff, Wales. It is nestled alongside the River Taff in the vibrant Sophia Gardens area in Wales. Launched as an international cricket ground on May 20 during the 1999 Cricket World Cup match between Australia and New Zealand. The ground is owned and operated by Glamorgan County Cricket Club, which relocated there in 1967, transforming it into a hub for domestic and international cricket. Formerly known as SWALEC Stadium, it reverted to its original name in April 2018 after the SSE SWALEC sponsorship ended.
Initially, the stadium had a capacity of 5,500, which was extended to 15,000 after the 2008 development, including the addition of new stands, funded partly by a Cardiff Council loan. Facilities at Sophia Gardens are top-notch, featuring the Sport Wales National Centre adjacent to the ground, offering extensive training and sports amenities. The stadium includes modern floodlights, installed to support evening matches like The Hundred and T20Is, enhancing its versatility.
Upcoming matches at Sophia Gardens
Sophia Gardens is set to host an exciting lineup of matches in 2025, including The Hundred’s Welsh Fire fixtures, known for their super-fast 100-ball format and vibrant atmosphere with live music and on-field entertainment. Key international games include England vs. South Africa on September 10 and Glamorgan Women vs Gloucestershire Women in Vitality Blast Women on 13 July. Glamorgan’s County Championship and T20 Blast matches, like those against Gloucestershire and Kent, will also feature.
Here is the complete list of upcoming matches at Sophia Gardens in 2025:
Sophia Gardens Stadium Pitch Report
The Sophia Gardens pitch in Cardiff is renowned for its balanced yet dynamic nature, making it a compelling stage for T20I and The Hundred matches. Offering a blend of pace, bounce, and occasional seam movement, it offers assistance for both batters and bowlers. However, in August’s typical overcast conditions, it starts as bowler-friendly, with fast bowlers and spinners exploiting early assistance.
As the match progresses, the surface tends to slow down, providing variable bounce and turn, which can challenge batsmen but also reward adaptable stroke play. Weather, with 80-100 mm of rain and 80% humidity, can influence play, often leading to a greener pitch that aids swing initially before drying out. This versatility, combined with a capacity crowd of up to 16,000, makes Sophia Gardens a tactical battleground for both bat and ball.
Sophia Gardens Pitch Report: Batting or Bowling?
Batsmen can capitalize early with aggressive stroke play, especially on the compact boundaries that favor big hits. However, the pitch tends to assist bowlers as the game progresses, with the surface slowing down and offering variable bounce, demanding adaptability. Cloudy conditions, common in August, can make scoring harder initially due to seam movement. Hence, it is a balancing pitch yet challenges batters, especially in the first innings.
The Sophia Gardens pitch in Cardiff is a bowler-friendly surface, particularly in the early stages of T20I and The Hundred matches, giving pace and spin bowlers a significant edge. Fast bowlers benefit from initial bounce and movement, especially under cloudy August skies. The pitch’s tendency to slow down and offer variable bounce later in the game aids spinners. Overall, bowlers with skill and adaptability thrive, making this pitch a strategic stronghold against aggressive batting.
Toss and Match Outcome Results (Batting first/chasing)
Here’s a look at the outcome of T20 International matches at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, based on the decision taken at the toss:
Sophia Gardens Weather Forecast
Sophia Gardens in Cardiff typically experiences mild and variable weather in August, ideal for The Hundred matches. Average temperatures range from 13°C to 20°C, with highs occasionally reaching 23°C, according to the multiple weather reports. Rainfall is common, averaging 80-100 mm across the month, often in short showers, which can interrupt play but also create a lush, green outfield. Humidity hovers around 80%, and the venue’s location near the Bristol Channel brings occasional breezes, keeping conditions comfortable for the 100-ball format’s fast-paced action. Evening matches, like those in The Hundred, benefit from longer daylight, though floodlights are key if rain delays occur.
Iconic T20I Matches Played at Sophia Gardens
So far, Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens has hosted 10 T20I matches and many Hundred matches. There is a list below of some memorable matches organized by the iconic ground Sophia Gardens, including T20Is and the Hundred.
Sophia Gardens First T20I Match: England vs Pakistan (2010)
On September 5, 2010, Sophia Gardens hosted its first T20I match between England and Pakistan, which was welcomed by the rain, reducing the game to 18 overs per side. Pakistan posted 126 runs with Umar Akmal’s 28 the top score. England chased it down with Eoin Morgan’s unbeaten 38 off 24 balls, despite losing early wickets. Stuart Broad’s 2/20 kept Pakistan in check, marking England’s first T20I win against Pakistan at home.
DLS Method, Rain Drama: England vs Australia (2014)
On August 31, 2014, England and Australia faced each other in the T20I match at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff when rain shortened the game to 15 overs. England, led by Joe Root’s 68 off 43, fell short by 2 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after a dramatic chase. Mitchell Starc’s 3/32 turned the tide, and Australia defeated England. The match showcased Sophia Gardens’ compact boundaries, aiding big hitting, and drew 12,500 fans.
Record-breaking Crowd: England vs South Africa (2017)
On June 25, 2017, England 181/5 (20 overs) defeated South Africa 162/7 (20 overs) by 19 runs, with a contribution of Jason Roy’s 67 off 45, South Africa’s AB de Villiers (65 off 31) fought back, but England’s bowlers, led by Liam Plunkett (2/27), clinched a 19-run win. The match featured 17 sixes, thrilling the 15,000-strong crowd. It was part of a tri-series and showcased Sophia Gardens’ growing T20 reputation, which later influenced the latest seating capacity upgrade to 16,000.
Southern Brave vs Birmingham Phoenix (2023)
On August 9, 2023, Southern Brave and Birmingham Phoenix faced each other in the 7th match of The Hundred in Cardiff. Southern Brave posted 139, powered by James Vince’s 71 off 46. Birmingham Phoenix fought back with Liam Livingstone’s 49, but Tymal Mills’ 3/22 in the death overs restricted them to 135 runs in 100 balls, and Southern Brave won the match by 4 runs.
Sophia Gardens T20I matches Stats & Records
Here's a look at all the key and important T20 International match records at the Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, over the years.
Team Records at Sophia Gardens
Highest and Lowest Totals at Sophia Gardens
South Africa scored the highest total at the Sophia Gardens in T20Is. The Proteas bagged 207 runs for three wickets against England and won the match in 2022. The lowest T20I total at Sophia Gardens is held by Pakistan, scoring 89 runs in 18.4 overs against England in 2010.
Most Successful Teams at Sophia Gardens
Team England is the most successful team at the Sophia Gardens in T20I, having played 10 matches and winning 9 of them with a winning percentage of 90%. Only Team South Africa has one the one and only match defeating home side team England at this venue.
Most runs by a player at Sophia Gardens
English batsman Eoin Morgan has scored the most runs at Sophia Gardens in the T20 International. He is also one of the highest run scorers at Sophia Gardens, accumulating 215 runs from 7 matches with a high score of 74 and an average of 71.66.
Most Centuries by a player at Sophia Gardens
So far, no player has scored a century at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Hence, there are no records available for the most T20I centuries at this venue.
Most wickets by a player at Sophia Gardens
English bowler Chris Jordan has taken the most T20I wickets at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. He took seven wickets from three matches at an average of 29.85, including his 3/31 best bowling figure.
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