Kent Spitfires v Gloucestershire | Match Preview
11 August 2021
Following a whirlwind week of uncertainty at Gloucestershire Cricket, the team now find themselves back in action this Thursday, within touching distance of a Royal London Cup quarterfinal.
A trip to Beckenham to take on Kent Spitfires in the final group match of the One-Day cup seemed in doubt after Covid struck the squad and forced the majority of first team players to isolate, resulting in the Middlesex match on Sunday being cancelled.
However, after an extensive review of the Covid cases within the squad, Gloucestershire have been given the all clear to take part in their final match.
Kent Spitfires v Gloucestershire | Live on the Gloscricket Match Centre HERE | 11:00am Start Time
There could be List A debuts for Dom Goodman, Ollie Price and Academy player Ollie Meadows who have all been included in the travelling squad. Both Goodman and Price have featured for the Club in red-ball cricket but for left-handed top-order batter Meadows, this will be the first team the 18-year-old features in a first team squad.
James Bracey also makes a return to the team after missing last week’s win over Hampshire due to adhering to Covid-related isolation protocols. He may take back his position behind the stumps but Interim Head Coach Ian Harvey also has the option of utilising Ben Wells who has played twice so far in the competition.
George Scott could find himself further up the batting order without Ben Charlesworth or Tom Lace in the lineup. He has experience of opening the batting in first-class cricket this season and has averaged 43 in the Royal London Cup batting at six and seven.
“Staying in the side for a run of matches gives you confidence to play the way you want to and that has helped me in recent weeks,” George said. “Getting out is not the end of the world because you know there is another game coming, instead of feeling like every one is a last chance.”
On the bowling front, Harvey will likely stick with those who have bowled throughout the competition: spinners van Buuren and Smith, alongside seamers Shaw, Warner and Matt Taylor.
Dom Goodman and the Price brothers could be in contention for up to two available spots depending on how Chris Dent and Ian Harvey decide to play and the wicket they see tomorrow morning.
Gloucestershire’s 14-man squad travelling to Beckenham:
For Kent, their chances of reaching the knockout stages are long gone but they will be looking to end their season on a high.
The Spitfires’ top run scorer in the competition is George Munsey, with 304 runs in four innings, including his maiden List A century against Worcestershire Rapids earlier in the tournament.
Opener Tawanda Muyeye has a strike rate of 118.27, whilst Hamid Qadri, with a few not-out innings of 20+ runs, averages 103.00.
From the Spitfires’ bowling attack, Nathan Gilchrist sits top of the pile with eight wickets in five matches at 20.62, with Matt Quinn just behind (six) and Hamid Qadri has four.
Kent’s squad for tomorrow’s match:
Leaning (c), Finch, Gilchrist, Gordon, Logan, Munsey, Muyeye, Podmore, Qadri, Quinn, Robinson, Stevens & Stewart.
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