Match Preview - Gloucestershire v Somerset
27 April 2019
Gloucestershire welcome local rivals Somerset to the Bristol County Ground in the Royal London One-Day Cup on Sunday (11.00) hoping to keep in touch with one of the two sides setting a high standard at the top of the South Group.
Somerset's crushing win over Essex on Friday, where the Taunton floodlights were used for the first time, kept them ahead of Hampshire on net run rate after Gloucestershire ran into James Vince in inspired form with the bat at Southampton.
Gloucestershire Squad:
Dent (c), Hankins, Roderick, Bracey, Howell, J.Taylor, Higgins, van Buuren, Smith, Payne, Liddle, M.Taylor, Hammond
Batsman James Bracey continued broadening his white ball experience with an innings of 40 at the Ageas Bowl, and is looking forward to playing a local derby for the first time at first team level.
"I've had to wait for it but it's been great to be given a role in the top four in white ball cricket" he said. "Pre-season (where Bracey scored two centuries in 50 over matches) gave me the confidence to go out and play the shots that I know I can. I've built a good foundation in red ball cricket and I saw no reason why I couldn't switch the mind set to the white ball game, so it's been good to get some runs early on."
"Somerset have won all their matches, including the one at Glamorgan where they could have lost but clawed it back, so they'll be confident. They've a good balance to their attack and some explosive batsmen and for us, after the Hampshire result, it's a crucial game."
The teams know each other well having been regular opponents in both limited overs competitions in recent years. Six of the Gloucestershire side involved in the last List A win over Somerset in 2015 played in Friday's defeat to Hampshire, while Somerset's team is likely to include several familiar names in the vastly experienced Peter Trego and James Hildreth, all rounder Lewis Gregory and seam bowler Tim Groenewald.
"They have been consistently there or thereabouts, some of their boys (Gregory and Jamie Overton) had time with the England Lions during the winter and Azhar Ali has added to their batting at the top of the order" said Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson. "It's a game where we know there will be a decent atmosphere and it's an exciting challenge for us."
Tickets for this match are still available and will be available for purchase at both the Nevil Road Entrance (BS7 9EJ) & Ashley Down Road Entrance (BS7 9LU).
Prices on the day: Adult £20 - Child £5 - Concession £15
