Match Preview: Gloucestershire v Somerset
19 September 2020
Gloucestershire’s final group match of the 2020 Vitality Blast will fittingly be against local rivals Somerset with something on the line for both teams.
The Shire are in pole position to become one of the top three seeds in the quarter-final with a first placed finish in the Central Group. All that is required is one more point or to maintain a better run rate than second placed Birmingham.
The match will be broadcast live on the Gloscricket Match Centre here
Gloucestershire will be hoping to head into the knockout stage with some momentum after falling to Glamorgan for the second time this season on Friday night.
Chris Dent continued his renaissance in T20 cricket with a fourth half-century in eight innings. No player has had more 50-plus scores than the left-handed opener. But a team score of 171 wasn’t enough to topple the Welsh side led by Irishman Andrew Balbirnie who made 99 not out.
A win to complete the double over West Country rivals Somerset would certainly improve spirits amongst the Glos team with ten days between the final group match and the quarter-finals.
The last time the two sides met Gloucestershire made 203/6, a record team T20 score at Taunton. The team as a whole hit 14 sixes with nine of them coming via Cockbain and Howell.
Somerset were kept at bay throughout their innings despite the best efforts of 18-year-old Will Smeed who made 82 in only his second match for Somerset.
Gloucestershire have named an unchanged squad from the match against Birmingham:
Somerset have found themselves back in the hunt to qualify for the next round of the competition with two consecutive victories following the home defeat to Gloucestershire.
Babar Azam led the way at Glamorgan with 114 not out off 62 balls, helped on his way by 19-year-old debutante Lewis Goldsworthy who made 38 not out along with two wickets.
Roelof van der Merwe was very effective in the opening overs of Glamorgan’s innings with a double wicket maiden ending any chance the home side had.
An equally impressive bowling performance against Northampton was the difference in their last match, something their opponents were unable to equal.
Ollie Sale has taken the most wickets for Somerset but has been quite expensive in the process, going for more than 10 an over. Against Gloucestershire he gave up 41 runs in just 2.4 overs.
Gloucestershire have won the last four Vitality Blast matches between the two sides at the Bristol County Ground and will be hoping to make it five in a row.
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