Match Preview - Sussex Sharks v Gloucestershire
30 August 2019
With Vitality Blast knockout stage qualification already ensured, Gloucestershire head to Hove to take on South Group leaders Sussex Sharks with the hope of securing a home quarter final.
After last night’s victory over Kent, pressure will be off Gloucestershire who needed one victory from their final two games to make the knockout stages of the Vitality Blast. Their attention will now be on exacting revenge over Sussex Sharks who won the reverse fixture after six penalty points for slow over rate eased them over the line.
Ian Cockbain was player of the match on that occasion putting together an impressive 61 not out off 49 to top score by 24 runs.
David Payne, who sealed Gloucestershire’s victory against Kent with some incredible bowling at the death picked up three wickets the last time these two sides faced and is Gloucestershire’s leading wicket taker in the competition.
Captain Michael Klinger has been in inspired form with his runs scored increasing in each of his last five matches. In the last two games, made 74 against rivals Somerset at The Bristol County Ground and made 102 not out at The Spitfire Ground to lead Gloucestershire to the promised land.
Head Coach Richard Dawson who names an unchanged squad for tonight’s match said it would be fantastic to get a home quarter final.
“It would be brilliant for the fans. We have an amazing atmosphere at home. If we do get that home quarter final, we want to go into it with some form and that’s what we’re aiming to do.
We came into these two games knowing that we had to win one if not both and to get over the line after the first game is a great effort from us. It was a case of coming down here and winning two games if possible with it all being in our control and we can do that if we play as well as we can.”
Gloucestershire’s 14-man squad:
Klinger, Hammond, Bracey, Cockbain, J Taylor, Higgins, Tye, Smith, Payne, van Buuren, Liddle, Roderick, Shaw, M Taylor.
Sussex have already guaranteed a home quarter final thanks to eight victories from their 13 outings. They will face the fourth placed team from the North Group regardless of the result in tonight’s game which may work in Gloucestershire’s favour.
Delray Rawlins was the thorn in Gloucestershire’s side at the beginning of August. He hit 35 off 17 to give Sussex the win in somewhat fortuitous circumstances.
Fast bowler George Garton is included for the first time in the campaign, while Alex Carey – who is playing for the Australians in their tour match against Derbyshire – drops out.
Sussex have named a 14-man squad for tonight’s match:
Luke Wright, Will Beer, Jason Behrendorff, Danny Briggs, Ben Brown, Laurie Evans, Harry Finch, George Garton, Chris Jordan, Delray Rawlins, Ollie Robinson, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, David Wiese.
Tonight’s match versus Sussex Sharks will be played in front of a sold out 1st Central County Ground and is scheduled to start at 6:30pm.
Latest news
