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Quarter-Final Match Preview: Gloucestershire v Northants Steelbacks

30 September 2020

Gloucestershire host Northants Steelbacks in the quarter-finals of the Vitality Blast at the Bristol County Ground which will decide who moves on to Finals Day at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Match Starts – 2:00pm

Match Date – Thursday 1 October 2020

The match will be broadcast live for FREE on the Gloscricket Match Centre here.

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Each team comes into the game with winning form that helped them reach the quarter-final stage; Gloucestershire winning their final match of the group stage to knock out rivals Somerset and top the Central Group by four points, Northants winning their final game of the group against Birmingham Bears to narrowly secure a quarter-final spot.

Gloucestershire advanced to the quarter-final after what was a much more comfortable run in than one might have expected. The Shire won seven of their ten games including impressive victories over Somerset, Birmingham and Worcestershire who were all considered to be in contention of advancing to the quarter-final stage before the competition started. Led by Jack Taylor, Gloucestershire would win an impressive six matches in a row to all but secure pole position.

Northants had a terrific start to the competition, leading the Central Group after five matches played. However, a defeat to Gloucestershire in Northampton would lead to four straight losses, making it a crucial must win fixture against Birmingham Bears on the final day of the group stage. They would go on to defeat the Bears by three wickets in a high scoring encounter at Edgbaston to secure their quarter-final place.

Tom Smith leads the team in wickets taken with 14 to his name, joint highest among players in the eight teams remaining in the quarter-finals. Gloucestershire boast a strong bowling attack with all bowlers chipping in amongst the wicket takers. Ryan Higgins (13), David Payne (11) and Graeme van Buuren (10) are all in double figures for wickets taken so far in the competition.

Gloucestershire currently have two players in the top 10 run scorers so far in the competition. The in-form Ian Cockbain is currently ranked fourth with 369 runs at an impressive average of 46.12, while Chris Dent sits tenth with 314 runs at an average of 34.88. Cockbain is leading the competition with the most sixes (22), with Dent in fourth place with fours (40). The Northants bowlers face a difficult task against a very formidable Gloucestershire batting line up who bat deep into the order.

Gloucestershire's 15-man squad to face Northants Steelbacks:

For the visitors, Paul Stirling and Richard Levi are provide Northants with a strong start at the top of the order. Stirling currently sits in the top twenty-five run scorers in the competition. Known for his big hitting, the Irishman will be looking to get things started well for the away team.

Ben Sanderson currently sits top of the Northamptonshire wicket takers with twelve to his name. Graeme White will be looking to take wickets against Gloucestershire again, in the fixture at Northampton, White had figures of 3 for 28 runs.

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