Vitality Blast Preview | Essex v Glos
30 May 2023
Gloucestershire play the second of two games in two days when they face Essex at The Cloud County Ground at 6:00pm Tuesday evening.
The Shire are riding high after winning a thrilling encounter against Middlesex on Bank Holiday Monday thanks to an exceptional final over from Matt Taylor, who defended seven runs to seal victory at Merchant Taylors’ School.
T20 Blast tickets for Gloucestershire v Surrey on Friday night available here.
T20 Blast tickets for Gloucestershire v Middlesex on Sunday afternoon available here.
Team news
Dale Benkenstein makes one addition to the squad that travels to Chelmsford, with Lancashire loanee Danny Lamb added to the group that won at Middlesex.
All-rounder Lamb bolsters Shire’s batting, bowling and fielding and could start against Essex.
Your 15-player Gloucestershire squad to face Essex:
Last time out
Gloucestershire posted their first two points in the Vitality Blast South Group on Monday when they beat Middlesex by the finest of margins. An exceptional effort from the Gloucestershire bowling unit kept them in the game throughout the home side’s chase, Shire eventually running out victors by two runs thanks to Matt Taylor’s nerveless final over in which he conceded just four runs.
Career-best figures of 3/21 by Ollie Price were backed up by debutant Marchant de Lange’s 1/28 from four overs, including the key wicket of Stephen Eskinazi, who was bowled for 54.
Shire had set Middlesex 182 runs to win after Miles Hammond provided backbone to the Glos innings hitting 59 from 42 deliveries, supported expertly by Grant Roelofsen and Graeme van Buuren, who hit 34 and 28* respectively, both scoring at 140+.
Our opponents
Essex play their first match of the competition against Gloucestershire after hosting Ireland for a red-ball warm-up match in Chelmsford ahead of the England v Ireland test match later this week.
Head Coach Anthony McGrath has named a 13-player squad for their Blast opener, including Daniel Sams, who recently arrived from the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, and Robin Das who scored 132 against Ireland.
Experienced T20 players Adam Rossington and Tom Westley will also be involved in a side captained by South African off-spinner Simon Harmer.
The Essex squad to face Gloucestershire
Simon Harmer*, Ben Allison, Sam Cook, Matt Critchley, Robin Das, Feroze Khushi, Aron Nijjar, Michael Pepper, Daniel Sams, Shane Snater, Adam Rossington, Paul Walter, Tom Westley.
Last meeting
Gloucestershire were due to face the Eagles in Bristol last year, but, the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to the weather.
No rain is forecast this time round.
How to watch
Gloucestershire face Essex in the Vitality Blast at 6:00pm on Tuesday 30 May at The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford.
You can watch every ball in the Glos Cricket Match Centre. Coverage starts at 6:45pm.
