Vitality Blast Preview | Glos v Sussex Sharks
21 June 2023
Gloucestershire play their final group stage home game of this season’s Vitality Blast when Sussex Sharks come to town on Thursday night.
A rejuvenated Glos will take motivation from their Tuesday night victory over 2022 champions Hampshire Hawks, a win that kept the Club’s faint qualification hopes alive.
Team news
Dale Benkenstein selects the same fourteen that were available for selection against the Hawks, with Zaman Akhter, James Bracey and Jack Taylor hoping to break back into a winning side.
Your 14-player Gloucestershire squad to face Glamorgan:
Miles Hammond*, Zaman Akhter, James Bracey, Ben Charlesworth, Zafar Gohar, David Payne, Ollie Price, Tom Price, Grant Roelofsen, Jack Taylor, Matt Taylor, Tom Smith, Graeme van Buuren, Ben Wells.
Last time out
Gloucestershire’s talented duo of Bens, Wells and Charlesworth, dismantled the experienced Hampshire Hawks attack on Tuesday evening as the Shire ran out victors by eight wickets.
Three first innings Tom Smith wickets and the exceptional run out of James Vince by Wells had restricted the visitors to 158/7 before rain delayed the start of the Gloucestershire response.
When the umpires called for the restart, Gloucestershire required 84 to win off nine overs, a target Wells and Charlesworth took down with five balls to spare thanks to a 65-run third wicket stand.
Our opponents
Sussex Sharks sit eighth in the South Group after just three wins in seven matches but, like Gloucestershire, have a recent victory over last year’s champions Hampshire Hawks.
Their most recent outing, however, was a loss to Kent Spitfires at Hove. The Spitfires have been in electric form and chased the Sussex total of 169/7 with eight balls to spare.
Sharks skipper Ravi Bopara has been in excellent form this season with three T20 fifties in nine games including an 88*. England paceman Tymal Mills’ 16 wickets in the competition also puts him among the most prolific bowlers in the South Group.
The Sussex Sharks squad to face Gloucestershire:
Ravi Bopara*, Tom Alsop, Michael Burgess, Oli Carter, Tom Clark, James Coles, Henry Crocombe, Brad Currie, George Garton, Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Dan Ibrahim, Ari Karveles, Shadab Khan, Tymal Mills, Harrison Ward.
Last meeting
Last season’s fixture between the teams at the Seat Unique Bristol was one of the most stunning comebacks in T20 Blast history.
In pursuit of 146 to win, the Sharks were strolling to an easy victory when Gloucestershire took seven wickets in 31 balls to complete a remarkable victory.
Sussex needed 29 to win from 28 balls but wickets from David Payne, Tom Smith and co meant they were bowled out for 141 in a sensational turnaround.
How to watch
Gloucestershire face Sussex Sharks in the Vitality Blast at 18:30 on Thursday 22 June at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.
The game can be watched live in the Glos Cricket Match Centre. Coverage begins at 18:15.
