Vitality Blast Preview | Gloucestershire vs Middlesex
10 July 2024
Gloucestershire return to T20 action on Thursday 11th July as Middlesex visit the Towergate Cheltenham Cricket Festival.
Mark Alleyne’s side go into the match fresh from a memorable victory over local rivals Somerset in Taunton on Sunday afternoon, a result that puts Gloucestershire well in the mix for quarter-final qualification in the South Group.
Chasing 195 for victory against Somerset, Gloucestershire completed the double over their neighbours thanks to heroics with the bat from a handful of players. Player of the match, Beau Webster, scored 39 from 25 balls while Miles Hammond, James Bracey and right at the death, Ben Charlesworth and Ollie Price played a huge part in ensuring Gloucestershire came away with the win.
That result, Gloucestershire’s fifth victory from ten Blast matches, places them in fifth place (joint third on 11 points) in the South Group table.
Middlesex, meanwhile, sit at the foot of the table on five points with only one win from ten matches played. Their last two matches against Surrey and Hampshire have been abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Middlesex’s only win of the Blast so far this season came against Kent Spitfires in Canterbury at the start of June.
A win for Gloucestershire against Middlesex could send them into second place in the table depending on results elsewhere.
TEAM NEWS
Mark Alleyne selects an unchanged 15-man squad for Thursday’s match against Middlesex.
Tom Smith remains sidelined with recovery from a back injury ongoing, as does Tom Price and Zafar Gohar who are continuing with rehabilitation from long-term setbacks.
Your 15-man squad to Middlesex:
J Taylor (c), Bancroft, Bracey, B Charlesworth, de Lange, Goodman, Hammond, Middleton, Payne, O Price, Shaw, Singh Dale, M Taylor, Van Buuren, Webster.
LAST TIME OUT
Gloucestershire beat Middlesex both home and away in the Vitality Blast last season, with the most recent win coming at the Seat Unique Stadium in June 2023.
Having pegged the visitors back to 139/9 in the first innings, Gloucestershire chased down the target of 140 with ten balls to spare. Ollie Price was the pick of the batters, scoring 47 runs, but he was supported well by Zafar Gohar who made 37 off just 22 balls.
HOW TO WATCH
Gloucestershire take on Middlesex in the Vitality Blast at Cheltenham College, Cheltenham, from 5pm tomorrow, Thursday 11th July. Watch every ball via the Glos Cricket match centre, here
