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Vitality Blast Preview | Sussex Sharks and Hampshire Hawks

30 June 2023

Gloucestershire conclude their 2023 T20 Vitality Blast campaign with a trip to the South Coast to face Sussex Sharks and Hampshire Hawks.

The back-to-back fixtures on Saturday and Sunday represent a chance for Shire to finish the campaign on a high. Dale Benkenstein’s side are out of contention to reach the quarter-finals of the competition having lost 8 of their 12 games so far.

Team news

Dale Benkenstein has selected a 14-man squad for the two matches with Zafar Gohar the only addition to the 13-player squad that made the trip to Somerset last Friday.

Fresh from scoring a maiden first-class century vs Yorkshire in the County Championship, Ollie Price has consolidated his place in Shire’s Vitality Blast side. Young guns Ben Wells, Ben Charlesworth, Ajeet Singh Dale and Tom Price all make the trip and will be looking to build on impressive individual performances so far this season.

Your 14-man Gloucestershire squad that travels to Sussex and Hampshire:

Last time out

Despite a gutsy performance with both bat and ball, Gloucestershire fell to a narrow defeat at the hands of local rivals Somerset on Friday 23rd June.

A luckless Grant Roelofsen was ran-out in unfortunate fashion on 52, while Jack Taylor contributed with a well-worked 42* on his return to the side.

Having set Somerset 186/8, Gloucestershire’s seam attack experienced some joy, with Josh Shaw removing Tom Banton with the second ball of the game and Ajeet Singh Dale and Zaman Akhter finishing the match with two wickets apiece.

Our opponents

Sussex Sharks sit one place above Gloucestershire in the table on 10 points and are clinging onto an outside chance of sneaking into the top four.

Hampshire Hawks, meanwhile, sit third in the table on 14 points may find themselves under pressure to pick up points on Sunday when they face Gloucestershire at the Ageas Bowl. Shire have already beaten Hampshire Hawks once in the Vitality Blast this season; an eight wicket win during a rain-affected match at Bristol.

How to watch

Gloucestershire face Sussex Sharks in the Vitality Blast at 14:30 on Saturday 1st July at the 1st Central County Ground in Hove.

Shire then make the short trip west to face Hampshire Hawks at 14:30 on Sunday 2nd July at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

Both games can be watched live in the Glos Cricket Match Centre, here. Coverage begins at 14:15.

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