Vitality Blast Preview | Sussex Sharks vs Gloucestershire
31 May 2024
Gloucestershire play in their second Vitality Blast match in as many days on Friday night as they head to Hove to take on Sussex Sharks.
Fresh from an emphatic victory against Essex Eagles in Bristol on Thursday evening, Mark Alleyne’s side are in fine-fettle as they make the trip down to the south coast.
Bowlers David Payne and Matt Taylor starred in the first innings for Gloucestershire claiming four wickets each. Left-arm seamer, Payne, had Essex 0-2 in the first over ensuring the visitors felt the pressure early on. Matt Taylor attacked the middle overs and was awarded with career-best T20 figures of 4-22.
Having been set 142 runs to win, James Bracey and Cameron Bancroft ensured the Gloucestershire run-chase had a solid foundation, scoring 49 and 32 respectively.
Sussex Sharks have yet to tee off in the Vitality Blast and will get their campaign underway against Gloucestershire.
TEAM NEWS
Mark Alleyne selects a 14-man squad for the trip to face Sussex Sharks, the only change from the squad selected against Essex being the omission of spinner Tom Smith, who misses out due to a back injury.
While unavailable for selection for this match, Zaman Akhter, Dom Goodman and Joe Phillips, are all close to returning to full fitness.
J Taylor*, Bancroft, Bracey†, B Charlesworth, de Lange, Hammond, Middleton, Payne, O Price, Shaw, Singh Dale, M Taylor, van Buuren, Webster
OUR OPPONENTS
Sussex Sharks finished in sixth place in the Vitality Blast South Group last season, two points ahead of Gloucestershire in seventh.
The seasiders secured six wins from 14 matches and like Gloucestershire, will be hoping to find some early season form in the hope of mounting a push for the knockout stages of the competition.
LAST MEETING
In last season’s Vitality Blast Gloucestershire won one and lost one against Sussex, with the win coming away from home towards the end of the group stage of the competition.
Gloucestershire won by five wickets on that occasion with 3.1 overs to spare. Ben Charlesworth with 34 and Grant Roelofsen with 30 off 14 balls, top-scored with the bat during our last T20 appearance at Hove.
HOW TO WATCH
Gloucestershire will take on Sussex Sharks in the Vitality Blast at the County Ground, Hove, from 7pm tonight.
Watch every ball live via the Gloucestershire Cricket Match Centre, here
