Match Preview

Summary:

Hampshire head in to this Friends Life t20 match against Surrey knowing that a win would secure a home Quarter Final draw.

Play begins at The Kia Oval at 7:00pm.

Hampshire:

The Royals’ tenth successive home win on Wednesday against Essex (a run stretching back to last season) means Dominic Cork’s side lead the way in the South Group table with 20 points, a lead of four points over their nearest rivals. A six point lead would be unassailable by all but two of the chasing pack – and they have to play each other, meaning one or both cannot take maximum points from their final fixtures.

Furthermore, having won ten out of their thirteen t20 matches this summer (with two matches rain abandoned), the Royals will be confident of doing the 'double' over Surrey having condemned Chris Adams’ team to a seven-wicket defeat at The Rose Bowl on June 3.

They will, however, be without Michael Lumb, whose x-ray on an ankle injury sustained before the Essex match has revealed just ligament damage. He is expected to be out for four to six weeks alongside wicketkeeper Nic Pothas who’s recovering from appendicitis.

Youngsters Benny Howell and Michael Bates are expected to continue in the side in their place.

The Opposition:

Surrey will have to contend with playing two matches in as many days as they play Middlesex at Lord's on Thursday evening.

The Lions have endured an up and down t20 campaign so far, but seemed to have picked up form recently with wins away to Glamorgan and home to Sussex. It’s a lack of consistency that has left them on the borderline of a top four place and probably fighting until the final day to secure quarter-final qualification.

Although Surrey will miss the limited-over bowling abilities of Jade Dernbach as he is on England duty alongside batsman Kevin Pietersen, Hampshire will still have to contend with former Rose Bowl favourite Chris Tremlett. 

South African Zander de Bruyn has been Surrey's star performer with the bat in the competition this summer with two fifties in seven innings (including a 38-ball 52 at The Rose Bowl) and he is likely to pose the Lions main threat. Elsewhere, Surrey do boast the talents of former England wicketkeeper Stephen Davies at the top of the order and the pace of overseas signing Dirk Nannes in their attack - he has ten wickets to his name in the competition.

Hampshire Squad:

(00) Shahid Afridi

(4) Jimmy Adams

(7) Sean Ervine

(8) Liam Dawson

(12) Dominic Cork*

(13) Benny Howell

(14) James Vince

(16) Michael Bates⁺

(17) Dimitri Mascarenhas

(19) Danny Briggs

(25) Chris Wood

(27) Neil McKenzie

(42) Imran Tahir

Weather Forecast:

Overcast with the possibility of showers.

Coverage:

Live text commentary will be available for this match. Visit Hampshire Cricket’s Facebook and Twitter pages for all the major incidents as they happen. BBC Radio Solent will also be broadcasting live ball-by ball coverage online. 

Press enquiries to:

Simon Vincent

The Rose Bowl

simon.vincent@rosebowlplc.com

023 8047 5624 | 07920 452 524