Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the Vitality Blast...
Fixture: Hampshire Hawks v Gloucestershire
Venue: Ageas Bowl, Southampton
Date: Friday, July 2, 2021
Start time: 7pm
What’s the lowdown?
The two teams at the bottom and in third place respectively in the South Group do battle at the Ageas Bowl. The hosts have registered just one victory so far in the Blast, while the visitors have five victories to their name and are set to progress to the quarter-finals as it stands.
The Hawks come into this game off their fifth defeat of the season, and three of their five points in the table are made up of abandoned games. They fell short of a target of 146 set by Surrey earlier this week, finishing their own 20 overs still some 19 runs shy. Hampshire have shown inconsistency with regards to batting, which has cost them heavily when translated to points - they haven't got a win on the board since June 11 when they defeated Kent.
Gloucestershire were defeated yesterday against Somerset at home, as the visitors chased down a target of 161 with four balls to spare - and with two games in as many days, Gloucestershire will have to overcome fatigue to revert back to their previous form: before the Somerset fixture they had won three consecutive matches.
Who’s in form?
The Hawks' main threat with the ball on Wednesday was the 20 year-old Scott Currie. The right-arm seamer took three wickets against Surrey - in the shape of their No's 1, 2 and 4, including Ollie Pope. Just five days prior he recorded figures of 4-31 at Taunton, making him the most likely candidate to put a stop to the dangerous Gloucestershire top order.
Gloucestershire's opponents will know all about Benny Howell, the top-order batsman who recorded a half-century last evening as his side produced an innings that was probably 10-15 runs shy of being enough to get the win. Howell now has two half-centuries in his last three games - where he came out with a duck four days ago, he made up for it with a mere 4-15 with the ball in hand.
Hampshire will of course be wary of the constant threat of Glenn Phillips. For the New Zealand batsman, his return of a ere 4 runs was a disappointment compared to the two 94 not out innings prior to that, but his strike rate remains a cool 184.84 in all T20 games this season - something he'll be looking to remind the Hawks bowlers of on Friday evening.
What’s the team news?
The most notable admission for The Shire is that David Payne is not travelling, as he is being rested.
Gloucestershire: Miles Hammond, Chris Dent, James Bracey, Jack Taylor, Ryan Higgins, Benny Howell, Graeme van Buuren, Tom Smith, Dominic Goodman, Matt Taylor, George Scott, Josh Shaw, Daniel Worrall, Ollie Price
The Hawks are unchanged.
Hampshire Hawks: James Vince, Lewis McManus, Scott Currie, D’Arcy Short, Ryan Stevenson, Joe Weatherley, James Fuller, Brad Wheal, Colin de Grandhomme, Tom Prest, Toby Albert, Mason Crane, Chris Wood
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Hampshire Hawks: LALAA
Gloucestershire: LWWWA
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 10
Hampshire Hawks wins: 7
Gloucestershire: 2
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 3
No result: 1
What’s the weather forecast?
A dry evening on the south coast is anticipated, with no interruptions expected.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Southampton: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
Tickets are provisionally sold out for all of Hampshire's Blast matches.
Click here to access the Hampshire ticket office.
Travel
Address: Botley Rd, West End, Southampton SO30 3XH
Walking: If you are walking to The Ageas Bowl, make your way along Botley Road until you reach Marshall Drive and the giant set of cricket stumps.
Then walk up Marshall Drive and head straight over the roundabout for the ground
By train: Hedge End train station is less than two miles away, approximately a 35-minute walk from The Ageas Bowl.
The No.8 bus service connects the stadium with Hedge End train station, Southampton Civic Centre or Southampton City Centre.
By car: The Ageas Bowl is just 1.2 miles from the M27, Junction 7. When exiting the motorway follow signs for The Ageas Bowl.
The Ageas Bowl offers complimentary parking for those attending meetings, weddings or events at the venue.
Cycling: There is also a free bicycle storage facility. This is located near the Hampshire Wellbeing Centre, located opposite the East Gate of the main stadium.
How do I follow the match?
Hampshire will show this game on their website. Click here.
All T20 Blast matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: All Vitality Blast fixtures will be available on BBC Local Radio stations with extensive coverage also on 5 Live Sports Extra.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and updates from every Vitality Blast match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Prediction?
Gloucestershire know that they cannot afford to lose more points and risk their place in the top four - Jack Taylor's side should have enough to get the win.
NORTH GROUP
Birmingham Bears v Notts Outlaws
Yorkshire Vikings v Lancashire Lightning
Derbyshire Falcons v Worcestershire Rapids
SOUTH GROUP
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