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: Surrey v Middlesex
Venue: The Kia Oval
Date: Friday, June 25, 2021
Start time: 6.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
After starting the season with three consecutive wins, Surrey are now without a victory in four. They can blame the rain for the first two, washing out successive matches against Sussex and Hampshire, but against Essex and Somerset, they have been a shadow of themselves.
At home to Essex, they suffered a crushing eight-wicket defeat having been bowled out for just 118 inside 17 overs. Against Somerset, they started promisingly, with Will Jacks thrashing 65 from 43 balls but ultimately posted a very chasable 146 for 8, a target their opponents surpassed with 10 balls remaining.
Sitting bottom of the South Group are Middlesex, who have lost five of their six matches and don't even have the weather to blame for their grim position in the competition.
Their only victory over Hampshire Hawks occurred 10 days ago but there is a feeling of disbelief that they haven't been able to add to it. They lost by two runs to Gloucestershire by DLS after the final delivery was smashed for six. That misfortune was followed by defeat to Essex after Simon Harmer hit a four from the final delivery to secure a two-wicket success.
Who’s in form?
In the absence of Jason Roy, Jacks is Surrey's go-to run-scorer. The 22-year-old is the only player in the squad to pass 50 on more than one occasion and is scoring at an impressive strike rate of 186.53. Laurie Evans has 127 runs and one half-century to his name in 2021, so expect more from him.
With the ball, Dan Moriarty has impressed, taking six wickets in 18 overs and bowling with an economy of 6.88, while at the opposite end of the age scale, Gareth Batty remains a threat. The 43-year-old has three wickets to his name and is Surrey's most economical bowler, conceding 5.81 runs per over.
Stevie Eskiazi cracked Middlesex's highest individual score of this season's Blast against Essex, scoring an unbeaten 102. Joe Cracknell has been otherwise been the only other batter of note, scoring two half-centuries on the bounce.
In the bowling department, both Steven Finn and Chris Green are into double figures for wickets (11 and 10 respectively) but they've both been on the expensive side (8.82 and 9.22 runs per over). There remains room for improvement in both categories.
What’s the team news?
Surrey: Kyle Jamieson could make his debut after joining up following the World Test Championship final. Ollie Pope is fit again after serving a period of self-isolation.
Surrey squad: Gareth Batty, Hashim Amla, Gus Atkinson, Rory Burns, Jordan Clark, Rikki Clarke, Jade Dernbach, Laurie Evans, Ben Geddes, Will Jacks, Kyle Jamieson, Dan Moriarty, Jamie Overton, Ryan Patel, Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith
Middlesex: Just one alteration to the squad from the heartbreaking loss to Essex with Max Holden joining the group. Otherwise unchanged.
Middlesex squad: Steven Finn (c), Joe Cracknell, Blake Cullen, Stephen Eskinazi, Chris Green, Nick Gubbins, Tom Helm, Max Holden, Luke Hollman, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Murtagh, John Simpson (wk), Nathan Sowter
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Surrey: LLANRW
Middlesex: LLLWL
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 35
Surrey wins: 23
Middlesex wins: 12
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 2
No result: 0
What’s the weather forecast?
Following some afternoon rain in south London, the sun is set to come out for this derby match with temperatures even reaching 20 degree Celsius.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for The Kia Oval: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
Due to restrictions on capacity, tickets for this fixture are only available to Surrey members.
Travel
Address: Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SS
By car: No match-day parking is available at, or in the vicinity of the ground, and we advise all customers to use public transport. We only offer parking to Blue Badge holders on a first come first serve basis.
The ground is situated on the A202, near the junction with the A3 and A24, just south of Vauxhall Bridge and 10-minutes from Victoria and Waterloo.
By train: Use South Western Railway trains into Vauxhall station, which is a 10-minute walk from the ground. The station is well served by trains throughout Surrey and Hampshire as well as from the Greater London area.
By underground: The Kia Oval is just a one-minute walk away from Oval underground station, which is situated in South London on the Northern line. It is on your left as you leave the main entrance of the station. The ground is also a 10-minute walk from Vauxhall which is situated on the Victoria line.
By bus: Route numbers 36, 185 and 436 stop outside the ground and other local services stop around the corner. The following buses pass within a 5-minute walk of the ground: 3, 59, 109, 133, 159, 333.
How do I follow the match?
This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Cricket.
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?
Despite being in the middle of a wretched run Middlesex came within touching distance of victory over Surrey and are catching their local rivals at a good time. Away win.
OTHER T20 BLAST FIXTURES: FRIDAY, JUNE 25
North Group
Worcestershire Rapids v Durham
Northants Steelbacks v Lancashire Lightning
Derbyshire Falcons v Notts Outlaws
Leicestershire Foxes v Yorkshire Vikings
South Group
Sussex Sharks v Gloucestershire
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