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: Sussex Sharks v Gloucestershire
Venue: 1st Central County Ground, Hove
Date: Friday, June 25, 2021
Start time: 7pm
What’s the lowdown?
Sussex are the only side in either group yet to lose a match in the 2021 T20 Blast, brushing aside Gloucestershire (five wickets), Hampshire (nine wickets) and Essex (seven wickets) in their three completed matches.
However, they are being plagued by the weather gods, with their past three fixtures unplayable or abandoned due to the rain.
Thanks to a combination of rain and a fine return to form last season's semi-finalists are unbeaten in their last five. Victory over Glamorgan followed what is looking like one of the stand-out performances of the competition, the eight-wicket win over Kent Spitfires when they chased down 148 inside 14 overs.
Who’s in form?
Phil Salt is currently the only Sussex batter to have more than 100 runs to his name, scoring 162 runs in three innings to date, but that's purely a reflection of his domination at the top of the order. Returning captain Luke Wright has also impressed with the bat, scoring 75 runs off 44 balls against Essex Eagles.
With the ball, George Garton is Sussex's leading wicket-taker (eight) and most economical bowler (5.15) - and they'll want to make the most of him before he goes away on England duty at the end of the month. 16-year-old Archie Lenham is also proving himself to be something of a white-ball sensation, taking four wickets in eight overs and bowling with an economy of 7.37.
In the absence of Ian Cockbain, overseas signing Glenn Phillips has stepped into the breach and is looking like a shrewd piece of business by the Bristol county. The New Zealander's unbeaten 94 in the last round was one of the highlights of the 2021 edition so far while his strike rate of 176.15 makes him among the most destructive around.
Josh Shaw has been the pick of a bowling attack that is yet to fully fire, with his nine wickets coming at an economy rate of 7.38.
What’s the team news?
Gloucestershire: Cockbain remains sidelines after he was forced to retire hurt against Essex, meaning an unchanged squad has been named.
Gloucestershire squad: Miles Hammond, Chris Dent, James Bracey, Glenn Phillips, Jack Taylor, Ryan Higgins, Benny Howell, Graeme van Buuren, Tom Smith, Matt Taylor, George Scott, Josh Shaw, Dan Worrall
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Sussex Sharks: AANRWW
Gloucestershire: WWAAW
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 18
Sussex Sharks wins: 11
Gloucestershire wins: 6
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 2
No result: 1
What’s the weather forecast?
Clear skies are expected for much of the early evening on the south coast, with temperatures hitting 16 degrees Celsius.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Hove: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
This match is sold out.
Click here to visit the Sussex box office.
Travel
Address: The 1st Central County Ground, Eaton Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 3AN
Parking: There is very limited parking at the ground for Sussex Cricket members and those with disabled parking permits on County Championship matchdays.
Please note there is no parking available for all other matchdays including.
There is a public car park, Norton Road Car Park (BN3 3BE), located a short walk West of The 1st Central County Ground opposite Hove Town Hall (charges apply between 8am and 8pm). For further information, click here.
By Train: Hove Railway Station is a 10-minute walk from the ground. Leave the station and head south on Goldstone Villas, at the bottom of the road turn left onto Eaton Road. Cross over The Drive continuing along Eaton Road, The 1st Central County Ground will appear on your left-hand side.
Brighton Railway Station is approximately a mile and a half from the club. There are regular rail services from Brighton Station to Hove Station. There is also a taxi rank located just outside Brighton Station, together with a bus terminal.
By Bus: The No.7 bus runs past the North (Cromwell Road) end of the ground with several stops near the ground. This service is the George Street, Hove to Brighton Marina service and serves both Hove and Brighton Rail Stations. This bus runs approximately every 10 minutes and around every 15 minutes on Sundays.
The 21 & 21A Brighton Marina to Goldstone Valley service stops outside the main entrance to the ground; these are less frequent but do run through the central Hove and Brighton areas.
For up-to-date information on these services and for detailed route map information, click here.
How do I follow the match?
Sussex 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?
Two sides who could easily still be around come Finals Day. Sussex at Hove gives them the edge. Home 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
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