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 Somerset
Venue: 1st Central County Ground, Hove
Date: Friday, June 18, 2021
Start time: 7pm
What’s the lowdown?
Somerset have only played three games so far in the Blast, but they are coming off their best performance leading into this fixture. They racked up 204 against league leaders Kent Spitfires before bundling them out for 157.
Sussex remain unbeaten after four games, following the abandonment of the clash with Surrey at the Kia Oval. That followed wins over Gloucestershire, Hampshire and Essex.
Who’s in form?
Tom Abell has developed into a wonderful T20 player in recent times and has picked up his strike rate considerably. Previously not known for his powerful hitting, he now ticks along at a strike rate of 169.89, with his 141 runs having come off just 83 balls. Elsewhere in the Somerset team, big, bustling fast bowler, Marchant De Lange has claimed seven wickets in his three games. He has a fantastic average of 13.71 and will look to climb the wicket-taking list, with a game in hand over most above him.
James Kirtley has one of the most formidable bowling attacks in the competition at his disposal. George Garton has eight wickets while Chris Jordan and Will Beer have three wickets apiece. Archie Lenham has claimed four wickets in as many games having been promoted into the first team.
What’s the team news?
Sussex: The Sharks have named a 14-man squad for the two fixtures against Surrey and Somerset. T20 Coach James Kirtley makes one change, reintroducing England's Ollie Robinson at the expense of Mitch Claydon. The county is still awaiting the arrival of Rashid Khan, who will be available following the conclusion of his involvement in the Pakistan Super League.
Sussex squad: Luke Wright (c), Will Beer, Ravi Bopara, Oli Carter, George Garton, Travis Head, Chris Jordan, Archie Lenham, Tymal Mills, Delray Rawlins, Ollie Robinson, Phil Salt, Aaron Thomason, David Wiese
Somerset: Somerset have named an unchanged, 14-man squad from their victory of Kent Spitfires. T20 regular Roelof van der Merwe remains unavailable with a side strain.
Somerset squad: Lewis Gregory (c), Tom Abell, Tom Banton (wk), Eddie Byrom, Josh Davey, Marchant de Lange, Lewis Goldsworthy, Ben Green, James Hildreth, Tom Lammonby, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Will Smeed, Max Waller.
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Sussex Sharks: WWWLW
Somerset: WLLLW
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 12
Sussex Sharks wins: 7
Somerset wins: 4
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 1
No result: 1
What’s the weather forecast?
Hove will be plagued by inclement weather, much like the rest of the south of the country.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Hove: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
There are limited tickets available. Adults are £30, youth prices are £15, junior entry is £7.50.
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?
This match is being 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?
Somerset will be boosted by their last result going into this. However, they will have to play at their very best to be the exceptional Sussex. Weather permitted, Sussex win.
OTHER T20 BLAST FIXTURES: FRIDAY, JUNE 18
North Group
Worcestershire Rapids v Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Notts Outlaws v Derbyshire Falcons
Birmingham Bears v Lancashire Lightning
South Group
Essex Eagles v Gloucestershire
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