T20 Blast quarter-final preview: Durham v Sussex

Durham, despite poor form in the other domestic competitions, have enjoyed a brilliant T20 Blast campaign to finish runners-up in North Group while Sussex squeezed through narrowly into third place in the South Group

^{In a first-time ever T20 Blast contest, will Durham or Sussex reach Finals Day?}

Durham Jets face Sussex Sharks in the second T20 Blast quarter-final on Friday at Chester-le-Street as the hosts aim to reach Finals Day in their bid to go one better than in 2016 when they were beaten by Northamptonshire in the final.

Remarkably, these two sides have never met in the T20 Blast before so this match will bring us something new.

Durham, despite poor form in the other domestic competitions, have enjoyed a brilliant T20 Blast campaign to finish runners-up in North Group while Sussex squeezed through narrowly into third place in the South Group.

Team news

Durham will be without star overseas bowler Imran Tahir, the 41^st rated T20 player in the world according to the Player Performance Index, who has left the team for the Caribbean Premier League.

Ben Stokes who had originally been made unavailable due to a slight knee problem, has been made available to play as a batsman only.

Sussex are unchanged from their final South Group game fixture and will still be without their key overseas man, Rashid Khan, as he is away on international duty with Afghanistan.

^{Sussex will be without their joint-leading wicket-taker in the Blast this year, Rashid Khan}

Form

After getting out of the blocks very quickly with six wins out of their first eight games, Durham ended the group stages in rather more disappointing fashion with a crushing defeat followed by an abandoned contest against Derbyshire.

By contrast, Sussex come into the quarter-finals in peak condition, having hit a rich vein of form with three straight victories. This followed a sensational start to the competition when the Sharks won their opening three fixtures before tailing away a little in the middling period. 

Who are the players to look out for?

For Durham, the player to look out for will be seamer Nathan Rimmington who is the second highest wicket-taker in the competition with 22 at an average of 17.68. With a strikerate of 11.8, Rimmington has been a revelation for the Jets, bowling with great accuracy and skill. He has taken seven more wickets than the next highest in the team, Imran Tahir who is now absent, and has also bowled an elusive maiden over too.

Sussex’s array of lightning quick bowlers steal the headlines wherever they go and rightfully so. The devastating trio of Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills (when fit) and Jofra Archer are a bowling unit that are immensely destructive.

Throw into the mix the spin of Danny Briggs, alongside the step-in Danny Beer and you have one brilliant attack. The man of the tournament for Sussex is unavailable at the moment though and that is Rashid Khan. The leg-spinner, fourth in the world on the Player Performance Index, has continued his ascent to stardom with 17 wickets at an average of 14 supplemented by an economy rate of six. The kid has got some talent.

^{Tom Latham and Jofra Archer will both be looking to stamp their authority on the match}

Key battles

Tom Latham v Jofra Archer

Durham’s batting has been, in large part, guided by New Zealand international Tom Latham this year. With his 454 runs at an average of 37, including a high score of 98 not out, the opener has enjoyed an incredible campaign.

Much of Sussex’s bowling plans will rest on disposing of Latham sharpish and one man who could be up to the task is the superstar all-rounder Jofra Archer. With 17 wickets in the tournament, the highly sought after 23-year-old has lit up the competition. This battle could produce fireworks with neither man known to back down from a contest.

Nathan Rimmington v Laurie Evans

Sussex are not only enjoying a great year with the ball but also with the bat too. Laurie Evans is the sixth highest scorer in the tournament with his 491 runs smashed at an average of 70. Not bad. It will be Rimmington’s job to carry on his form with the ball and stop Evans from imposing himself on the match, this should be a great watch.

What are each camp saying ahead of the game?

Sussex coach Jason Gillespie told The Argus: “It’s a game of cricket and we are really looking forward to it. We don’t see it as a bigger game.”

Ticket availability and prices

Tickets are still available via https://www.durhamccc.co.uk/tickets/ - Adults £15, Kids go free

Prediction

It is often the case in T20 matches that bowling units, rather than batting powerhouses, win matches and so it is likely to be the case at Chester-le-Street on Friday too. Sussex’s multi-faceted bowling unit consisting of sheer pace, hostility and canny spin will be very tough to overcome and they are riding the crest of a wave of momentum too.