Post by longstop on Jun 9, 2021 9:56:18 GMT
The best hope of any silverware coming to Hove this season has always been the T20 Blast. The problem with T20 games is that they can turn on a few sixes, a skier that plops into a hole in the field or one loose over. For the last three seasons, Sussex have succeeded in qualifying from the group stage of the competition. In 2018, Sussex fell at the last hurdle when losing to Worcestershire by 5 wickets defending a total of 157. In 2019, Sussex lost to Worcestershire again, on this occasion at the Quarter Final stage. The Sussex target of 187 was surpassed as Moeen Ali scored 120 not out at Hove. Last season, Sussex again fell at the Quarter Final stage at the hands of Lancashire. Chasing 140, Sussex crumbled to 95 all out.
Gloucestershire, the first opponents in this season's T20 campaign, are no mugs. They won the Central Group last season comfortably recording 7 wins out of 9 completed games. They eventually fell at the Semi Final stage when losing to Surrey in a game reduced to 11 overs. In 2019, Gloucestershire proved their strength as they finished one point behind Sussex in the Southern Group. Make no mistake, this first game will be a tough one.
Ian Cockbain and Chris Dent were Gloucestershire's highest run scorers last season with 399 and 371 runs respectively, both scoring at a rate of over 150 per 100 balls. Sussex-born, Tom Smith, was arguably their most successful bowler, taking 14 wickets, but conceding runs at under a run per ball.
Can Sussex start positively with a win? We are just going to have to wait and see, I guess.
Southern Group fixtures on Friday 11th June
Somerset v Surrey (Taunton)
Essex v Hampshire (Chelmsford)
Kent v Middlesex (Canterbury)
No game: Glamorgan
Gloucestershire, the first opponents in this season's T20 campaign, are no mugs. They won the Central Group last season comfortably recording 7 wins out of 9 completed games. They eventually fell at the Semi Final stage when losing to Surrey in a game reduced to 11 overs. In 2019, Gloucestershire proved their strength as they finished one point behind Sussex in the Southern Group. Make no mistake, this first game will be a tough one.
Ian Cockbain and Chris Dent were Gloucestershire's highest run scorers last season with 399 and 371 runs respectively, both scoring at a rate of over 150 per 100 balls. Sussex-born, Tom Smith, was arguably their most successful bowler, taking 14 wickets, but conceding runs at under a run per ball.
Can Sussex start positively with a win? We are just going to have to wait and see, I guess.
Southern Group fixtures on Friday 11th June
Somerset v Surrey (Taunton)
Essex v Hampshire (Chelmsford)
Kent v Middlesex (Canterbury)
No game: Glamorgan
