The group stage of the T20 Blast begins on May 30. There could be up to five games played on the first day. The T20 Blast is renowned for its intense rivalry and acts as a springboard for upcoming international players, even though it may not have the same star power as the IPL or Big Bash. Watch for the next big stars when Hampshire and Surrey square off in Southampton in the fifth encounter!
With 18 points from 14 matches, the Hampshire Hawks placed second in the South Group the previous season. They would have been proud of their season even if they had lost to Essex in the semi-finals. Surrey finished the South Group in third place with 16 points last year, capping another incredible season for the team. They were defeated by eventual winners Somerset in the semi-finals, which marked the end of their run as well.
Hampshire Hawks vs Surrey Team Preview & Squads
Hampshire Hawks
James Vince will be back in charge of a strong team. He led the squad in scoring last season, racking up an incredible 670 runs with a strike rate of 154 in 16 innings. The Hawks will be depending on their skipper to set the example.
Ben McDermott is another batter with significant potential to influence this match. In the 2023 Vitality Blast, the wicket-keeper hitter had an incredible run, amassing 407 runs at a strike rate of 146 in 16 innings.
John Turner is the bowler we are counting on to take early wickets. Last year, the right-arm fast bowler claimed 21 wickets at a mere economy of 6.67. All-rounder Liam Dawson’s sluggish left-arm spin makes him useful on this surface. He will be an essential member of this team with over 200 wickets and 2500 runs in T20 cricket.
Hampshire Hawks Squads
Hampshire Hawks Squads
James Vince (c), Ben McDermott (wk), Joe Weatherley, Tom Prest, Liam Dawson, Michael Neser, James Fuller, Benny Howell, John Turner, Chris Wood, and Brad Wheal.
Surrey
Last season, Laurie Evans and Will Jacks were the two batters who carried the majority of Surrey’s batting load. Both hitters had season totals of over 550 runs at 157 and 161, respectively, with strong strike rates. Evans and Jacks need to perform well for Surrey to get off to a good start. However, Jack’s international commitments will keep him occupied during Surrey’s opening matches.
The seasoned Jason Roy, who appeared in just three games the previous season, is another option. Roy can be an enforcer for Surrey in the middle order. He has amassed over 9,000 runs at a strike rate of 142 in T20 cricket. All-rounder Sam Curran, who currently has international obligations, will also be missed by Surrey. Last season, he amassed 396 runs and claimed 16 wickets.
Australian Pacer Sean Abbott can be an asset for Surrey in Curran’s absence. He is very capable with the bat down the order, so he should perform well on these surfaces. Their bowling lineup is a touch brittle this time around, so Gus Atkinson (13 wickets at 8.77 last season) will also need to step up.
Surrey Squads
Surrey Squads
Rory Burns (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Jason Roy, Dan Lawrence, Tom Curran, Laurie Evans, Sean Abbott, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Cameron Steel, and Matt Dunn/ Amar Virdi.
Match Details
Match
Hampshire Hawks vs Surrey, South Group | Vitality Blast 2024
The team chasing won six of the eight matches played at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. The side that wins the coin flip gets to bowl first.
Southampton’s weather is mostly going to be cloudy. The seamen should be able to move off the air because of this.
The Rose Bowl’s surface moves a little more slowly. Here, the pitcher will get some movement off the ball, so hitters should exercise caution when the ball is brand new. T20s at The Rose Bowl have an average first-inning score of 162 points. The highest score recorded here was Hampshire’s 221/3 when they were batting first against Kent in 2022. In this match, the team batting first will aim to score between 180 and 190 runs.
Hampshire Hawks vs Surrey Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches
In the last five encounters between these two teams, Surrey won four whereas Hampshire won just one game.
According to cricket analysts, Hampshire Hawks have a 51.8% chance of winning.
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