Vitality Blast Preview: Middlesex vs. Gloucestershire

July 17, 2024

Gloucestershire heads to Chelmsford to take on Middlesex in the final Vitality Blast South Group match of the season on Thursday evening.

Mark Alleyne and his squad aim to secure crucial points as the battle for quarter-final qualification intensifies. A win against Middlesex will put Gloucestershire in a strong position, with their progression confirmed if Hampshire defeats Essex at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Friday.

In their previous T20 match, Gloucestershire achieved a commanding 121-run victory over Glamorgan, with Jack Taylor top-scoring at 80 runs off just 35 balls. This win followed disappointing defeats to Hampshire and Middlesex.

Just a week ago, Gloucestershire lost to Middlesex by 29 runs and will be eager to avoid a similar outcome with a potential quarter-final spot on the line.

Team News

Ed Middleton, Dom Goodman, and Marchant de Lange are rested for the Middlesex match, while Tom Price and Zafar Gohar remain sidelined due to long-term injuries.

The 13-man squad for the match against Middlesex includes: J Taylor (C), Bancroft, Bracey, B Charlesworth, Hammond, Payne, O Price, Shaw, Singh-Dale, Smith, M Taylor, van Buuren, Webster.

Opponents

Middlesex has seen a resurgence in form after a slow start in the Vitality Blast 2024. Consecutive wins against Gloucestershire and Glamorgan have lifted them from the bottom of the South Group table to nine points.

In their recent victory over Glamorgan, Middlesex restricted their opponents to 88/9 and chased the target with three balls to spare.