Gloucestershire vs Hampshire, VITALITY T20 BLAST 2023, Today Match Prediction

gloucs vs ham Match Prediction & Analysis

As the Vitality Blast 2023 enters its second phase of the group stage games, Gloucestershire is set to take on the defending champions Hampshire Hawks at the County Ground, Bristol, on 20th June from 11 pm onwards.  Hawks are currently in the fourth position with 12 points, while the Gloucs have been pushed to the number seven position after three consecutive defeats.

Gloucestershire played against Glamorgan in their last game. Playing within 24 hours hammered the chances of the Gloucs to come on top of their opponents. Batting first, Glamorgan set a target of 182 runs after a half-century from Sam Northeast. Tom Smith and MD Taylor took two wickets each for the Gloucs. Ben Charlesworth’s 45 off 28 balls couldn’t help Gloucestershire as the entire middle order collapsed against the Glamorgan bowling. Gloucestershire lost the game by 32 runs.

On the other hand, Hampshire came back stronger against the table toppers Surrey after two consecutive defeats. Hampshire bowlers created havoc after sending half of the Surrey lineup for 32 runs. Chris Wood, John Turner, and Nathan Ellis took 3 wickets each to restrict Surrey to 124 runs. The fifties from the Hampshire openers Ben McDermott and James Vince ensured a 9-wicket win for Hampshire in just 15 overs.

Both teams met last season at Southampton in the group-stage games. After losing early wickets, Hampshire managed to score 140 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. James Fuller scored 45 runs off 24 balls for the Hawks, while Tom Smith and Benny Howell took 2 wickets each. Brad Wheal and Liam Dawson’s 2 wickets each restricted the Gloucs to 125 runs to win the game for Hampshire by 15 runs. This was Hampshire’s third successive victory against the Gloucs.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Gloucestershire Preview

Gloucestershire have lost the track in the second half of the Vitality Blast 2023 after three massive losses. Gloucs will open with Grant Roelofsen and Miles Hammond. Roelofsen scored 33 off 24 balls while opening the innings for the first time. Gloucs will hope for a good partnership between Hammond and him. Hammond has scored 208 runs this season with two half-centuries. His strike rate is a bit concerning.

Ben Charlesworth leads the run table for the Gloucs with 230 runs at a strike rate of 161.97 - the best amongst the Gloucs batters.  The main reason for Gloucs' fallout this season is their weak middle order. Except for Oliver Price, none of the middle-order batters has scored runs for the Gloucs.

Price and David Payne will lead the Gloucs bowling unit. Payne is the leading wicket-taker for the Gloucs with 11 wickets at an economy of 6.38 - the best amongst the Gloucs bowlers. Price also has 10 wickets in 9 games at an average of 14.60. Besides Price and Payne, Tom Smith and MD Taylor will be the regular bowlers for the Gloucs, who have taken 2 wickets each in the last game.

Key Players: Miles Hammond, BG Charlesworth, David Payne.

Gloucestershire Predicted Playing XI:

Ben Charlesworth, Miles Hammond, Ben Wells, Oliver Price, Jack Taylor (c), Zafar Gohar, James Bracey (wk), Danny Lamb, MD Taylor, Tom Smith, David Payne

Gloucestershire Actual Playing XI:

Grant Roelofsen, David Payne, Matthew David Taylor, Tom Price, Ben Wells, Zafar Gohar, GLV Buuren, Oliver Price, Tom Smith, Miles Hammond, Ben Charlesworth

Hampshire Preview

A strong win over Surrey has boosted the confidence of Hampshire to target the top finish this season. They are just two points behind the table toppers. Ben McDermott and James Vince will open for the Hawks. Both openers have given the partnerships required for Hampshire. McDermott has 301 runs with three half-centuries at a strike rate of 140.65. But it’s James Vince who will be our choice for the top batter.

Last season’s leading run scorer is in the same outrageous form this season. Vince has 476 runs in 10 innings with 1 century and 5 half-centuries. That is more than the double of Gloucestershire’s leading run scorer Ben Charlesworth. Though Vince hasn’t scored much against the Gloucs in the last three games, his current form will be a threat for the hosts. James Weatherley will play the role of an anchor in the middle.

Chris Wood, John Turner, and Nathan Ellis will lead the bowling unit for the Hawks. The trio took three wickets each in the last game against Surrey. Ellis is the leading wicket-taker for the Hawks, with 14 wickets at an economy of 6.91. Dawson and Turner are next in the line with 11 wickets each. It will be a bowling-dominated game for the Hampshire against the weak batting unit of the Gloucs.

Key Players: James Vince, Ben McDermott, Nathan Ellis.

Hampshire Predicted Playing XI:

Ben McDermott (wk), James Vince (c), Toby Albert, Joe Weatherley, Liam Dawson, James Fuller, Benny Howell, Ross Whiteley, Chris Wood, Nathan Ellis, John Turner

Hampshire Actual Playing XI:

James Vince, Benny Howell, Nathan Ellis, Toby Albert, Joe Weatherley, Liam Dawson, James Fuller, John Turner, Ross Whiteley, Ben McDermott, Chris Wood

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The weather will be mostly cloudy. The temperature will range between 25 and 16. The wind will be flowing from the west at 8-12 kmh. The surface at the County Ground is true and consistent, providing a good balance between bat and ball. The batsmen can expect even bounce, allowing them to play their shots confidently. The ball comes onto the bat nicely, rewarding timing and shot placement.

The pitch at Bristol has historically favoured spinners as the match progresses. As the game wears on, the spinners can find a good turn. Overcast conditions can assist swing bowlers and make the pitch more bowling-friendly.

Venue Details

The 93rd T20 of the Vitality Blast 2023 will be played at The County Ground, Bristol, on 20th June from 11:00 pm onwards. The venue has a capacity of 15000 spectators and has hosted 1 Test, 34 ODIs & 12 T20Is. 

Toss: To Bowl

In 12 T20Is, the results have favoured teams chasing and defending equally. But the team chasing the target in the last 5 games has won 4 times. The team winning the toss should bowl first.