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

gloucs vs sur Match Prediction & Analysis

Gloucestershire’s Vitality Blast season isn’t off to the greatest of starts. After four matches, they are still in 7th place in the South Group point table with one win and three losses. Their net run rate currently stands at -0.965. Things are set to get tougher for them as they prepare to take on Surrey on June 2 at the County Ground, Bristol. Surrey are currently 2nd on the table with three wins and one loss and a net run rate of 1.543.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Gloucestershire Preview

After registering a thrilling two-run victory against Middlesex earlier this week, Gloucestershire were back to their losing ways as they went down by three wickets against Essex. Gloucestershire posted a formidable 195-7 on the board after being asked to bat first. However, Essex proved too good for them as they chased down the target with five balls to spare.

One of the positives from the previous game for Gloucestershire was all-rounder Ben Charlesworth’s blistering cameo of 52 off 20 balls. His terrific knock was the reason Gloucestershire got to a strong total. 

Unfortunately, most of the other batters on the team have misfired this season. In fact, Charlesworth is now leading the batting charts with 121 runs in 3 matches at a strike rate of 177.94. The next best is 109 runs by opener Chris Dent in 4 innings. Clearly, the departure of established stars Benny Howell, Ian Cockbain, and Ryan Higgins is hurting the team’s balance.

South African wicket-keeper batter Grant Roelofsen hasn’t got the runs so far, but he has over 1400 runs in T20 cricket at an average of 33.02. The team will be hoping he comes good soon.

In the bowling department, it's off-spinner Oliver Price who has made a strong impression, bagging 7 wickets in 3 innings at an economy of 8.69. David Payne has been pretty consistent as well, having taken 5 wickets in 4 innings at an economy of 6.93.

Gloucestershire Predicted Playing XI:

Grant Roelofsen, Chris Dent, Miles Hammond, Oliver Price, Jack Taylor (c), James Bracey (wk), Ben Charlesworth, Marchant de Lange, Tom Smith, David Payne, Danny Lamb

Gloucestershire Actual Playing XI:

Grant Roelofsen, David Payne, Matthew David Taylor, Danny Lamb, James Bracey, Zafar Gohar, Jack Taylor, Oliver Price, Tom Smith, Miles Hammond, Ben Charlesworth

Surrey Preview

The only match that Surrey have lost this season is against Sussex. They are coming off a comprehensive six-wicket win against the defending champions Hampshire Hawks at Southampton. Surrey chased a target of 157 with relative ease, with six wickets and seven balls remaining. Opener Will Jacks led the chase with a sparkling unbeaten knock of 83 off 57 balls. Jacks had a fantastic last season, ending with 449 runs in 15 matches. He is currently the highest run-getter for Surrey this season too, accumulating 156 runs in 4 innings at an average of 52.

Laurie Evans (190 runs in the last 10 matches at a strike rate of 131) hasn’t had the best of starts to the season, but we feel he is due for a big knock, and this might be his game.

Surrey have plenty of all-rounders in their team and bat really deep, with Sean Abbott, who recently smashed a century off a mere 34 balls, coming lower down the order. 

Surrey’s bowling is its main strength. The ever-reliable Sunil Narine is having a wonderful season. The wily off-spinner has taken 7 wickets in 4 innings at a superb economy of 6.56. He will be their main weapon to keep the opposition batters in check. Gus Atkinson is another bowler to keep an eye out for. The right-arm fast bowler has taken 12 wickets in his last 7 matches at an economy of 8.01.

Surrey Predicted Playing XI:

Will Jacks, Laurie Evans, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Jamie Smith (wk), Sunil Narine, Jamie Overton, Tom Lawes, Gus Atkinson, Chris Jordan (c), Sean Abbott

Surrey Actual Playing XI:

Jamie Smith, Cameron Steel, Jordan Clark, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Chris Jordan, Sunil Narine, Laurie Evans, Tom Curran, Sam Curran

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The track at the County Ground in Bristol has something in it both for batters and bowlers. The pitch does offer seam movement, particularly when the ball is new. Once it settles down a bit, batters can play their shots by trusting the bounce of the wicket. The shorter boundaries and the fast outfield mean that we might have a high-scoring game on the cards.

The weather in Bristol during the game will be sunny with some clouds.

Venue Details

The average 1st innings score at the County Ground in Bristol in the Vitality Blast is 155. The highest total posted at the venue in the tournament is 242-5 by Sussex against Gloucestershire in 2016. In the last 10 matches here in the Blast, pace bowlers have taken 66 wickets, while spinners have managed 36 scalps. The team batting first must look to set a target of around 175 runs. 

Toss: To Bowl

The County Ground in Bristol usually favors the chasing side. In the Vitality Blast, the teams batting second have won 58% of the games played here. The team winning the toss in this match is likely to bowl first.