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Men’s Vitality Blast Preview: Somerset v Gloucestershire
THE MATCH
Somerset welcome Gloucestershire to the Cooper Associates County Ground in the Vitality Blast tomorrow (Friday July 18th).
This local derby is officially sold out, but due to the match now not being selected for broadcast TV we have been able to release a few seats and premium ticket options!
To take a look at ticket options, please click either of the following two links
Somerset are currently second in the South Group with 40 points from 13 matches whilst Gloucestershire are in seventh place with 20 points from 12 fixtures.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Gates open at 4:30pm, with play due to get underway at 6:30pm.
Please note that there will be no re-admittance once you have entered the venue.
Information on everything that you will need for a matchday at SCCC, including how to download your e-tickets and how to use the SCCC Ticket App can all be found in our Visiting Guide.
Bag searches will be in operation and spectators are reminded that no glass or sharp implements will be permitted within the Cooper Associates County Ground.
For full Ground Regulations please visit the link below:
Ticket buyers can download their online tickets via their SCCC account. All ticket or Membership collections or queries will be managed at the Jack White Gates (St James Street).
The Club Reception Desk is now permanently based in the Reception of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion and not in the Andrew Caddick Pavilion.
Due to the busy nature of a matchday, our telephone lines will reopen at 10am on Monday July 21st.
Scorecards will be available from Reception in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion. Completed scorecards can be downloaded after the match via the Membership section of this website.
FAN VILLAGE & CATERING
We will once again be hosting our fan village in the St James Street side of the Cooper Associates County Ground.
The fan village features a wide range of food and drink plus live music from Voodoo Seven before the match and during the interval.
Matchday food and drink will also be available from the SCCC concessions and bars around the ground.
There will be 20% off food and drink at SCCC owned concessions from 4:30pm to 5:30pm.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
Our award winning live stream is available for fans to watch via this website and our YouTube channel.
You can also keep up to date by using our dedicated matchday blog via this website’s Match Centre and on our X feed.
In association with Vertu, Somerset County Cricket Club will be providing radio ear pieces to enable Members and supporters to enjoy our live ball-by-ball match commentary. These will be available to purchase from Reception in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion at a cost of £12 and these will last all season.
A report on the day’s play will also be posted on this website.
THE OPPOSITION
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Captain:Â Jack Taylor
Overseas players: D’Arcy Short (Australia, all group matches), Cameron Bancroft (Australia, full competition)
Finals Day appearances:Â 4 (2003, 2007, 2020, 2024)
Titles:Â One
2024 finish:Â Winners
2024 leading run-scorer:Â Cameron Bancroft (534)
2024 leading wicket-taker:Â David Payne (33)
Key winter moves: Dynamic with the bat and a capable wrist spinner, Aussie international D’Arcy Short looks sure to prove an exciting replacement for fellow countryman Beau Webster, who featured in 13 of Gloucestershire’s 17 Blast matches last season. Aged 34, Short has represented his country 23 times in T20s and in eight ODIs.
The big question: Gloucestershire have always revelled in the role of underdogs and did so again to become surprise winners of last year’s Blast. As holders of the trophy, no one will be underestimating them this season, so can them perform as well with the added pressure of being among the favourites to reach Finals Day?
Wildcard watch:Â Only Cameron Bancroft scored more Blast runs for Gloucestershire last season than Miles Hammond, who notched 54 fours and 23 sixes in averaging 32.46 as an ever-present throughout the competition. The 29-year-old left-hander will again be a key figure in defending the trophy.
Final thought: Mark Alleyne’s influence on Gloucestershire’s one-day cricket promises to be as important as when he captained the side in their glory years. No one expected a trophy last season, his first since returning to the club as head coach, but his shrewd tactical brain and winning mentality quickly transferred to the team as they became Blast champions.
TEAM NEWS
Somerset have named the following squad for the match:
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the match, Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: “Everyone’s looking forward to the game. It’s been an excellent campaign so far and we’ve achieved our first goal which was to secure a home quarter-final. The players deserve huge congratulations for that but they want to finish on a high with a win in the derby in front of a full house.
“Derby games under lights are incredible evenings and we’re incredibly fortunate to get the support that we do because the crowd generates a special atmosphere. It was great to go to their place earlier in the season and get a victory and we need to make sure that we take some momentum into the next two County Championship games.”
TRADE NATION STATS
CLASSIC MATCH
We head back to 2021 for the classic T20 match between the two sides at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
It was a game that saw the home side come out on top by 23 runs thanks to a 36-ball 90 from Tom Lammonby.
MATCH SPONSOR – MOULDEX
Based in Bridgwater, Mouldex is a nationwide specialist in mould and condensation control, radon testing and mitigation, offering an end-to-end solution including site surveys, installation of intelligent ventilation systems and mould treatment with guaranteed long-lasting results.
THE VERTU CROWD CATCH!
As well as enjoying the spectacular action of this season’s Blast, you can be a part of it with the Vertu Crowd Catch!
If you take a clean catch in the crowd during any of our Home Vitality Blast matches, you will win hospitality for two to our Metro Bank One Day Cup match against Durham on Friday August 8th.
In order to qualify for the prize, the official in-play match ball must be caught by the winner straight from the air without having touched any object or person before being caught by the winner. Evidence of identity, ticket and age may be required.
NEXT MATCH
Somerset’s next match is on Sunday July 6th when we face Hampshire Hawks at Utilita Bowl in the Vitality Blast.
This match is a double header which will also see Somerset Women take on their Hampshire counterparts.
Tickets for this match are still available:
