)}})
Vitality Blast Preview: Middlesex v Somerset
THE MATCH
Somerset travel to Lord’s tomorrow (June 11th) to take on Middlesex in the Vitality Blast.
Play is due to start at 6:30pm.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
This match is being broadcast on Sky Sports and therefore there will not be a live stream available
You can keep up to date with a live blog via our dedicated Match Centre and also on our X feed.
In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.
THE OPPOSITION
Captain: Stephen Eskinazi
Overseas players: None
Finals Day appearances: One (2008)
Titles: One (2008)
2023 finish: Ninth (South Group)
2023 leading run-scorer: Stephen Eskinazi (462)
2023 leading wicket-taker: Tom Helm (12)
Key winter moves: Financial restrictions mean Middlesex go into the tournament without any imports, but former Derbyshire skipper Leus du Plooy is an excellent addition to their middle order while Henry Brookes should take some pressure off Tom Helm’s shoulders in the seam bowling department.
The big question: While Middlesex possess batting brawn up top, with Eskinazi, Max Holden and Joe Cracknell, their tendency has been to stumble in the middle overs. Can Du Plooy provide the cool head required to manage an innings – arguably lacking ever since Eoin Morgan called it a day.
Wildcard watch: Jack Davies steered Middlesex across the line in last year’s thrilling run-fest against Surrey, recording an overall strike rate north of 150 during the tournament. The big-hitting wicketkeeper-batter should be guaranteed plenty more opportunities to shine in the wake of John Simpson’s departure to Sussex.
Final thought: Although Middlesex’s decision to switch two home games to Chelmsford was controversial, it’s unlikely to put them at a disadvantage. The perennial T20 under-achievers belatedly found form on the road in last year’s Blast, winning three of their last four group matches after losing 10 in a row – including every game at home.
TEAM NEWS
Somerset have named a squad of 14 for this fixture: Lewis Gregory, Will Smeed, Tom Banton, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Abell, Tom Lammonby, Sean Dickson, Ben Green, Craig Overton, Roelof van der Merwe, Josh Davey, Riley Meredith, Jack Leach and Sonny Baker
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the match, Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: “We had a real confidence boosting performance against Hampshire. We learned some lessons from the two defeats and the challenge is to adapt when we play away from home.
“It’s always an incredible occasion when you play at Lord’s, and it’s the second greatest ground in the world.
“The table is always very congested early on in the competition and there are some very good teams in our group, and we’ve seen already that individuals can win you games in the Blast. There’s a long way to go and we just need to make sure that we put ourselves in a good position come the end of the competition.”
CLASSIC MATCH
We head back to 2022 for our classic encounter between the two sides.
As is so often the case, this was a game that went right down to the wire!
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
You can find out everything that you need to know about attending the game via the Official Middlesex Website.
TRADE NATION STAT
● In the 2024 Blast, 30.6% of Riley Meredith’s deliveries have induced a false shot from the batter. Additionally, 19.5% of the seamer’s deliveries in the tournament have been variations, making him difficult for batter’s to decipher. The Lord’s slope may play a big part in the Australian’s plans.
● Spin has been much more successful than pace in T20s at Lord’s since the start of 2022
NEXT MATCH
Our next match is on Friday June 14th when we take on Kent Spitfires at the Cooper Associates County Ground in the Vitality Blast.
Tickets for this match are still available.
