Match Preview: Durham v Hampshire, Vitality CC

Durham v Hampshire
Vitality County Championship (Division One)
Friday 5th April – Monday 8th April 2024 (11am Start)
Seat Unique Riverside

Hampshire begin their 2024 Vitality County Championship campaign this week, taking on newly promoted Durham at Seat Unique Riverside.

James Vince's side finished third for a second year running in Division One last season, with only Surrey equalling their eight victories across the campaign.

Meanwhile, the hosts only lost one match on their way to the Division Two title in 2023, and picked up an impressive 54 batting points throughout the season.

This will be only the 33^rd County Championship meeting between the two sides and the first since 2016.

Hampshire Squad

Hampshire have named a 12-player squad for their opening match against Durham.

Muhammad Abbas returns ahead of the new season and Ali Orr is in line to make his competitive debut for Hampshire.

Keith Barker and John Turner are both unavailable with knee injuries.

Full Hampshire Squad

Durham

Squad: Scott Borthwick (c), Colin Ackermann, David Bedingham, Brydon Carse, Graham Clark, Paul Coughlin, Bas de Leede, Michael Jones, Alex Lees, Callum Parkinson, Matthew Potts, Ben Raine, Ollie Robinson (+)

Durham are back in Division One for the first time since 2016 and have already shown an ambition to challenge at the top end of the table. An overseas duo of Scott Boland and the returning David Bedingham join an already strong squad including the likes of Alex Lees, Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse. They have also added quality by signing both Callum Parkinson and Colin Ackermann from Leicestershire.

2023 Season In Numbers

• 1st in Division Two
• Leading run scorer: Alex Lees (1347)
• Leading wicket taker: Ben Raine (60)

Head-to-Head

Hampshire's record in County Championship v Durham

P: 32, W: 12, L: 6, D: 14, A: 1

Last 5 meetings:

• September 20 – 23 2016 | The Ageas Bowl | Durham won by six wickets
• July 3 – 6 2016 | Emirates Riverside | Match Drawn
• September 1 – 3 2015 | Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground | Hampshire won by seven wickets
• July 19 – 22 2015 | The Ageas Bowl | Match Drawn
• August 10 – 13 2011 | Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground | Hampshire won by 50 runs

Tickets

Tickets for Hampshire’s match against Durham at Seat Unique Riverside are available online by clicking here.

Coverage

Durham will be live streaming the match and a link to this stream will be available in the free-to-download Hampshire Cricket App and at www.utilitabowl.com/cricket.

Both the Hampshire Cricket App and www.utilitabowl.com/cricket will also host a live match centre with scorecard, statistics and insight available throughout the match.

Weather Forecast

Please follow the link to view the latest weather forecast for Durham: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2650628