Match Preview: Somerset v Hampshire Hawks, Vitality Blast

Somerset v Hampshire Hawks
Vitality Blast (South Group)
Sunday 9th June 2024 (2:30pm Start)
The Cooper Associates County Ground

Hampshire Hawks travel to The Cooper Associates County Ground to take on Somerset in the Vitality Blast on Sunday.

James Vince's side now sit third in the South Group after picking up their second win on the bounce, defeating Gloucestershire at the Seat Unique Stadium.

Somerset, meanwhile, dropped down to eighth after suffering defeat to a Sam Billings inspired Kent Spitfires.

This fixture has been played out eight times in the previous three seasons after the Hawks and Somerset met at Edgbaston for semi-final clashes in both 2021 and 2022.

Hawks Squad

Hampshire Hawks have named an unchanged 14-player squad for the match against Gloucestershire.

John Turner took 3-24 in the win over Gloucestershire, while James Fuller, Michael Neser and Chris Wood all took two wickets each.

With the bat, Toby Albert made an unbeaten 41 to get the Hawks over the line at the Seat Unique Stadium.

Full Hampshire Squad

Somerset

Squad: Lewis Gregory (c), Tom Abell, Sonny Baker, Jake Ball, Tom Banton, Josh Davey, Sean Dickson, Ben Green, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Lammonby, Jack Leach, Riley Meredith, Roelof van der Merwe, Craig Overton, Will Smeed

Somerset have long been a consistently dangerous side in the T20 format, making it to Finals Day on nine occasions. However, having last won in 2005, a second T20 title had eluded them. However, last year was to be their year as they beat Essex in the final to put an end to the 18-year wait for a second trophy. They also did it in style by winning 15 of their 17 fixtures, setting a new domestic T20 competition record for the number of wins in a season.

It has been a tricky start to their title defence, with one win and two defeats from their opening three matches leaving them in eighth position so far. With no Matt Henry this year, Riley Meredith has come in as Somerset's overseas player for the competition and joins the likes of Craig Overton, Ben Green and Jake Ball in the bowling attack. Their batting line-up is also stacked with quality with Will Smeed, Tom Banton and Tom Kohler-Cadmore all bringing explosiveness to the top of the order.

2023 Season In Numbers

• Winners - 1st in South Group
• Leading run scorer: Will Smeed (523)
• Leading wicket taker: Matt Henry (31)

Head-to-Head

Hampshire's record in Vitality Blast v Somerset

P: 26, W: 10, T:1, L: 15, A: 1

Last 5 meetings:

• June 7 2023 | The Ageas Bowl | South Group | Hampshire won by five runs
• May 24 2023 | The Cooper Associates County Ground | South Group | Somerset won by eight wickets
• July 16 2022 | Edgbaston | Semi-Final | Hampshire won by 37 runs
• June 23 2022 | The Cooper Associates County Ground | South Group | Hampshire won by 14 runs
• May 30 2022 | The Ageas Bowl | South Group | Somerset won by four wickets

Tickets

Tickets for the Hawks’ match against Somerset on Sunday are available by clicking here.

Coverage

Somerset 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 Taunton: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2636177