The Vitality Blast is set to resume its knockout stage with an exciting rematch between Sussex Sharks and Lancashire Lightning. These teams previously faced off in the 2020 quarter-finals, with Lancashire coming out on top. The match will take place at County Ground, Hove, on September 4th at 11:30 pm. Sussex, having secured second place in the points table, will be looking for revenge, while Lancashire, now in third place, aims to repeat their past success.
Sussex Sharks Overview
In their last group stage match, Sussex faced Middlesex at the same venue. Opting to bowl first, Sussex restricted Middlesex to 159 runs for 9 wickets. Ollie Robinson was the standout bowler, taking 3 wickets for 27 runs, while Jack Carson and James Coles chipped in with 2 wickets each. Sussex’s openers, Harrison Ward and Daniel Hughes, then put up a dominant 141-run partnership, leading the team to a 9-wicket victory with 22 balls to spare. This win secured Sussex’s second-place finish in the points table.
Sussex Sharks Probable Playing XI:
Daniel Hughes
Harrison Ward
Tom Clark
James Coles
John Simpson (wk)
Tom Alsop
Danny Lamb
Nathan McAndrew
Ollie Robinson
Tymal Mills (c)
Bradley Currie
Lancashire Lightning Overview
Lancashire played their last match against Northamptonshire, where they batted first and scored 201 runs, thanks to a crucial 45 off 24 balls by George Dockrell. However, despite efforts from Luke Wells and Liam Livingstone, who took 2 wickets each, Lancashire lost the match by 6 wickets. This loss caused them to drop to third place in the points table. Rain has affected three of Lancashire’s last five matches, adding to their frustration.
Lancashire Lightning Probable Playing XI:
Philip Salt
Luke Wells
Liam Livingstone
Keaton Jennings (c)
Matthew Hurst (wk)
George Dockrell
Steven Croft
Chris Green
Tom Hartley
Luke Wood
Saqib Mahmood
Previous Quarter-Final Encounter
These teams also faced each other in the 2020 Vitality Blast quarter-finals. Lancashire batted first, scoring 140 runs for 8 wickets. Steven Croft and Dane Vilas were the top scorers with 40 runs each. Sussex’s George Garton took 3 wickets, but Liam Livingstone’s 4 wickets for 23 runs helped Lancashire secure a 45-run victory. Sussex’s batting collapsed, with only Luke Wright managing to reach double digits.
Sussex Sharks Key Players
Harrison Ward and Daniel Hughes are the key players for Sussex, with Hughes being the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 560 runs at a strike rate of 170.21. Tom Alsop has also been in good form, scoring 337 runs at a strike rate of 165.19. Tymal Mills will lead the bowling attack, having taken 24 wickets in 13 games at an average of 16.41.
Lancashire Lightning Key Players
Lancashire will rely on Phill Salt and Liam Livingstone, who have been impressive with the bat, both scoring at a strike rate of over 155. Luke Wells, who has scored 227 runs at a strike rate of 153.37, will also be crucial. On the bowling front, Chris Green has taken 14 wickets at an economy of 7.41, while Luke Wells has 11 wickets at an economy of 7.02.
Pitch and Conditions
The match will be played at County Ground, Hove, which is known for its bowling-friendly pitch. The weather is expected to be cloudy and humid, with a chance of rain. The average first innings score at this venue in T20Is is 131, and teams have successfully defended the target in 7 out of 9 matches. The team winning the toss should opt to bat first.
Fantasy XI
Batters: Daniel Hughes (vc), Tom Alsop, Keaton Jennings
Wicketkeepers: Phil Salt (c)
All-rounders: Liam Livingstone, James Coles, Luke Wells
Bowlers: Tymal Mills, Jofra Archer, Luke Wood, Saqib Mahmood
Backup players:
Batter: Tom Bruce
Wicketkeeper: John Simpson
All-rounder: George Dockrell
Bowler: Bradley Currie
Conclusion
Though Lancashire lost their second place after their last defeat, the return of England internationals like Liam Livingstone and Phill Salt boosts their chances. Sussex, on the other hand, has struggled with consistency, especially while chasing. The match promises to be a thrilling contest as Sussex seeks revenge and Lancashire aims to repeat their 2020 success.
