Glamorgan Men v Essex Men | Essex Men v Middlesex Men
Vitality Blast
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford
Friday 06 June 2025, 18:30pm | Sunday 08 June 2025, 2:00pm
Following two defeats against Hampshire Hawks and Somerset in the opening Vitality Blast fixtures on Friday and Sunday, the Essex Men return to action on Friday night in Cardiff against Glamorgan.
The Eagles suffered an eight wicket defeat to the West Country side on Sunday after giving the visitors a total of 149 to win. Luc Benkenstein and Matt Critchley picked up the only two wickets for Essex, whilst Dean Elgar and and Critchley scored half-centuries.
Despite the two losses, spirits in the camp are high and the squad are optimistic of securing the first victory of this year’s Blast campaign, with a trip to Wales first up before returning back to Chelmsford on Sunday.
The Inside Line: Sam Cook
Squad
Director of Cricket Chris Silverwood has named a 14-player squad for the trip across the border to Wales.
The Opposition: Glamorgan
Captain: Kiran Carlson
Overseas Players: Colin Ingram (South Africa, full competition), Hayden Kerr (Australia, full competition)
Finals Day Appearances: Two (2004, 2017)
Titles: None
2024 Finish: Sixth (South Group)
2024 Leading Run-Scorer: Kiran Carlson (380)
2024 Leading Wicket-Taker: Mason Crane (19)
Glamorgan squad: TBC
Last Time We Met: Glamorgan
Our previous meeting with Glamorgan took place at Sofia Gardens, where we’ll be aiming for revenge after suffering a 26-run defeat.
Having won the toss, Simon Harmer chose to bowl first in Cardiff and the hosts posted a score of 182/8, with Colin Ingram top scoring with 47.
Ben Allison led in the wickets column, taking 3/52, with Paul Walter and Matt Critchley taking two each and Harmer with one.
The run chase started with Timm van der Gugten claiming three early wickets, reducing Essex to 27/3 but a brilliant partnership of 83 between Rossington and Walter brought Essex back into the game.
Walter was the main contributor, making 53 of those runs from just 33 balls before he was dismissed by Dan Douthwaite.
Mason Crane and Marnus Labuschagne combined to claim five wickets for 48 runs in just eight overs as the run rate required climbed until it was impossible for an Essex win.
The Opposition: Middlesex
Captain: Stephen Eskinazi
Overseas Players: Kane Williamson (New Zealand, full competition) and Josh Little (Ireland, full competition)
Finals Day Appearances: One (2008)
Titles: One (2008)
2024 Finish: Eighth (South Group)
2024 Leading Run-Scorer: Martin Andersson (282)
2024 Leading Wicket-Taker: Luke Hollman (23)
Middlesex squad: TBC.
Last Time We Met: Middlesex
Paul Walter turned in a superb two-over spell as Essex ground out a third Vitality Blast victory in a row with a 16-run win on DLS over Middlesex at Lord’s in difficult and rainy conditions.
Jordan Cox top-scored with 31 not out from 19 balls, while home seamer Noah Cornwell claimed 2/29 as the Eagles crashed their way to 129-4 from a curtailed 12.4-over innings.
In response, a severely-truncated innings saw the hosts set 80 to win from 36 balls, and Walter bowled a game-turning 2/16 to restrict them to 63-2, handing Essex a morale-boosting win.
South Group Preview
Click here for Part 1 of the team-by-team preview of each of this year’s South Group contenders.
Click here for Part 2 of the team-by-team preview of each of this year’s South Group contenders.
How To Watch
If you are not accompanying the Eagles down the M3 to Southampton or in CM2 for the clash against Somerset, both matches will be live-streamed on the hosts’ YouTube channel and will be available to watch through the Essex Cricket Matchzone.
A report will be published on the Club website at the conclusion of the game, while live updates and highlights will be provided on the Essex Cricket social media channels.
Purchase your Essex vs Somerset Double Header tickets!
Come down to Chelmsford this summer to watch the Eagles live in our new T20 shirt.
Our first home Vitality Blast T20 fixture features a double header – Essex Women v Somerset Women (12pm) & Essex Men v Somerset Men (4pm).
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so have a browse and get your Vitality Blast T20 tickets booked.
