Essex Men v Glamorgan Men | Sussex Sharks Men v Essex Men
Vitality Blast
Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford | The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
Thursday 12 June 2025, 6:30pm | Friday 13 June 2025, 7pm
Essex Men search for the first win of the Vitality Blast campaign this week, starting with a home fixture against Glamorgan before heading to Hove to face Sussex Sharks.
There’s no hiding from the fact that the Eagles have started slowly in the Vitality Blast this year, with four defeats in the opening four fixtures of the campaign.
However, the squad are more than determined to overturn this cold streak and turn the next set of games into a purple patch, starting with a home tie against Glamorgan live on Sky Sports, followed by a trip to Sussex just 24 hours later.
The Inside Line: Jordan Cox
Squad
Director of Cricket Chris Silverwood has named a 14-player squad and we welcome back Jordan Cox who played this week for the England Lions in Northampton.
The wicket-keepr batter has recovered from an abdominal injury, which left him sidelined since early May and is set to feature for the first time in this year’s Vitality Blast.
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: Kiran Carlson (c), Tom Bevan, Chris Cooke, Mason Crane, Dan Douthwaite, Andy Gorvin, Colin Ingram, Ben Kellaway, Ned Leonard, Jamie McIlroy, Will Smale, Asa Tribe, Timm van der Gugten.
Last Time We Met: Glamorgan
Both sides recently met not even a week ago, in a Friday night clash in Cardiff last week, where the Welsh side came out on top defeating the Eagles by 6 wickets.
Michael Pepper’s blistering 30-ball innings — featuring five sixes — helped Essex post a strong total of 183-6, but Glamorgan captain Kiran Carlson produced a match-winning 93 to steer the hosts to victory with five balls remaining.
Essex batted first under cloudy skies and made a cautious start. Despite losing Adam Rossington early, a solid 58-run partnership between Dean Elgar and Michael Pepper steadied the innings. Pepper was the standout, scoring a fluent half-century before both he and Elgar were dismissed by spinner Ben Kellaway, who took key wickets despite being expensive.
The innings then lost some momentum, though late contributions from Matt Critchley and Charlie Allison helped Essex reach 183, with Dan Douthwaite bowling smartly at the death.
In reply, Glamorgan got off to a flying start with openers Kiran Carlson and Will Smale putting on 91. Smale made 43, but it was Carlson’s dominant innings that took the game away from Essex. Despite a few wickets falling later, Carlson’s 90 and Kellaway’s quick hits ensured Glamorgan stayed ahead.
Carlson fell just short of a century, but Glamorgan chased down the target comfortably, winning with contributions from Chris Cooke and Asa Tribe at the end.
The Opposition: Sussex
Captain: Tymal Mills
Overseas Players: Nathan McAndrew (Australia, all group stage), Gurinder Sandhu (Australia, all group stage), Daniel Hughes (Australia, full competition)
Finals Day Appearances: Six (2007, 2009, 2012, 2018, 2021, 2024)
Titles: One (2009)
2024 Finish: Semi-finalists
2024 Leading Run-Scorer: Daniel Hughes (596)
2024 Leading Wicket-Taker: Tymal Mills (24)
Sussex squad: To be confirmed…
Last Time We Met: Sussex
Michael Pepper’s stunning second century of the 2024 Vitality Blast led Essex to a sensational five-wicket win over high-flying Sussex in Hove.
Pepper, who was brilliant in last year’s competition, hammered 120 from 53, with his ton taking just 46 balls as the Eagles overhauled a challenging target of 208 in 18.3 overs.
Daniel Hughes and Tom Clark’s earlier speedy knocks for the hosts of 81 in 43 deliveries and 72 from 52, respectively, had seen the Sharks post 207-2.
However, Pepper’s efforts, in conjunction with Charlie Allison’s 44 from 26, meant that Essex came away with a victory on the Brighton coast.
The duo also put on an unbroken partnership of 114 and completed a sensational win when Pepper flicked Danny Lamb for four in the penultimate over.
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 in CM2 for the clash against Glamorgan or down the M23 down to Hove for Sussex, 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 Double Header tickets!
Our next double header at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground comes against Hampshire Hawks and Glamorgan on Thursday 12 June.
The Essex Women will face Hampshire Hawks Women at 2:30pm before the Men take on Glamorgan at 6:30pm.
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so have a browse and get your Vitality Blast T20 tickets booked.
