Hampshire Men v Essex Men
Metro Bank One Day Cup
Utilita Bowl, Southampton
Thursday 07 August | 11am start
Following the Metro Bank One Day Cup opener at Mansfield against the Notts Outlaws, Essex Men head south to face Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl.
Southampton is the next destination for the Essex Men as they head into Round Two of the 50-over tournament, where they’ll face Jimmy Adams’ Hampshire side.
Adams has taken over from Adi Birrell, who is currently leading the Southern Brave Men in The Hundred. Hampshire opened their One Day Cup campaign with a convincing 72-run win over Glamorgan.
Essex, on the other hand, suffered a 51-run (DLS) defeat away to Nottinghamshire, largely due to Tom Moores’ career-best 148 off 93 balls. Despite the loss, there were plenty of positives to take into the next fixture.
Jamie Porter impressed with the ball, taking 4-29 from his full ten-over spell, while rookie seamer Charlie Bennett claimed 2-45 from nine overs.
In response, Robin Das scored a brisk 46 from 45 balls, Tom Westley added 43 from 40, and rookie wicketkeeper Simon Fernandes finished unbeaten on 46* from 41 deliveries.
Jamie Porter’s thoughts: Notts Outlaws
Squad
Tom Huggins has named an unchanged squad for the trip to Southampton to face Hampshire.
Mackenzie Jones suffered a hamstring injury during the Second XI’s four day match against Lancashire last week at Billericay. He is currently working through his rehabilitation plan which he is positively progressing through. No return date has yet been set.
Simon Harmer has been granted paternity leave after the birth of his child during the County Championship fixture against Warwickshire.
Dean Elgar is not available to play in the One Day Cup whilst Sam Cook, Paul Walter, Michael Pepper and Jordan Cox are all participating in the Hundred.
ICMYI: Tom Huggins
Last Time We Met: Hampshire
Nick Gubbins and Ben Brown’s half-centuries helped Hants take victory to beat Essex by four wickets in 2023.
Captain Gubbins eased to a 63 while Brown totaled 59 – the pair putting on 92 together, with Aneurin Donald’s 47 off 45 all but ending the contest.
Australian Beau Webster and South African Simon Harmer had saved Essex from 53 for four – shaped by Keith Barker’s three for 25 – to reach 236. Webster finished on 73 from 99 balls and Harmer ended with 68 from 75.
But after Fletcha Middleton’s quick start, Hampshire never looked in danger and won with just over an over to spare.
Hampshire squad: Nick Gubbins (c), Joseph Eckland (wk), Eddie Jack, Dom Kelly, Manny Lumsden, Ben Mayes, Fletcha Middleton, Andrew Neal, Felix Organ, Tom Prest, Tilak Varma, Joe Weatherley.
Hampshire Preview
Captain: Nick Gubbins
2024 finish: Quarter-finals
2024 leading run-scorer: Ben Brown (286)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Brad Wheal (13)
Why they can win the competition: Hampshire have been a force in 50-over cricket for a couple of generations, having only failed to qualify for the knockouts in one of the last six editions of the One-Day Cup. With largely the same set of players to pick from as 2024, Hampshire have experience at all ages. Scotland international Brandon McMullen’s arrival from August 13 knits the team together with bat and ball, while Indian sensation Tilak Varma will be around for the opening three fixtures.
Player to watch: Eddie Jack might still only be 19, but he has certainly graduated from simply being a “young gun”. The tall and very quick fast bowler put Test players KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal in his back pocket when playing for England Lions earlier in the summer, where Andrew Flintoff became a big fan. Expect him to be in the top wicket-taking reckoning.
Young gun: Given his first professional deal to play in the competition, Ben Mayes comes with a gigantic reputation in age-group cricket. The 17-year-old batter is on England’s long-term radar with Under 19s and Professional County Club Select XI recognition this summer. Come for the wristy hockey-influenced boundaries, stay for the big scores. Fast bowler Manny Lumsden is also worth keeping an eye on.
Final thought: Three successive progressions from the group stages, three heartbreaks in the knock-outs – with the last two inflicted by Leicestershire. Could this be the year they take the final leap to silverware? Former captain Jimmy Adams – a winner in two List A finals and now a highly-regarded coach – will step up to lead the side, with Adi Birrell leading Southern Brave Men in The Hundred. It may well be a good audition to taking the top job full-time when it next becomes vacant.
Group A Preview
Click here for a team-by-team preview of each of this year’s Group A contenders.
How To Watch
If you are unable to attend any of the match days, the game will be available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone, through the YouTube livestream.
Daily highlights will be available after each day’s play via the Club website and social media. Live updates will also be provided through the Club’s various social platforms and channels.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale at £15 with Hampshire offering a ‘kids go free’ for all under 17s.
The Utilita Bowl is located in Southampton on Botley Road, West End – SO30 3XH.
To secure your seats for Thursday, visit the link below:
Men’s Metro Bank One Day Cup Returns This August!
Essex Cricket is set for an exciting summer as the Metro Bank One Day Cup returns this August, bringing four home fixtures at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground. All home games will be played during the school holidays at Chelmsford, with discounted tickets available when purchased in advance.
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so visit now to to take advantage of your discount and support the Eagles this summer in the 50-over competition.
