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Middlesex v Essex | Essex v Sussex Sharks

Vitality Blast

Lord’s, London | The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford

Thursday 13 June, 6:15pm | Friday 14 June, 7:00pm

 
After a nerve-shredding victory over Glamorgan on Friday night, Essex have been afforded time to recuperate but now face another pair of back-to-back matches as the Vitality Blast continues apace.

The Eagles seemed on course for a big win last week after they had restricted the Welsh side to 166-8, with Paul Walter and Daniel Sams both taking three wickets, before flying to 90-1 in the eighth over.

However, Marnus Labuschagne and Mason Crane engineered a slip to 106-7, only for the precocious Luc Benkenstein to steer Essex to victory with eight balls to spare by hitting 35 not out off 21 deliveries.

Now, Thursday sees the Eagles make the short trip to Lord’s for a return clash with Middlesex, before Sussex Sharks are welcomed to The Cloud County Ground a day later for another Friday night fixture.

Squad

Head Coach Anthony McGrath has named the same 14-player squad for the trip to Lord’s and the home clash with Sussex, with Noah Thain and Jamal Richards dropping out.

Sam Cook is making good progress with his hamstring injury, and the Medical Team are taking it day by day as he continues his rehabilitation.

The Inside Line: Paul Walter

The Opposition: Middlesex

After a season of struggle in 2023, this season has not especially started any brighter for Middlesex, with the Seaxes sitting bottom of the South Group having won just one of five matches so far.

They scored a morale-boosting win over Kent Spitfires in Canterbury on Sunday, but apart from that, have been on the wrong end of the result in their other four matches.

That includes losses to Kent and Essex in those reverse fixtures, as well as Glamorgan and Somerset, with the latter one on Tuesday night being especially humbling as they were bowled out for 78.

In doing so, they set a new record for their lowest ever T20 score, and they are now level with Gloucestershire on two points at the foot of the group.

Martin Andersson currently leads the way for the team with the bat, having hit 116 runs, while the 114 amassed by captain Stephen Eskinazi and Max Holden’s 112 are not far behind.

Meanwhile, Luke Hollman is the top wicket-taker with eight, ahead of Tom Helm’s six and four for Henry Brookes.

Middlesex squad: Stephen Eskinazi*, Martin Andersson, Ethan Bamber, Henry Brookes, Noah Cornwell, Joe Cracknell, Blake Cullen, Jack Davies, Josh De Caires, Leus Du Plooy, Nathan Fernandes, Tom Helm, Ryan Higgins, Max Holden, Luke Hollman.

Last Time We Met: Middlesex

There is no need to go too far back to find the last time Essex met Middlesex in the shortest format, with that clash having come at The Cloud County Ground less than two weeks ago.

In the Eagles’ first home match of this summer’s Blast, Michael Pepper struck an unforgettable century from just 43 balls as the hosts reeled in a target of 204 to ease to victory by four wickets.

Having been put in to bat, Max Holden hit a quickfire 42-ball 85 to set the Seaxes’ score of 203-7, with Daniel Sams and Paul Walter each taking two wickets.

It was a target that was made to look light from the off, as Pepper slammed 101 from 44, Dean Elgar hit 32 from 21, and Jordan Cox blasted 22 off eight as Essex raced to the target with 2.2 overs to spare.

The Opposition: Sussex Sharks

After a pair of middling seasons in 2022 and 2023 that saw them finish seventh and sixth, respectively, Sussex have had a far stronger start to this year’s competition to sit top of the South Group.

The Sharks, captained by Essex Academy graduate Tymal Mills, have won three of their opening four matches to join 2023 semi-finalists Surrey on six points, and are clear at the summit by net run rate.

A nerve-jangling win over Gloucestershire, chasing 168 from the last ball, opened their campaign, and despite a reverse away to Glamorgan, they have gone on to beat Surrey and Gloucestershire too.

Mills has claimed ten wickets at 12.00 apiece while Daniel Hughes is the leader with the bat in hand after notching 177 at 44.25, with both second in their respective overall competition standings.

Sussex Sharks squad: TBC

Last Time We Met: Sussex Sharks

The Eagles sealed a comfortable win over a below-par Sussex at The Cloud County Ground in early June last year on the most recent occasion of the sides meeting in T20 cricket.

Chasing the Sharks’ 147 all out, which came despite the visitors winning the toss, Essex cruised to a five-wicket victory with more than five full overs to spare.

Sam Cook bowled a scintillating spell to return 4/20 and Paul Walter and Matt Critchley also claimed two wickets each, with Ravi Bopara’s 50 from 31 being the only major contribution for the visitors.

The target was easily overhauled in 14.5 overs as Michael Pepper top-scored with 48 from 26 and Adam Rossington hit a 17-ball 35, with Critchley hitting Shadab Khan for the winning four.

South Group Table

How To Watch

If you are not able to attend either or both matches, each will be live-streamed on YouTube – on the Middlesex channel on Thursday and then the usual EssexCricketTV on Friday – with both being available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone.

A report will be published on the Club website at the conclusion of each game, while live updates and highlights from both will be provided on the Essex Cricket social media channels.

Tickets

An extremely limited number of tickets remain for the Sussex fixture on Friday, with prices starting at £33 for adults, £28 for young adults and students, and £10 for juniors.

The Kenton Group Stand at the Graham Gooch End of the ground is the designated family stand for this year’s Vitality Blast, with blocks 27-29 being alcohol-free and blocks 30 & 31 being the alcohol-tolerant family area.

Seats are more plentiful for Thursday’s clash at the Home of Cricket, with blocks in the Grand, Compton, Edrich, and Mound Stands all still showing good availability.

Spectators planning to attend this match may also like to note that it forms the second half of a double-header, with Sunrisers taking on The Blaze from 2:15pm in the Charlotte Edwards Cup; your ticket will grant you access to both fixtures.

Tickets for the double-header trip to Middlesex can be purchased by clicking this link:

Meanwhile, the limited tickets that remain for the home game with Sussex are available on this link:

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex are now back in Vitality Blast action for 2024.

With the Eagles having won back-to-back home matches to start the campaign, demand for tickets remains exceptionally high.

As the Eagles continue to aim towards going one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Friday 14 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Sussex Sharks – buy here (LAST FEW TICKETS)
Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here

With Father’s Day just around the corner, here are four ways you can treat a deserving dad courtesy of Essex Cricket.

1. Father’s Day at the Essex Cricket Store

The Essex Cricket Store have curated a selection of gifts perfect for Father’s Day. From cufflinks and wallets to wash bags and socks, there’s a large variety for you to choose from at an accessible price point.

2. Sunday Roast and a day of Championship cricket

Enjoy a Sunday Roast on Sunday 23 June, Day One of Essex v Durham in the Vitality County Championship. From £69+VAT per person, watch a day of cricket from the Scrutton Bland Premier Suite with indoor seating and a balcony and treat yourself to a snack on arrival, a Sunday lunch and afternoon tea. As an added bonus, there may even be the chance to see the current England test captain Ben Stokes in action.

3. Watch T20 cricket as Essex take on Hampshire Hawks

With Essex playing last year’s semi-finalists Hampshire Hawks at The Cloud County Ground on Thursday 20 June, see a night of T20 Blast action as two of last year’s heavyweights go head to head.

4. Bid on a match worn shirt from Essex’s win over Glamorgan

Eagles fans have the chance to own a shirt worn and signed by a member of the Essex XI, including hero of the hour Luc Benkenstein, against Glamorgan on Friday night. Through a partnership with matchwornshirt.com, fans can bid on the shirts with the bidding starting at £76.

It’s been another unmissable week of Vitality Blast action, with the South Group remaining eye-wateringly competitive.

With most sides having played four times and a bumper few days coming up before the end of the group stage’s first block, just four points separate top from bottom.

THE STATE OF PLAY

Surrey remain as one of three sides at the top of the table, though a first defeat has seen the Brown Caps lose their advantage, with Sussex Sharks and Somerset joining them on six points.

In actual fact, that Surrey loss, which was to Sussex, and a pair of big Somerset wins has seen the Oval side drop to third on net run rate, with the defending champions taking over at the top.

Meanwhile, the chasing pack in the middle of the table is also near-inseparable, with four further teams, headed up by Kent Spitfires, sitting on four points.

The Canterbury outfit currently occupy the final knockout spot and have the best overall NRR in the group, with Glamorgan, Essex, and Hampshire Hawks possessing identical records.

Finally, even a first win for Middlesex over Kent on Sunday was not enough to lift them off the foot of the table, where they sit below Gloucestershire, who also have just two points.

Sussex are the most in-form team, winning both of their games this week, while Gloucestershire are the most in need of new ideas, even more than basement side Middlesex, after losing two from two.

THE BIG-HITTING BATTERS

Jamie Smith of Surrey’s 211 runs, hit at an average of 52.75, mean he still leads the way with the bat in the South Group, and his already-stunning strike rate has climbed again to now stand at 208.91.

However, impressive weeks for Sussex’s Australian man Daniel Hughes and Somerset stalwart Tom Abell have seen them jump up the table to second with 177 runs and third with 167, respectively.

Abell hit an unbeaten 96 from 47 against Hampshire, but it was the 106 off 58 struck by Kent’s Sam Billings – that Somerset were on the receiving end of – that earns the title of the week’s highest score.

Ollie Pope also came within a whisker of hitting a century, his first in T20 cricket, but had to settle for an unbeaten 99 from 59 deliveries in Surrey’s defeat by Sussex.

Meanwhile, Smith remains the South Group’s leading six-hitter with 19, a long way clear of the 10 maximums blasted by Somerset’s Will Smeed and the eight of Essex’s own Michael Pepper.

THE IN-FORM BOWLERS

Having finished second in the entire competition’s wicket-taking charts last season, Ben Green of Somerset has continued his impressive form with the ball and has picked up 13 scalps already.

He took the South Group’s first five-wicket haul in a big win over Hampshire on Sunday, picking up figures of 5/29 in what was the best single bowling performance of the week too.

Green’s teammate Riley Meredith, playing his first season in the Blast, ripped through Middlesex on Tuesday night to pick up 4/12, while Glamorgan’s Mason Crane also collected 4/25 this week.

Crane now sits second behind Green in the list of overall wicket-takers with 10, level with Tymal Mills of Sussex and one ahead of Meredith, Surrey’s Tom Curran, and Gloucestershire’s David Payne.

Veteran left-arm seamer Payne also has the lowest economy rate of anyone to bowl more than one over in the South Group, at 5.68, while Shane Snater’s 5.00 holds the group’s best bowling average.

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

06 June: Middlesex (173 all out) lost to Glamorgan (177-7) by three wickets

07 June: Gloucestershire (124 all out) lost to Hampshire Hawks (128-5) by five wickets
Kent Spitfires (198-6) beat Somerset (197-6) by four wickets
Surrey (177-7) lost to Sussex Sharks (213-7) by 36 runs
Essex (168-8) beat Glamorgan (166-8) by two wickets

09 June: Gloucestershire (160-8) lost to Sussex Sharks (208-6) by 48 runs
Somerset (241-5) beat Hampshire Hawks (178 all out) by 63 runs
Kent Spitfires (173-8) lost to Middlesex (178-6) by four wickets

11 June: Middlesex (78 all out) lost to Somerset (82-1) by nine wickets

UPCOMING FIXTURES

13 June: Middlesex v Essex (Lord’s)
Glamorgan v Hampshire Hawks (Sophia Gardens)

14 June: Somerset v Kent Spitfires (Cooper Associates County Ground)
Surrey v Gloucestershire (Kia Oval)
Essex v Sussex (The Cloud County Ground)
Hampshire Hawks v Middlesex (Utilita Bowl)

15 June: Sussex Sharks v Surrey (1st Central County Ground)

16 June: Somerset v Glamorgan (Cooper Associates County Ground)
Kent Spitfires v Gloucestershire (Spitfire Ground St Lawrence)

20 June: Glamorgan v Gloucestershire (Sophia Gardens)
Essex v Hampshire Hawks (The Cloud County Ground)
Middlesex v Surrey (Lord’s)
Sussex Sharks v Kent Spitfires (1st Central County Ground)

21 June: Gloucestershire v Somerset (Seat Unique Stadium)
Kent Spitfires v Essex (Spitfire Ground St Lawrence)
Surrey v Glamorgan (Kia Oval)
Hampshire Hawks v Sussex Sharks (Utilita Bowl)

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here

Luc Benkenstein has been named as captain in a 16-player England Men Under-19s squad for the three-match Youth ODI series against Sri Lanka later this month.

He will captain his country for the first time, and will step up to lead a group that also contains his Eagles teammates Charlie Allison and Noah Thain.

Benkenstein is set to lead the team in front of his home fans at The Cloud County Ground in Chelmsford, where the opening game of the series is to be played under lights on Friday 28 June.

The 19-year-old made his England Under-19 debut in August 2023 against Australia, and along with Allison and Thain, was part of the squad for the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year.

He has 12 Youth ODI caps, previously captaining his country in the third match of that Australia series last year, and this season skippered Essex 2nd XI against Middlesex in a T20 at Garon Park.

Thain has played the same number of games in the format, scoring 350 at an average of 31.81, with a top score of 88, while both he and Benkenstein have claimed five wickets.

Meanwhile, Allison is in line to add to his seven Youth ODI appearances, in which he is averaging a sparkling 50.50 with the bat at a fluent strike rate of 95.73.

England Men Under-19s coach, Mike Yardy, said: “We have selected an exciting squad for the series, with a blend of some players who are currently playing in the Vitality Blast and some younger players for whom it will be their first time in an Under-19s squad.

“As always, it’s a great opportunity for the players to perform in an England Under-19 shirt and to experience international cricket.”
 

England Men Under-19s v Sri Lanka Youth ODI Series

Friday 28 June: 1st Youth ODI v Sri Lanka – The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford
Monday 01 July: 2nd Youth ODI v Sri Lanka – 1st Central County Ground, Hove
Wednesday 03 July: 3rd Youth ODI – 1st Central County Ground, Hove
 

England Men Under-19s squad

Luc Benkenstein (Essex – captain)
Farhan Ahmed (Nottinghamshire)
Tazeem Ali (Warwickshire)
Charlie Allison (Essex)
Noah Cornwell (Middlesex)
Rocky Flintoff (Lancashire)
Keshana Fonseka (Lancashire)
Eddie Jack (Hampshire)
Dom Kelly (Hampshire)
Freddie McCann (Nottinghamshire)
Harry Moore (Derbyshire)
Haydon Mustard (Durham)
Thomas Rew (Somerset)
Noah Thain (Essex)
Raphael Weatherall (Northamptonshire)
Theo Wylie (Warwickshire)

England Under-19s at The Cloud County Ground in 2024

Essex’s own trio of Charlie Allison, Luc Benkenstein, and Noah Thain will all again represent England Under-19s this summer.

The first game of a three-match Youth ODI series will take place at The Cloud County Ground on Friday 28 June.

Secure your seats now to see the next generation of international stars live in Chelmsford:

Middlesex v Essex

Women’s London Championship

Haberdashers’ Boys’ School

Sunday 26 May 2024 | 4:30pm

Team News

Middlesex: Issy Routledge*, Saskia Horley, Artemis Downer, Lucy Porter, Mariko Hill, Louise Poulter, Bhavika Gajipra, Sonali Patel, Kate Coppack, Iqraa Hussain+, Anisha Dissanayake, Layla Judge.

Essex: Jessica Bird, Bella Howarth, Jasmine Westley, Katherine Speed, Jessica Olorenshaw+, Kelly Castle*, Sally Chapman, Grace Poole, Sophia Mitchell, Hannah Davis, Prisha Bedi, Jessica Pugh.

Match Details

Umpires: A Sherma & K White
Scorers: C Bryant & J Johnson
Toss: Essex won the toss and chose to bat
Result: Middlesex won by eight wickets

Scorecard: View Here

Match Report

Despite Bella Howarth’s fluent 84, Essex ended up convincingly defeated by eight wickets by Middlesex in their first Women’s London Championship match as defending champions.

Having been dismissed for 211 in 49 overs, with 84 from Howarth and Jasmine Westley’s 33 the top scores, Essex were unable to stop Middlesex powering through to victory.

The hosts reached their target just two wickets down and with more than 10 overs to spare, as opener Saskia Horley racked up an unbeaten 108 in spite of a wicket each for Hannah Davis and Grace Poole.

After winning the toss at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School on the outskirts of Borehamwood, the Eagles made a solid start to reach 89-2 at halfway, with Howarth and Westley together.

However, the loss of the latter brought two further quick wickets to leave the visitors in a stickier situation at 101-4 five overs later, even as Howarth went on to post an 85-ball half-century.

A short rain delay immediately prior to that had allowed time to regroup, and Howarth and captain Kelly Castle kept the scoreboard ticking over with a partnership of 50 for the fifth wicket.

Castle’s dismissal, caught by Kate Coppack off the bowling of Layla Judge, left the Eagles on 149-5 with a little more than ten overs to go.

They did successfully up the scoring to pass 200, but at the cost of wickets falling, and although Howarth aimed to steady the ship, her wicket precipitated the end as the tail was wrapped up quickly.

In response, Horley underpinned the chase as despite Poole removing captain Issy Routledge for 16 early on, a stand of 70 for the second wicket gave Middlesex early dominance.

Horley went to her fifty in the midst of that from 65 balls, and although Davis then broke through again to see off Artemis Downer for 26, caught by Sally Chapman, Middlesex were already halfway there.

Shortly after the team had reached 200, Horley brought up her own century, as her unbroken stand of 110 for the third wicket with Lucy Porter, who struck 49 not out, was enough to steer the hosts to victory.
 

You can have a chance to own a match worn shirt from our fantastic win over Glamorgan.

Essex fans have the opportunity to get their hands on shirts from our fantastic Vitality Blast win over Glamorgan on Friday night.

Match-worn shirts from our second win of the competition at The Cloud County Ground are up for auction via our partners, MatchWornShirts.

Fans can be in with a chance of owning a shirt worn by the starting XI and all are individually hand-signed by the player.

The auction will run from the beginning of the match and ends at 3pm on Sunday 16 June 2024 – fans can visit the auction here via matchwornshirt.com.

MatchWornShirts is the Club’s Official Digital Auction Partner, promising supporters the unprecedented opportunity to own a signed and worn shirt from their favourite player throughout the season.

The shirts, taken after each game, are presented in their unwashed state, preserving the authenticity to make them unique and distinctive items of cricket memorabilia.

Having already been crowned as PCA Player of the Month, Jordan Cox has continued to receive recognition for his sparkling May by being named as wefinanceanycar.com Player of the Month too.

After receiving 57.5% of the vote in a public poll, Cox won the award ahead of Shane Snater, who took 19.4%, while Matt Critchley and Dean Elgar claimed 15% and 8.1%, respectively.

Cox, who was educated at Felsted School, is enjoying a stellar debut season in Essex colours, having so far struck 831 runs in all formats, of which 478 came in May.

In mid-May, he played an utterly instrumental innings in a stunning Essex chase of 330 to beat Warwickshire, hitting 112 to shepherd the Eagles home in an invigorating win that reignited a title charge.

He then followed it up with a masterful double-hundred against his old side Kent, hammering 207 from 255 balls to tee up another Essex win that ensured the gap to champions Surrey is just two points following the conclusion of the first Championship block.

Not content with that, Cox rounded out May by hitting a combined 78 runs in the Eagles’ two Vitality Blast openers, away to Gloucestershire and Somerset.

One lucky voter in the poll will now win a replica Cox shirt, signed by the man himself, so to be in the running for this prize next month, make sure to vote in June’s wefinanceanycar.com Player of the Month poll!

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Demand remains exceptionally high, and there are now only 10% of tickets remaining across the six remaining home fixtures, with two already sold out.

With the Eagles aiming to go one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Friday 07 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Glamorgan – buy here (LAST FEW TICKETS)
Friday 14 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Sussex Sharks – SOLD OUT
Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here

Jordan Cox has been crowned as Player of the Month for May by the PCA’s Most Valuable Player Rankings and a public vote.

The PCA’s Most Valuable Player Rankings, powered by Argentex, initially selected Cox among a four-man shortlist that also featured Hampshire’s Liam Dawson, Durham’s David Bedingham, and Lancashire captain Keaton Jennings.

Cox was then voted as the winner by a public poll on the PCA website, and will now receive a bespoke trophy as the winner.

The MVP takes into account batting, bowling and fielding contributions as well as match defining contributions using a unique algorithm developed with CricViz.

Cox scored a phenomenal 478 runs, including two centuries, in May leading to 118 MVP points for the month, and picked up a Match MVP award against his former team Kent thanks to a brilliant innings of 207 off 255 balls at Canterbury that earned him 47 MVP points.

He was also named in the PCA Team of the Month for May, with Matt Critchley providing further Essex representation in that XI.

PCA Team of the Month for May

Keaton Jennings (Lancashire)
Haseeb Hameed (Nottinghamshire)
Adam Lyth (Yorkshire)
David Bedingham (Durham)
Jordan Cox (Essex)
James Bracey (Gloucestershire)+
Liam Dawson (Hampshire)*
Matt Critchley (Essex)
George Balderson (Lancashire)
Dan Worrall (Surrey)
Dillon Pennington (Nottinghamshire)

Find out more about the PCA MVP Rankings and view the men’s tables.

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex are now back in shortest-format action in Chelmsford for 2024.

Demand remains exceptionally high, and there are now only 10% of tickets remaining across the six remaining home fixtures, with two already sold out.

With the Eagles aiming to go one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Friday 07 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Glamorgan – buy here (LAST FEW TICKETS)
Friday 14 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Sussex Sharks – SOLD OUT
Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
 

Essex v Glamorgan

Vitality Blast

The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford

Friday 07 June, 7:00pm

After a barnstorming win over Middlesex that kick-started the 2024 Vitality Blast campaign, Essex are back in home T20 action when Glamorgan visit The Cloud County Ground on Friday 07 June.

Michael Pepper’s whirlwind 43-ball hundred led the charge, as the Eagles successfully chased down a target of 203-7 with more than two overs to spare to seal a four-wicket win.

Jordan Cox also struck two enormous sixes, including one that comfortably cleared the Doug Insole Pavilion and appeared to land over the River Can in Central Park, in blasting 22 off just eight balls.

Daniel Sams and Paul Walter each picked up two wickets in the visitors’ innings, and now, Anthony McGrath’s men will go in search of another victory on Friday to back up that complete performance.

Squad

Essex have named a 16-player squad for tomorrow’s game against Glamorgan with Shane Snater back in the fold after being rested for the start of the campaign.

Sam Cook remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Tom Westley and Feroze Khushi remain in plans for the tournament after featuring for the Second XI at Utilita Bowl on Thursday.

The Opposition

Glamorgan will be in action before their trip to The Cloud County Ground, when they face Middlesex at Lord’s on Thursday, but prior to that game, they have won one and lost one of their first two matches.

They were beaten by 19 runs by Surrey in their opener at home last Friday, as despite Colin Ingram and Marnus Labuschagne hitting fifties, they were unable to chase down the Brown Caps’ 200-8.

The Welsh outfit did bounce back with a 25-run victory over Sussex on Sunday thanks to Sam Northeast’s 61 and a wily return of 2/22 from Mason Crane helping to defend 183-7.

Ahead of their Thursday trip to St John’s Wood, the side’s joint-leading wicket-takers with three apiece are Crane, Jamie McIlroy, and Dan Douthwaite, while Ingram’s 89 runs mark him out as the top scorer.

Glamorgan squad: Kiran Carlson*, Eddie Byrom, Sam Northeast, Colin Ingram, Marnus Labuschagne, Chris Cooke, Dan Douthwaite, Tom Bevan, Mason Crane, Timm van der Gugten, Jamie McIlroy, Harry Podmore, Ben Kellaway, Andy Gorvin.

Last Time We Met

Feroze Khushi’s fifty and a fast 43 from Paul Walter were enough for Essex to chase down a target of 176 and secure a fourth win in a row during the last meeting with Glamorgan in June 2023.

Having elected to chase after winning the toss, the Eagles restricted the visitors to 175-6, as captain Kiran Carlson top-scored with 43 off 25 balls and Simon Harmer was the pick of the bowlers with 2/43.

In response, the hosts were reduced to 1-2 in the first over as Jamie McIlroy raised Glamorgan’s hopes, only for Khushi and Walter to put on 80 for the fourth wicket from 48 balls.

Walter’s innings came in just 21 deliveries while Khushi posted 61 from 37 as, thanks to Daniel Sams’ blistering late cameo of 41 off 16 balls, Essex overhauled their target with four full overs to spare.

South Group Table

Correct prior to Middlesex v Glamorgan on Thursday 06 June.

How To Watch

If you are not able to attend The Cloud County Ground for the first Friday night T20 of the season, the match will be live-streamed on the EssexCricketTV YouTube channel and available to watch via 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.

Tickets

An extremely limited number of tickets remain for this fixture, with prices starting at £38 for adults, £33 for young adults and students, and £10 for juniors.

The Kenton Group Stand at the Graham Gooch End of the ground is the designated family stand for this year’s Vitality Blast, with blocks 27-29 being alcohol-free and blocks 30 & 31 being the alcohol-tolerant family area.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting the link below:

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex are now back in shortest-format action in Chelmsford for 2024.

Demand remains exceptionally high, and there are now less than 10% of tickets available across the six remaining home fixtures, with two already sold out.

With the Eagles aiming to go one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Friday 07 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Glamorgan – buy here (LAST FEW TICKETS)
Friday 14 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Sussex Sharks – SOLD OUT
Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here