T20 Blast 2023: Hampshire vs Middlesex – South Group Match Preview and Updates

Cricket

Hampshire will look to make a strong comeback against Middlesex in the 14th match of the 2023 NatWest T20 Blast competition on Friday at The Rose Bowl in Southampton.

Hampshire were completely outplayed by Somerset in all three departments in their first game. Skipper James Vince will be hoping that the team’s overall performance with bat and ball improves in this game.

Middlesex, on the other hand, suffered a defeat at the hands of Surrey. Middlesex are now in the bottom half of the league table as a result of this result.

There have been 38 meetings between the teams in the competition’s history, with Hampshire winning 21 of them. Middlesex has come out on top fourteen times. Two matches have been called off, and one game has ended in a tie.

The South Group Match between Hampshire vs Middlesex will take place on May 26th, 2023 at the Rose Bowl, Southampton.

Match Details to Note

Match: Hampshire vs Middlesex, South Group Match, T20 Blast 2023

Date: May 26, 2023 (Friday)

Time: 11:30 PM IST

Venue: The Rose Bowl, Southampton

Hampshire vs Middlesex

Hampshire (Match Odds – 1.65):

Preview:

The majority of the runs will be scored by James Vince, Ben McDermott, Tom Prest, Ross Whiteley, Joe Weatherley, and Toby Albert in the batting order.

Hampshire struggled to get going in their first game, and were bundled out for 74 runs in 16.1 overs.

Chris Wood, Nathan Ellis, Mason Crane, Scott Currie, and Liam Dawson will be relied on to deliver crucial breakthroughs in the bowling department.

In the previous game, Hampshire’s top bowler was pacer Nathan Ellis, who took 1 for 15 in three overs.

Full Squad:

Joe Weatherley, Ian Holland, Liam Dawson, Keith Barker, Bradley Wheal, Mason Crane, Felix Organ, Scott Currie, Nick Gubbins, Ross Whiteley, Ben Brown, Kyle Abbott (South Africa), Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan), Benny Howell, Kyle Abbott (South Africa), , Ben McDermott (Australia), Nathan Ellis

Possible Playing XI:

James Vince (c), Ben McDermott (wk), Tom Prest, Joe Weatherley, Ross Whiteley, Toby Albert, Liam Dawson, Nathan Ellis, Chris Wood, Mason Crane, Scott Currie

Middlesex (Match Odds – 2.25):

Preview:

The majority of the runs will be scored by the likes of Joe Cracknell, Stephen Eskinazi, Max Holden, and Jack Davies in the batting department.

Max Holden played exceptionally well for Middlesex in the previous match, finishing the innings with a top-score of 43 off 23 balls, thanks to six fours and two sixes. Pieter Malan, who scored 30 runs off 18 balls with four boundaries and one six, provided solid support.

To make timely breakthroughs in the bowling department, the team will look to Tom Helm, Blake Cullen, Martin Anderson, Luke Hollmann, Nathan Fernandez, and Ryan Higgins.

Middlesex’s pick of the bowlers in the previous match was Tom Helm, who claimed 3 for 39 in four overs.

Full Squad:

Sam Robson, Jack Davies, Robbie White, Martin Andersson, Blake Cullen, John Simpson, Ethan Bamber, Tim Murtagh, James Harris, Thilan Walallawita, Toby Roland-Jones, Tom Helm, Mark Stoneman, Pieter Malan (South Africa), Ryan Higgins

Possible Playing XI:

Stephen Eskinazi (c), Pieter Malan, Joe Cracknell, Max Holden, Ryan Higgins, John Simpson (wk), Luke Hollman, Martin Andersson, Tom Helm, Blake Cullen, Nathan Fernandes

Hampshire vs Middlesex Batsmen Worth Watching

Ben McDermott and James Vince combined for only four runs at the top of the order against Somerset, which was a huge surprise given their stellar T20 batting records. Tom Prest, a 20-year-old who has two half-centuries in this format, is expected to do well.

Middlesex’s top scorer against Surrey was Max Holden, who made 43 runs from 23 balls and put on 34 runs for the third wicket with South African Pieter Malan, who made 30 runs from 18 balls. Steve Eskinazi only scored one run at the top of the order, but he has an impressive T20 record.

Hampshire vs Middlesex Bowlers Worth Watching

Only spinner Liam Dawson and Australian all-rounder Nathan Ellis took wickets in the opening match against Somerset. Mason Crane only bowled three balls on Wednesday, but he has a stellar Rose Bowl record.

On Thursday, 29-year-old pace bowler Tom Helm bowled the final over for Middlesex, taking three wickets while conceding only three runs. Fernandes was also effective, dismissing opener Sunil Narine, but the bowlers will need more from their batting counterparts in this match.

Hampshire vs Middlesex Toss Prediction

Both teams will aim to win the toss, bat first, and post a competitive score in their allotted overs. At The Rose Bowl, the first innings score is usually around 163 runs.

Hampshire vs Middlesex Pitch Report

The Rose Bowl in Southampton will host the 14th NatWest T20 Blast match between Hampshire and Middlesex in 2023.

Hampshire will be encouraged by the fact that they have won four of the six games they have played against Middlesex.

The Rose Bowl wicket will provide an interesting battle between bat and ball with the weather forecast for Friday’s match expected to be sunny with humidity around 39%.

Hampshire vs Middlesex Prediction

Based on their current form, Hampshire will be slight favorites to defeat Middlesex. Hampshire will be looking for a clinical batting performance in this match, with players like James Vince, Ben McDermott, Joe Weatherley, and Ross Whiteley in their XI. Check out the odds at Cricbaba!

Hampshire is the favourite to beat Middlesex at the odds of 1.65.