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Vitality Blast Preview: Somerset v Surrey
THE MATCH
Somerset welcome Surrey to the Cooper Associates County Ground tomorrow (Friday June 16th) in the Vitality Blast.
Play is due to get underway at 6:30pm.
THIS MATCH IS SOLD OUT!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Gates will open at 4:30pm.
If you are using the SCCC Ticket App, your QR code may not become active until shortly before gates open. We are currently working on a solution to this issue and reassure users that access to the Cooper Associates County Ground will be granted.
Bag searches will be in operation and spectators are reminded that no glass or alcohol will be permitted within the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Ticket buyers can print and download their online tickets via their SCCC account.
All ticket or Membership collections will be from the Jack White Gates (St James Street).
The Club Enquiries Desk will be based in the Reception of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion and not in the Andrew Caddick Pavilion on matchdays.
Due to the busy nature of a matchday, our telephone lines will closed for the duration of the game and will reopen at 10am on Monday June 19th.
Information on everything that you will need for a matchday at SCCC, including how to redeem your guest passes, how to download your e-tickets and how to use the SCCC Ticket App can all be found in our Visitor Guide:
Children under 14 should be accompanied by a responsible adult when participating in the Somerset Cricket Foundation activities.
Scorecards will be available from the SCS Shop and Reception in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
You can also keep up to date with a live stream and live blog via our dedicated Match Centre and on our Twitter feed.
In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.
In association with Vertu Motors, Somerset County Cricket Club will be providing radio ear pieces to enable Members and supporters to enjoy our live ball-by-ball match commentary. These will be available to purchase from Reception in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion at a cost of £12.
In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.
FAN VILLAGE
In association with Jurassic Fibre, Somerset County Cricket Club will be launching a brand-new fan village at this match. The new and improved Jurassic Fibre Fan Village will still be situated at the St James Street side of the Cooper Associates County Ground and will feature more space and a much wider range of entertainment, food and drink offerings.
The Jurassic Fibre Fan Village will host a large selection of varied food and drink options and a large self-pouring bar. There will also be live music before and after each match.
This match will see local band Last To Leave performing after the game and during the interval, so make sure you stay behind and enjoy the band fusing the energy and spectacle of a rock show with the radio classics and catchy pop songs that we’ve all come to know and love.
In addition to this, there will be all manner of entertainment throughout, including a special virtual reality cricket game plus giveaways, competitions and much more!
Don’t forget our ‘buy one get one free’ happy hour from 4:30pm to 5:30pm on Thatchers, Carlsberg, the Coca Cola range, spirit & mixer cans, wine and water before each match.
THE OPPOSITION
Surrey
Captain: Chris Jordan
Overseas players: Sunil Narine (West Indies), Sean Abbott (Australia)
Finals day appearances: 7
Titles: 1 (2003)
2022 finish: Quarter-finals
2022 highest run-scorer: Will Jacks (449)
2022 highest wicket-taker: Chris Jordan (17)
Key winter moves: The only significant change in Surrey’s short-form ranks from last year is the arrival of Sean Abbott, the Australian fast bowler who also hits a long ball, as an overseas player in place of West Indies veteran all-rounder Kieron Pollard. Abbott, 31, has played 11 ODIs and nine T20 internationals.
TEAM NEWS
Somerset will be without Sonny Baker (back), Peter Siddle (hand) and Lewis Goldsworthy (rib).
The starting XI will be selected from the following squad: Lewis Gregory*, Tom Abell, Kasey Aldridge, Tom Banton, Shoaib Bashir, Josh Davey, Sean Dickson, Ben Green, Matt Henry, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Lammonby, Craig Overton, Will Smeed and Roelof van der Merwe.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
On the eve of the game, Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: “In T20 cricket we’re coming off the back of a great win in Bristol. To post the score that we did against Gloucestershire was an incredible performance. That was a huge win after our defeat at Hampshire. We’re now looking forward to playing in front of a full house tomorrow against Surrey, who are also going well at the moment.
“Surrey are an incredibly talented side and they’re going well in both competitions. They’ll be full of confidence after what they did in the Championship this week, but we’re looking forward to the contest. It’s important that you benchmark yourselves against the best teams.
“We’re still without Sonny and Peter, and Lewis Goldsworthy picked up a rib injury in the Second XI T20 game against Gloucestershire recently.”
CLASSIC MATCH
For this week’s classic match we go back to June 2016 when the two sides met at the Cooper Associates County Ground in the Vitality Blast.
It was a game that featured international superstars, a career best for a Somerset batter and ended with a six-wicket win for the home side.
Surrey arrived in Taunton with a star-studded line up which included Jason Roy, Kumar Sangakkara, Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul, whilst Somerset boasted Chris Gayle in the XI.
Surrey Captain, Gareth Batty won the toss and elected to bat first.
Roy and Dom Sibley added 43 from the first wicket in four and a half overs. Roy (28 from 17) was the man to fall, caught by Roelof van der Merwe off the bowling of Craig Overton.
Sibley went on to make 74 not out from 55 balls, whilst Sangakkara added a rapid 37 from 19 as the visitors posted a total of 186 for four from their 20 overs.
Although Gayle helped himself to 31 from just 13 balls, Somerset slipped to 39 for three in the fourth over.
However, Johann Myburgh smashed his way to a stunning 86 from 53 balls in an innings that included four fours and five sixes, beating his previous best by 23 runs.
Van der Merwe (39 from 26) provided excellent support as the host reached their target for the loss of four wickets with four balls to spare.
BARNABY WEBBER
The thoughts of everyone associated with Somerset County Cricket Club and Somerset Cricket Foundation are with the family, friends and clubmates of Barnaby Webber at this difficult time.
19-year-old Barnaby lost his life following the tragic events in Nottingham yesterday.
As a mark of respect, the flag at the Cooper Associates County Ground will fly at half-mast during this match and both sets of players will wear black armbands.
We would ask that all Members and spectators join the players in observing a minute’s applause before the match begins
Clubs and leagues within the County are also being asked to consider holding a minute’s silence or a minute’s applause at fixtures this weekend.
MATCH SPONSOR – Lexus Bristol
The staff at Lexus Bristol genuinely want to make your experience as a Lexus owner as seamless and as pleasurable as possible, so you’ll find every member of their team approachable, knowledgeable and professional.
Whether you’re considering Lexus for the first time, or you’re already a Lexus owner, you can expect a consistent and exceptional standard of service. From sales to servicing, their entire team is committed to you enjoying your Lexus for many years to come.
You can make your business grow by aligning yourself with Somerset County Cricket Club!
We are the UK’s best followed county and the South West’s most followed professional sports club on social media!
There are a wide range of opportunities available which are designed to meet any business need or budget, so harness the power of sport sponsorship now!
MAX WALLER
Max Waller will be in the Jurassic Fibre Fan Village during this match promoting his Testimonial Year. He will also be signing copies of his testimonial brochure.
NEXT MATCH
Somerset’s next match is on Monday (June 19th) when we take on Essex Eagles at the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford in the Vitality Blast.
