MIDDLESEX NAME UNCHANGED SQUAD TO FACE KENT SPITFIRES IN VITALITY BLAST
Middlesex name an unchanged fourteen-man squad for tomorrow’s second South Group match of the 2020 Vitality Blast campaign, as Stuart Law’s side return to Lord’s for the first time this season.
Middlesex will face the Kent Spitfires tomorrow at the Home of Cricket, in an afternoon encounter, getting underway at 2pm. They’ll head there in high spirits, after performing well in their opening encounter down in Chelmsford yesterday, where, after posting 184 for 5 in their twenty overs, heavy rain engulfed the Cloudfm County Ground, forcing the game to be abandoned after just nine deliveries of the hosts’ reply.
Despite rain interrupting proceedings yesterday, there were plenty of positives for Law and newly appointed T20 Captain Steven Finn to take from the game - not least of all the start made by young left-hander Max Holden, who smashed a brilliant maiden T20 hundred off just 60 deliveries.
In what is a radically different looking T20 side this year for Middlesex, missing four of the regular top order from last year’s campaign, there was plenty of evidence that Middlesex’s side of 2020 are up for the fight.
A blistering start saw Stephen Eskinazi smash three boundaries and one maximum off the very first over of the match, which set the tempo and allowed Holden the opportunity to settle before launching his assault, as he batted with poise, precision and power when required, giving his partners at the other end plenty of license to go hard and attack.
Middlesex will feel hard done for having the chance to defend their total of 184 taken away from them, as they’d have fancied their chances, with their bowling unit stacked full of options and containing plenty of firepower in the pace ranks.
Kent come to Lord’s tomorrow having also suffered an abandonment in their opener yesterday, where in Canterbury they were on top against Hampshire before rain put paid to their hopes of an opening day victory.
No doubt Law will learn more of his side’s mettle tomorrow after another T20 encounter, although if the early signs are anything to go by, he’ll be pretty pleased with how his young side have stepped up to embrace the challenges of the Blast this year.
With tomorrow’s forecast looking more promising, a full game looks likely, and with both sides keen to get off the mark and bag their first win of the campaign, it promises to be an exciting afternoon ahead at Lord’s.
Members and supporters are reminded that tomorrow's match will be played Behind Closed Doors, however a live stream of the game will be available from Lord's, which is available to watch on the Middlesex website.
Middlesex name the following unchanged fourteen-man squad for the Kent Spitfires clash…
Steven Finn (captain)
Martin Andersson
Joe Cracknell,
Miguel Cummins
Jack Davies
Stephen Eskinazi
Steven Finn
Nick Gubbins
James Harris
Tom Helm
Max Holden
Luke Hollman
Dan Lincoln
John Simpson (wicket-keeper)
Nathan Sowter
Middlesex
Kent Spitfires
