All Matches, South Group: 17th July

Here are the Fantasy Cricket Predictions and Betting Tips for the Vitality Blast 2025, South Group, 114th match - Gloucestershire vs Sussex Sharks, to be played on the 17th of July, 2025 at College Ground, Cheltenham.

Match Prediction - Gloucestershire v Sussex

Match Details:

Date: Thursday, 17th July 2025.

Venue: College Ground, Cheltenham.

Start Time: 4:00 PM BST

Current Form:

Gloucestershire:

They only have a mathematical chance remaining, having to win both their next two games and hope for other results to go their way, so they are largely playing for pride.

Sussex Sharks:

The Sharks are faltering at the wrong time, with four losses on the bounce, having gone from five wins and two losses to five wins and six losses. Sussex desperately need a win here, to stay in the competition, or risk being knocked out.

Players to Watch:

Gloucestershire:

D’Arcy Short – after a slowish start to his season, D’Archy short has picked up the pace quickly, now averaging 34.5 this season and has scored three fifties for Gloucestershire.

Marchant de Lange – the express quick has seven wickets in three games, back from injury, his pace is up immediately, averaging 15.14 and striking once every 10.2 balls.

Josh Shaw – averaging two wickets a game, Shaw has 14 wickets in his seven games this season, averaging 16.64 while striking once every 11 balls.

Sussex Sharks:

Nathan McAndrew – with 20 wickets in 12 games, even though the Sharks have gone sideways, McAndrew has kept his game up and is averaging just 16 for this wickets this season.

Henry Crocombe – the quick bowler has taken 10 wickets in his seven games, averaging 18.6 and has struck once every 12.6 balls, even though he hasn’t played every game this season.

James Coles – the most impressive batter from the Sharks, he is also their highest run-scorer with 296 runs at 29.6 in 12 games, while striking at 154.

Batting Stats T20

Head-to-Head (Last 5 Matches):

Gloucestershire - 2 wins

Sussex Sharks - 3 wins

The Sharks have the advantage in this match-up, leading 3-2 against Gloucestershire, but at a venue unknown to Sussex, this could be the opportunity Gloucestershire required.

Venue Stats - College Ground, Cheltenham (2022-2025):

Average 1st Innings Score:

2024 - 179.0

Bowling Averages and Economy Rates:

Fast Bowlers – Average – 16.78; Economy Rate – 7.67.

Spin Bowlers – Average – 18.87; Economy Rate – 9.53.

Wickets Percentage based on Innings:

Team Win Percentage when Batting First - 100%

Team Win Percentage when Batting Second - 0%

Wickets Per Innings:

First Innings – 8.00 wickets

Second Innings – 7.33 wickets

Wickets per Phase:

Powerplay (Overs 1–6): 2.67 wickets

Middle Overs (Overs 7–15): 2.60 wickets

Death Overs (Overs 16–20): 3.40 wickets

The College Ground at Cheltenham has usually been a flat venue, easy to bat on, but a lot of wickets go down as teams search for runs, with the average wickets per game here above 15.

While both have brilliant averages, it is the pacers who steal the spotlight, not just with a lower average, but with a significantly lower economy, going at almost two less runs per over.

Squads:

Gloucestershire:

Jack Taylor ©, Cameron Bancroft (WK), James Bracey, Ben Charlesworth, Marchant de Lange, Miles Hammond, David Payne, Ollie Price, Josh Shaw, Ajeet Singh Dale, Tom Smith, Matt Taylor and Graeme van Buuren.

Sussex Sharks:

Tymal Mills ©, John Simpson (WK), Henry Crocombe, Danny Lamb, Brad Currie, Jack Carson, Ollie Robinson, Tom Clark, James Coles, Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Harrison Ward, Nathan McAndrew, Tom Alsop, George Thomas and Daniel Hughes.

Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions - PrePlay

Who will win the toss? — Sussex

Who will win the match? — Gloucestershire

Top Batter (Runs Scored) — D’Arcy Short (Gloucestershire), Daniel Hughes (Sussex)

Top Bowler (Wickets Taken) — Marchant de Lange (Gloucestershire), Tymal Mills (Sussex)

Most Sixes — D’Arcy Short (Gloucestershire), Tom Alsop (Sussex)

Player of the Match — D’Arcy Short (Gloucestershire)

Team Scores Batting First — Gloucestershire 160+, Sussex 160+

Match Prediction - Essex v Hampshire

Here are the Fantasy Cricket Predictions and Betting Tips for the Vitality Blast 2025, South Group, 117th match - Essex Eagles vs Hampshire Hawks, to be played on the 17th of July, 2025 at County Ground, Chelmsford.

Match Details:

Date: Thursday, 17th July 2025.

Venue: County Ground, Chelmsford.

Start Time: 7:00 PM BST

Current Form:

Essex Eagles:

The Eagles have shown flashes of brilliance this season but are yet to string together consistent performances. Michael Pepper has been their batting mainstay, while Mohammad Amir and Sam Cook have been the key wicket-takers. They will be keen to put in a complete performance to topple a strong Hampshire side.

Hampshire Hawks:

The Hawks, led by James Vince, have been one of the form teams of the competition. Their batting has been robust, with Toby Albert supporting the skipper, and their bowlers, especially Scott Currie, delivering under pressure. They will look to extend their dominance and keep the momentum alive.

Players to Watch:

Essex Eagles:

Michael Pepper: Essex’s most reliable batter this season, scoring 313 runs at a strike rate of 159.69 with three half-centuries.

Mohammad Amir: The veteran pacer has picked up 18 wickets and remains a threat in the powerplay and at the death.

Jordan Cox: The wicket-keeper batter has not fired on all cylinders, but has had a decent season so far - 197 runs in 8 innings at a strike rate of 144.85.

Hampshire Hawks:

James Vince: The captain of the Hawks, James Vince has been in sublime touch this season, scoring 436 runs at a strike rate of 155.71 and an average of 39.64.

Toby Albert: The young batter who has also doubled up as the keeper has chipped in with 388 runs, averaging 43.11 and striking at 142.12.

Scott Currie: The young Scottish International, Currie has been pivotal in their wins, leading the charge with the ball, with his canny changes of pace, having taken 21 wickets so far and has gone at 7.87 an over.

Wicket Takers T20

Head-to-Head (Last 5 Matches):

Essex Eagles - 2 wins

Hampshire Hawks - 3 wins

The Hawks just about have the lead against the Eagles, with three wins in their last five games. But the Eagles will want revenge for the 106 run thrashing from earlier this season.

Venue Stats - County Ground, Chelmsford (2022-2025):

Average 1st Innings Score:

2022 - 192.1

2023 - 185.2

2024 - 184.0

2025 - 178.7

Bowling Averages and Economy Rates:

Fast Bowlers – Average – 27.81; Economy Rate – 9.41.

Spin Bowlers – Average – 25.69; Economy Rate – 9.11.

Wickets Percentage based on Innings:

Team Win Percentage when Batting First - 42.8%

Team Win Percentage when Batting Second - 57.2%

Wickets Per Innings:

First Innings – 7.35 wickets

Second Innings – 6.03 wickets

Wickets per Phase:

Powerplay (Overs 1–6): 1.62 wickets

Middle Overs (Overs 7–15): 2.93 wickets

Death Overs (Overs 16–20): 2.35 wickets

Chelmsford has slowly gone down, with the average first innings score here slowly coming down, from the highs of the 190s in 2022, down to 179 in 2025.

The middle overs are the most deadly here, and with the spinners bowling better than the pacers here, the batters better watch out, as the pacers have a harder time and will be easier to get away.

Squads:

Essex Eagles:

Simon Harmer ©, Jordan Cox (WK), Charlie Allison, Mohammad Amir, Luc Benkenstein, Charlie Bennett, Matt Critchley, Robin Das, Mackenzie Jones, Michael Pepper, Jamal Richards, Shane Snater, Noah Thain and Paul Walter.

Hampshire Hawks:

James Vince (C), Benny Howell, Toby Albert (WK), Eddie Jack, Sonny Baker, Dom Kelly, Hilton Cartwright, Ali Orr, Scott Currie, Tom Prest, Liam Dawson, Joe Weatherley, James Fuller, Chris Wood.

Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions - PrePlay

Who will win the toss? — Essex

Who will win the match? — Hampshire

Top Batter (Runs Scored) — Michael Pepper (Essex), James Vince (Hampshire)

Top Bowler (Wickets Taken) — Mohammad Amir (Essex), Scott Currie (Hampshire)

Most Sixes — Michael Pepper (Essex), James Vince (Hampshire)

Player of the Match — James Vince (Hampshire)

Team Scores Batting First — Essex 165+, Hampshire 175+

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