Vitality T20 Blast 2021 – Nottinghamshire vs Hampshire – 2nd Quarter-Final Match Preview

Following a thrilling finale to the Hundred, the attention now goes back to a little more traditional type of cricket, with eight sides preparing to face off in the Vitality T20 Blast knockouts. We still have time for the County Championship to restart, and the players will want to take advantage of this opportunity to participate in the shortest form of the game before the World T20 teams are announced.

The second Blast quarter-final will be contested on July 25, 2021, at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in Nottingham between Nottinghamshire and Hampshire. Because the two teams haven’t played in this format in five weeks, this match will put the players’ mental fortitude to the test. Both teams are well-equipped, and a thrilling match is undoubtedly in the cards.

Match Details to Note

Match: Nottinghamshire vs Hampshire, T20 Blast, 2021.

Date: August 25, 2021 (Wednesday)

Time: 11:30 PM (IST)

Venue: Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Nottinghamshire vs Hampshire Team Previews

Nottinghamshire Outlaws

Team Nottinghamshire Outlaws were probably the most successful side in the T20 Blast group stage, and their points table position reflects that. They finished first in the North Group points standings, with nine victories from 14 games and a total of 21 points. They have a fantastic net run rate of 1.503, which is the best among all teams in both groups.

Aside from the outstanding performance they put on throughout the group stage, they have been quite steady in their previous five matches as well. They have four wins in their past five games and will be full of confidence.

In terms of team news, Nottinghamshire will have almost all of its stars available. They have plenty of firepower at the top, with Alex Hales, Joe Clarke, and Ben Duckett available. Furthermore, the inclusion of Samit Patel, Steven Mullaney, and Peter Trego adds to the Outlaws’ already extensive expertise.

Overall, Nottinghamshire stood out in the group stage, and they have a team capable of repeating that success in the knockout stages. Having said that, it will be a new beginning, and getting into the groove will be the most important thing. This year, they are missing Dan Christian, which may play a factor. If they can maximize their on-paper strength, there is no reason why they can’t beat Hampshire in this crucial match.

Nottinghamshire Squad

Joe Clarke, Alex Hales, Ben Duckett, Tom Moores(w), Samit Patel, Steven Mullaney(c), Peter Trego, Calvin Harrison, Matthew Carter, Dane Paterson, Brett Hutton, Luke Fletcher, Lyndon James, Ben Slater

Nottinghamshire has a strong batting line-up that includes Alex Hales, Joe Clarke, and Ben Duckett, all of whom have scored well at the top. In the middle order, Samit Patel, Tom Moores, and skipper Steven Mullaney offer steadiness.

They also have a dangerous bowling team in Jake Ball, Calvin Harrison, Luke Fletcher, Dane Paterson, and Samit Patel. The Outlaws have done well as a group and will seek to keep up the good work.

Predicted XI: Steven Mullaney (c), Alex Hales, Joe Clarke, Ben Duckett, Samit Patel, Tom Moores (wk), Peter Trego, Calvin Harrison, Luke Fletcher, Jake Ball, Dane Paterson.

Hampshire

Hampshire may have battled in the early stages of the group round, but they did an admirable job finishing inside the top four to qualify for the playoffs. They won five consecutive matches to finish fourth in the South Group, with a net run-rate of 0.388 at the conclusion. The fact that they appear to be peaking at the perfect time may increase their confidence in the most important match.

Hampshire qualified for the playoffs largely due to the form of James Vince. He contributed more than a handful of important knocks as Hampshire won five games in five knockouts before the quarter-finals. They have previously coped with the strain of playing in a knockout game during the league stage, which could benefit them in this next encounter.

They have three swashbuckling batsmen in James Vince, D’Arcy Short, and Joe Weatherley, all of whom hit over 300 runs in the group stage. However, it was their bowling that played a significant role in their qualifying for the playoffs. Mason Crane, Brad Wheal, and Scott Currie all took wickets at regular intervals, allowing their batsmen to chase a not-so-high total.

While Hampshire and James Vince look to be in good form at the moment, the form is at least a month old. It will be intriguing to watch how Hampshire regroups after a five-week break. If they can gel effectively as a team, they will be difficult to beat not only in this next encounter but also in the subsequent matchups across all forms.

Hampshire Squad

James Vince(c), D Arcy Short, Joe Weatherley, Lewis McManus(w), James Fuller, Liam Dawson, Chris Wood, Scott Currie, Mason Crane, Bradley Wheal, Kyle Abbott, Toby Albert, Tom Prest

Skipper James Vince and D’Arcy Short have frequently been among the runs this season. Colin De Grandhomme will be unavailable due to international commitments, which will be a major setback to the Hawks.

Toby Albert, Joe Weatherley, and Thomas Prest will need to step up in the middle order in such a case. The bowling assault will be led by Chris Wood, Mason Crane, Kyle Abbott, Bradley Wheal, and Scott Currie.

Predicted XI: James Vince (c), Chris Wood, D’Arcy Short, Toby Albert, Joe Weatherley, Thomas Prest, Kyle Abbott, Lewis McManus (wk), Scott Currie, Mason Crane, Bradley Wheal.

Nottinghamshire vs Hampshire Toss Prediction

This season has featured several high-scoring contests. The quality of the pitch hasn’t changed much in the second innings, and teams have been able to chase down huge runs. The team that wins the toss will choose to bowl first to take advantage of the early assistance for bowlers.

Pitch and Weather Conditions

Trent Bridge in Nottingham is one of the largest grounds in the United Kingdom. The outfield is quick, allowing batsmen to perform their strokes. Because the ball swings and seams, this location is ideal for quick bowlers. Spinners have traditionally found the conditions at Trent Bridge difficult since there isn’t much help from the surface.

On August 25, the sky over Nottingham should be clear, and we expect to see batsmen enjoying their strokes. In recent games, the pitch has been great for batting, with the ball coming into the bat well. On this surface, the team batting first would have to aim for a total of more than 170 runs.

Nottinghamshire vs Hampshire Match Prediction

According to how the end of the group stage played out, there isn’t much separating the two sides. Nottinghamshire, on the other hand, was considerably more consistent, and the results speak for themselves. Also, Hampshire is overly reliant on a few big guns, whereas Nottinghamshire has a diverse group of players who are renowned to perform in important games. That experience will almost certainly come in help here. Furthermore, Nottinghamshire Outlaws have the home advantage in this match. Betting on a Nottinghamshire win should be the way to go for all of the reasons listed above.

Nottinghamshire Outlaws is the favourite to win this match.