Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the Vitality Blast...
Fixture: Essex Eagles v Middlesex
Venue: Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford
Date: Sunday, July 18, 2021
Start time: 2.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
Both teams are playing for pride in this one, with neither in with so much of a slither of a chance of reaching the knockout rounds.
Essex sit seventh in the South Group, their lingering hopes of fighting it out for a quarter-final berth having taken a terminal blow at Hampshire Hawks on Friday night.
Simon Harmer's side have lost their last two but will fancy their chances of rounding off their season on a high note against a beleaguered Middlesex.
The Seaxes have lost three in a row, including a hammering on Friday by a Kent Spitfires side which had only been thrown together hours before.
They are bottom of the table but a win could lift them over Glamorgan. Scant consolation, but consolation nonetheless.
Who’s in form?
Michael Pepper is Essex's leading runscorer in the 2021 Blast, with 251, but he has had failures (3 and 12) in his last two outings.
Dan Lawrence's 223 runs have come at 44 a pop and with a strike rate over 145, and Essex will have been disappointed to have lost him to the England setup.
With the ball, Sam Cook and Simon Harmer both have 18 wickets in the competition, with Harmer's coming slightly cheaper at 17.5 to Cook's 18 average.
Middlesex are without leading scorer Stephen Eskinazi due to injury and, having been bowled out for 80 in their last outing, his teammates will be desperate to make up for his absence at Chelmsford.
What’s the team news?
Essex add one man to the playing group that were defeated by Hampshire Hawks, with the young right-hand batsman Josh Rymell making the visit, and with little to play for but pride, could make an appearance.
Essex Eagles: Simon Harmer, Sam Cook, Feroze Khushi, Dan Lawrence, Jimmy Neesham, Aron Nijjar, Michael Pepper, Jack Plom, Josh Rymell, Shane Snater, Ryan ten Doeschate, Paul Walter, Tom Westley, Adam Wheater
The visitors make no changes from the side that were taken apart by Kent on Friday evening. Varun Chopra, who is on loan from the hosts, will require an agreement to be made so he can play: but given neither side can qualify, Middlesex hope this can be reached.
Middlesex: Steven Finn, Martin Andersson, Joe Cracknell, Varun Chopra, Blake Cullen, Josh De Caires, Tom Helm, Max Holden, Luke Hollman, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Robson, John Simpson, Nathan Sowter, Mujeeb ur Rahman.
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Essex Eagles: LLWWL
Middlesex: LLLWA
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 31
Essex Eagles wins: 16
Middlesex wins: 14
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 3
No result: 1
What’s the weather forecast?
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Chelmsford: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
Tickets are not available for purchase for this fixture.
Click here to access the Essex box office.
Travel
Address: County Ground, New Writtle Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 OPG
By train: Chelmsford Railway Station is approximately 10 minutes' walk from the ground.
Coming out of the station, walk north on Duke Street and then turn left onto Park Road. Turn right going between Middleditch Court and Norman Court before turning left. When reaching the Parkway main road, turn left before quickly turning right to cross into the Park.
Having crossed the River Can, keep straight until hitting New Writtle Street where you must turn left. After approximately 350 feet, turn left and the ground is on the right.
By car: The stadium has a pay and display carpark with cash payment machines located on site.
Chelmsford City Centre’s High Chelmer multi-storey car par is a five-minute walk from the ground and can be accessed via New London Road after turning left off Parkway. This car park’s post code is CM2 OLG.
There are two park and ride sites in Chelmsford which offer bus services into the city centre. The first site is Chelmer Valley, postcode CM2 7RZ, and the second is located at CM3 3PR.
By bus: Chelmsford Bus Station is on Duke Street, right next to the Railway Station. Bus No.42 and No.100 stop on New London road, approximately a two-minute walk to the ground.
How do I follow the match?
Essex will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here
All T20 Blast matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: All Vitality Blast fixtures will be available on BBC Local Radio stations with extensive coverage also on 5 Live Sports Extra.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and updates from every Vitality Blast match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Prediction?
Middlesex will need to find real resolve to end their losing streak here, and Essex should have enough to prevent that from happening. Home win.
SUNDAY'S OTHER MATCH PREVIEWS
North Group
Birmingham Bears v Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Leicestershire Foxes v Worcestershire Rapids
South Group
Kent Spitfires v Sussex Sharks
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