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: Surrey v Essex Eagles
Venue: The Kia Oval
Date: Monday, June 21, 2021
Start time: 6.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
Two sides with contrasting records in the 2021 Blast meet at the Kia Oval, just as long as the rain holds off.
Surrey have three wins from five fixtures but have won every game they have been able to play. Victories over Middlesex, Somerset and Glamorgan - all by comfortable margins - preceded a no result against Sussex Sharks and a complete washout against Hampshire Hawks. This is the fifth of eight consecutive home games for Surrey, and they'll want to make sure they make the most of the opportunity.
Essex Eagles have lost every game they have played since victory at Somerset on the opening night and sit eighth in the South Group.
Of the 18 counties, only Northamptonshire Steelbacks currently have a worse net run rate than Essex's -1.387.
Who’s in form?
Surrey have not had on stand-out batsman so far in 2021 - with their successes relying on contributions through the order. When it comes to firepower, though, the opening pair of Jason Roy and Will Jacks will take some beating. Roy has the most runs of any Surrey batsman so far - 139 at 34.75, striking at 147.87, but it is Jacks who has proved to have the most devastating potential. Jacks' 126 runs have come at the almost ludicrous strike rate of 217.24 (the best of anyone with more than 100 runs in the tournament this year).
With the ball, it has been a similar case of sharing the load. The two spinners in the squad - Daniel Moriarty and Gareth Batty - have been the most miserly of Surrey's arsenal. Batty's 10 overs have gone at 5.60, while Moriarty's 10 have cost 73 runs.
None of Essex's established batsmen are averaging better than 24, and while Sam Cook has been the pick of the bowlers - seven wickets at 17.14 - he has not been well supported.
What’s the team news?
Rory Burns returns for Surrey following an extended break after the New Zealand Test series. Jason Roy, Sam Curran and Tom Curran have linked up with England ahead of the Sri Lanka T20s.
Ollie Pope, Liam Plunkett, Gus Atkinson, Reece Topley and Ben Foakes all remain unavailable.
Surrey squad: Gareth Batty, Hashim Amla, Gus Atkinson, Rory Burns, Jordan Clark, Rikki Clarke, Jade Dernbach, Matt Dunn, Laurie Evans, Ben Geddes, Will Jacks, Daniel Moriarty, Jamie Overton, Ryan Patel, Jamie Smith
Essex have Dan Lawrence available after England duty, and Adam Wheater is back following injury.
Essex squad: Simon Harmer, Will Buttleman, Sam Cook, Dan Lawrence, Jimmy Neesham, Aron Nijjar, Michael Pepper, Jack Plom, Jamie Porter, Shane Snater, Ryan ten Doeschate, Paul Walter, Tom Westley, Adam Wheater
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Surrey: ANRWWW
Essex Eagles: LALLL
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 30
Surrey wins: 11
Essex Eagles wins: 17
Tied: 1
Abandoned: 2
No result: 1
What’s the weather forecast?
There's at least a 50 per cent chance of rain for most of the day and into the evening in south London. The Oval will need to get lucky to avoid it.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for The Kia Oval: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
Due to restrictions on capacity, tickets for this fixture are only available to Surrey members.
Travel
Address: Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SS
By car: No match-day parking is available at, or in the vicinity of the ground, and we advise all customers to use public transport. We only offer parking to Blue Badge holders on a first come first serve basis.
The ground is situated on the A202, near the junction with the A3 and A24, just south of Vauxhall Bridge and 10-minutes from Victoria and Waterloo.
By train: Use South Western Railway trains into Vauxhall station, which is a 10-minute walk from the ground. The station is well served by trains throughout Surrey and Hampshire as well as from the Greater London area.
By underground: The Kia Oval is just a one-minute walk away from Oval underground station, which is situated in South London on the Northern line. It is on your left as you leave the main entrance of the station. The ground is also a 10-minute walk from Vauxhall which is situated on the Victoria line.
By bus: Route numbers 36, 185 and 436 stop outside the ground and other local services stop around the corner. The following buses pass within a 5-minute walk of the ground: 3, 59, 109, 133, 159, 333.
How do I follow the match?
Surrey 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?
Only the most ardent Essex optimist would back an away win. A no result feels the best chance of the Eagles taking something from the game.
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