Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the second Vitality Blast quarter-final...
Fixture: Notts Outlaws v Hampshire Hawks
Venue: Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Date: Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Start time: 7pm
What’s the lowdown?
Defending champions Notts Outlaws cruised through the group stages, winning nine of their 14 matches to comfortably top the North Group. Only Birmingham Bears and Leicestershire Foxes have been the Outlaws in 2021. However, Notts did tie three of their matches - against Worcestershire Rapids, Lancashire Lightning, and Derbyshire Falcons.
Hampshire Hawks, by contrast, squeaked through to the quarter-finals at the last minute. After winning just one of their opening nine matches, the Hawks won their next four to catapult themselves back into top four contention. James Vince's side needed to chase down Glamorgan's 184-run total inside 14.1 overs in the final round of fixtures to progress and did so with seven balls to spare. Hampshire finished fourth in the South Group with six wins, five defeats and three abandoned matches.
Who's in form?
Alex Hales was Notts' leading run-scorer in the group stage, scoring 463 runs at a strike rate of 179.45, including one century and two half-centuries. Top-order teammates Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke also passed 300 runs, scoring 367 and 366, respectively, while ageless allrounder Samit Patel amassed 305 runs from 226 balls in 12 innings.
Patel also has a team-leading economy of just 6.66 and lies third in the wicket-taking charts with 15 to his name. Matt Carter is second with 16 wickets while Calvin Harrison and Jake Ball have 18 apiece, placing them joint-fourth on the overall bowling standings for the competition.
For Hampshire, James Vince sits at the top of the run-scoring table with 365 runs at a strike rate of 140.92. Like Hales, he too has scored a century in this season's Blast. Overseas signing D'Arcy Short, the hero against Glamorgan, and Joe Weatherly have also passed 300 runs while Lewis McManus has contributed a useful 193 runs in 11 innings lower down the order.
Scott Currie is the club's leading wicket-taker with 15 to his name in just seven appearances. Brad Wheal and Mason Crane have 14 wickets each.
What’s the team news?
Notts Outlaws welcome back several players from The Hundred, with captain Steven Mullaney, Alex Hales, Calvin Harrison, Samit Patel, Matt Carter, Joe Clarke, Ben Duckett and Tom Moores all returning. Jake Ball misses out through injury.
Notts Outlaws squad: Matt Carter, Ben Duckett, Joe Clarke, Luke Fletcher, Alex Hales, Calvin Harrison, Brett Hutton, Lyndon James, Tom Moores, Steven Mullaney, Samit Patel, Dane Paterson, Ben Slater, Peter Trego
Hampshire Hawks also welcome a number of players back from The Hundred, with James Vince, D'Arcy Short, Liam Dawson, Chris Wood, Brad Wheal and Mason Crane returning. Both Dawson and Wood missed a portion of The Hundred through injury but are included in Hampshire's 13-man squad.
Hampshire Hawks squad: James Vince, Kyle Abbott, Mason Crane, Tony Albert, Scott Currie, Liam Dawson, James Fuller, Lewis McManus, Tom Prest, D'Arcy Short, Joe Weatherley, Brad Wheal, Chris Wood
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Notts Outlaws: WLWWW
Hampshire Hawks: WWWWW
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 3
Notts Outlaws wins: 1
Hampshire Hawks wins: 2
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 0
No result:
What’s the weather forecast?
Cloudy skies are set to give way to sunshine at Trent Bridge on Wednesday, with temperatures peaking around 20 degrees Celsius.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Nottingham: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
Click here to access the Nottinghamshire box office.
Travel
Address: Trent Bridge, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 6AG
By car: From the south, exit the M1 on Junction 24 (A453) or Junction 25 (A52) and take the signs for West Bridgford or the cricket ground. From the north, take Junction 26 (A610) and follow the signs to West Bridgford or the cricket ground.
There are plenty of parking options around the Lace Market and the Ice Arena in the town centre. There are three car parks surrounding the ground, and two further down the Bridgford Road into West Bridgford itself.
By public transport: Nottingham station is well linked by East Midlands Trains, Cross Country and Northern. There are regular buses from the station to Trent Bridge, and a taxi rank on the northern side of the station, but it is only a 20-minute walk via the A60 - passing the nation's only Hooters - or better still along a saunter the Nottingham Canal up to the Trent Bridge itself – past Meadow Lane (Notts County), the City Ground (Nottingham Forest) and plenty of pubs.
How do I follow the match?
This match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket with coverage beginning at 7pm.
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?
Hampshire Hawks finished the group stages with a bang but may have lost their momentum because of The Hundred. Notts, the defending champions, should be too strong.
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