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 Somerset
Venue: The Kia Oval
Date: Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Start time: 6.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
Having started their campaign with three straight wins, Surrey encouraging start to the season was derailed first by rain against Sussex and Hampshire, than courtesy of an eight-wicket defeat to Essex at The Kia Oval.
Somerset claimed their one and only win of the South Group against Kent but have since seen their next two games beaten by the weather. Only one of these side's last five combined games since June 14 has been completed, so it will be a welcome return for both.
Who’s in form?
Write-off Gareth Batty at your peril. His 13 overs have gone for just 72 runs, an economy rate of 5.53. Backed up by Dan Moriarty and Will Jacks and there is no doubting Surrey's status as having one the more impressive spin cartels.
With their England players off to play Sri Lanka and Pakistan, there will be plenty of focus on Laurie Evans who already has a 65 and a 39 to his name in 2021. We haven't seen much of Hashim Amla so far during the campaign but expect that to change.
The loss of Tom Abell to a hamstring injury means is a seismic blow to a Somerset team now without any players in three figures for runs. Ben Green and Lewis Goldsworthy will be asked to come to the fore, give they strike in the 160s.
The bustling Marchant de Lange has been taking the lead with the ball with seven wickets at 13.71 with Josh Davey having provided solid support with six scalps at 17 apiece.
What’s the team news?
Surrey: The hosts are unchanged for the second game in a row. Jason Roy, Sam Curran and Tom Curran have linked up with England ahead of the Sri Lanka T20s while Ollie Pope, Liam Plunkett, Gus Atkinson, Reece Topley and Ben Foakes are all out injured.
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
Somerset: Tom Abell's hamstring injury means he misses out, along with Roelof van der Merwe.
Somerset squad: Lewis Gregory, Tom Banton, George Bartlett, Eddie Byrom, Josh Davey, Marchant de Lange, Lewis Goldsworthy, Ben Green, James Hildreth, Tom Lammonby, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Will Smeed, Max Waller
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Surrey: LANRWW
Somerset: AAWLL
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 16
Surrey wins: 11
Somerset wins: 5
Tied: 0
Abandoned: 4
No result: 0
What’s the weather forecast?
The return of the sun. Temperatures are set to hit 22 degrees Celcius with sunny skies predicted. These two might get a full game in. Really.
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?
A tough one to call given both sides have spent periods watching rain of late. Surrey are formidable at home on what is often a flat Oval pitch. They should prevail.
OTHER T20 BLAST PREVIEWS FOR JUNE 23
North Group
Yorkshire Vikings v Worcestershire Rapids
Durham v Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.