Rothesay County Championship 2025: Nottinghamshire vs Hampshire – Match Preview (2025-05-09 11:00 GMT)

As the Rothesay County Championship 2025 continues into its sixth round, one of the most anticipated fixtures of the day sees Nottinghamshire take on Hampshire at Trent Bridge. The first day of this four-day match promises a fascinating contest between two sides with contrasting styles and ambitions in the Division One race.

Match Details

• Date: 9 May 2025
• Venue: Trent Bridge, Nottingham
• Series: Rothesay County Championship 2025, Division One
• Match Number: 24th Match
• Live Streaming: Live Scores & Match Report

Nottinghamshire: A Home Advantage

Nottinghamshire, under the captaincy of Scott Borthwick, will be eager to capitalize on the home advantage and build momentum in the Championship. Trent Bridge, with its green-tinged pitch and consistent bounce, is a surface that rewards both batsmen and bowlers, but particularly favours seamers in the early days.

The Notts batting lineup is bolstered by the return of key performers like Ben Slater and Riki Wessels, who have shown their class in previous encounters. The team's spin department, led by Harry Gurney, adds depth and variety, particularly in the longer hours of the game.

The challenge for Nottinghamshire will be to maintain consistency with the bat and ensure their bowlers, especially Samit Patel and David Wiese, can exploit early inroads to put pressure on the Hampshire batsmen.

Hampshire: A Resilient Side on the Road

Hampshire, currently placed in the middle of the Division One table, will be looking to secure a result away from home and climb the standings. Under the leadership of James Vince, the team has shown resilience in previous red-ball encounters, particularly with their lower order often proving crucial in tight contests.

The Hampshire batting lineup has been boosted by the inclusion of Sai Kishan, a left-handed opener with a calm temperament, and Will Smith, whose aggressive middle-order hitting can change the momentum of a game.

The Hampshire bowling attack, with Tom Floyd and Reece Topley as key seamers, is capable of troubling even the best batsmen, especially in the first two sessions. However, they will need to be disciplined and clinical if they are to make inroads against a strong Notts batting line-up.

Weather & Pitch Conditions

The weather at Trent Bridge is expected to be dry and clear throughout the day, offering ideal conditions for a full day’s play. The pitch is likely to assist seamers early on, but as the game progresses, it may flatten out slightly, giving more opportunity to the spinners.

Head-to-Head

In recent encounters, the two teams have shared the spoils, with each securing home victories in the last two meetings. However, Nottinghamshire hold a slight edge in the series history on home soil, which could prove decisive in a tight contest.

Key Matchups

• Ben Slater (Notts) vs Tom Floyd (Hampshire): A battle between one of Notts' most experienced openers and Hampshire's key seamer.
• Sai Kishan (Hampshire) vs Samit Patel (Notts): A crucial duel between the Hampshire opener and the Notts all-rounder, who is a dangerous left-arm spinner.
• Spinners vs Lower Order: The late game action could be determined by how well the spinners exploit the conditions and how resilient the lower orders are.

Prediction

This promises to be a closely contested match. While Nottinghamshire have the advantage of home conditions, Hampshire are a well-balanced and experienced side capable of upsetting the odds. If the Notts batsmen can get off to a strong start and the seamers can trouble the Hampshire top order, the hosts could take control. However, should Hampshire’s openers weather the initial pressure and the seamers make early inroads, the visitors have the tools to dominate.

Prediction: A draw seems most likely, but with a well-crafted performance, Nottinghamshire could edge the game.

Stay tuned for live updates, scores, and in-depth analysis throughout the match at Cricket World Live Scores.
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