Sussex Sharks vs Surrey – T20 Blast Match Preview (2025-07-18, 18:30 GMT)

Venue: County Ground, Hove

Match Details

Tournament: T20 Blast
Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
Time: 18:30 GMT
Venue: County Ground, Hove
Format: T20
Series: South Group

Team Form & Momentum

Sussex Sharks:

• After a thrilling last-ball win over Gloucestershire, Sussex ended a four-game losing streak.
• Key contributors in their recent win included James Coles (62) and Tom Alsop (55) with the bat, and Henry Crocombe with his disciplined bowling.
• However, their overall form remains inconsistent with 6 wins and 6 losses in 12 matches.
• Sitting at 4th in the South Group, a win is crucial to stay in the race for a quarter-final berth.

Surrey:

• In excellent form, having won 4 of their last 5 matches.
• They currently top the South Group with a commanding position.
• Their recent 8-run win over Middlesex saw Will Jacks (52) and Tom Curran (47) contribute with the bat, and Chris Jordan shine in the death overs.
• A win here would secure a home quarter-final and potentially the top spot in the group.

Head-to-Head

• Matches Played: 42
• Sussex Wins: 15
• Surrey Wins: 21
• Ties: 1
• No Result: 5

Despite a historical advantage for Surrey, recent form and momentum suggest a different outcome.

Weather Conditions

• Temperature: 24°C
• Weather: Light rain expected, 10% chance of precipitation
• Humidity: 71%
• Wind Speed: 14 km/h

The weather could offer some unpredictability, but with only a slight chance of rain, it’s unlikely to impact the game significantly.

Toss Prediction

• Venue Performance: Teams batting first have won 3 of the 5 matches played at Hove this season.
• Average First Innings Score: 176 runs.
• Prediction: The team winning the toss is expected to choose to bat first.

Key Players to Watch

Sussex Sharks:

• James Coles – The all-rounder has been a crucial run-scorer for Sussex, especially in tight situations. He has 358 runs in 13 matches this season.
• Nathan McAndrew – The leg-spinner has been instrumental with the ball, taking 21 wickets in 13 matches.
• Henry Crocombe – Economical and effective in the middle and death overs.

Surrey:

• Will Jacks – The all-rounder has been in fine form, averaging 44.88 and scoring four half-centuries. He is expected to open the innings.
• Tom Curran – A versatile all-rounder who can change the game with his pace and spin.
• Chris Jordan – The death-overs specialist, Jordan is likely to play a key role in the final overs.

Playing XIs

Sussex Sharks (Predicted):

1. Daniel Hughes
2. George Thomas
3. Tom Clark
4. James Coles
5. Tom Alsop
6. John Simpson (Wicketkeeper)
7. Danny Lamb
8. Nathan McAndrew
9. Ollie Robinson
10. Tymal Mills (Captain)
11. Henry Crocombe

Surrey (Predicted):

1. Will Jacks
2. Ryan Patel
3. Jason Roy
4. Sam Curran (Captain)
5. Daniel Lawrence (Wicketkeeper)
6. Tom Curran
7. Ollie Sykes
8. Jamie Overton
9. Chris Jordan
10. Jordan Clark
11. Reece Topley

Match Prediction & Betting Tips

Prediction:

Surrey is favored to win this encounter.

• Sussex needs a win to stay in the race, but Surrey's superior form and depth in both batting and bowling make them the stronger side.

Sussex Sharks Chance of Winning: 39%

Surrey Chance of Winning: 61%

Betting Tips:

• Will Jacks (Surrey) to score over 25 runs @ 1.84 (Parimatch)
• Surrey to have a better opening partnership than Sussex @ 1.84

Conclusion

With Surrey in excellent form and sitting at the top of the South Group, they have the momentum and depth to take the game. Sussex will need to raise their game significantly to pull off a surprise. The toss could be pivotal, with batting likely to be the better option at Hove in these conditions.

Final Verdict: Surrey to win the match.
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