Northamptonshire vs Sussex Match Preview – OneDay Cup 2025, August 17, 2025

Match Details:

• Tournament: England Domestic OneDay Cup 2025 (Group B)
• Teams: Northamptonshire Steelbacks vs Sussex Sharks
• Venue: County Ground, Northampton
• Date & Time: Sunday, August 17, 2025 – 11:00 GMT / 3:30 PM IST
• Format: 50-over game

Match Outlook

Northamptonshire and Sussex meet in a crucial Group B encounter of the England Domestic OneDay Cup 2025. With the group stage heating up, both teams will be eager to secure a win to bolster their chances of progressing to the knockout stages.

Northamptonshire have had a relatively inconsistent start to the tournament, winning just one of their four games so far. However, their recent 150-run victory over Durham has given them a much-needed confidence boost. The Steelbacks' batting lineup showed promise with James Sales scoring a brilliant century, while Tom Robinson and Justin Broad also contributed with fifties. In the bowling department, Yuzvendra Chahal and Liam Guthrie have been instrumental in providing crucial breakthroughs.

Sussex, on the other hand, have fared slightly better in the tournament, with two wins and two losses. Their recent one-wicket victory against Lancashire was a testament to their fighting spirit. Tom Clark’s career-best 139 and Tom Haines’ 90 highlighted the strength of their top order. With Henry Crocombe in good form, picking up six wickets in the last two matches, the Sharks will be confident of making a strong impact with the ball.

Key Players to Watch

Northamptonshire:

• James Sales – The skipper has been in fine form, and his ability to anchor the innings makes him a key player.
• Yuzvendra Chahal – The leg-spinner has a stellar List A record and is expected to play a pivotal role with the ball.
• Liam Guthrie – The seamer has been effective with the new ball and is likely to be crucial in the early overs.

Sussex:

• Tom Clark – The opener has been in sensational form, and his ability to accelerate the innings will be crucial.
• Tom Haines – His ability to score big runs in the middle order can tilt the game in Sussex's favor.
• Henry Crocombe – The pacer has been a wicket-taking machine in recent games and will be the go-to bowler for the Sharks.

Pitch and Weather Report

The County Ground in Northampton is known for its balanced nature, offering assistance to both batters and bowlers. The surface typically favors seamers early on, with the ball moving in both directions. However, as the game progresses, the pitch tends to flatten out, assisting the spinners.

The weather forecast for the day is largely clear with a possibility of isolated showers in the late afternoon. Teams will likely prefer to bat second if the toss is won, given the potential for a drying pitch.

Toss Prediction

The toss could be a critical factor in this encounter. With the possibility of a drying pitch, the team batting second may have a slight edge. However, if the conditions remain consistent throughout the game, the toss could be less decisive. Northamptonshire, with their experienced spin duo, may prefer to field first, but it's hard to say with certainty.

Head-to-Head

Historically, the competition between Northamptonshire and Sussex has been evenly contested, with both teams having their moments. However, recent matches have been closely fought, with neither side holding a clear advantage. The form in this OneDay Cup will likely be the deciding factor.

Team Form

Northamptonshire:

• 1 win in 4 matches
• Recent form: Win vs Durham (150 runs), Loss vs Glamorgan, Draw vs Kent, Loss vs Yorkshire
• Key strengths: Improving batting, strong spin options

Sussex:

• 2 wins in 4 matches
• Recent form: Win vs Lancashire (1-wicket), Loss vs Middlesex, Win vs Somerset, Loss vs Hampshire
• Key strengths: Explosive batting, effective pace attack

Predicted Playing XIs

Northamptonshire (Predicted XI):
James Sales (c), Tom Robinson, Justin Broad, Liam Livingstone, Liam Guthrie, Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Rossington, Harry Toffolo, Sam Robson, Nathan Buck, George Linde

Sussex (Predicted XI):
Tom Clark (c), Tom Haines, Ben Brown, Luke Wright, Chris Nash, Will Sowter, Adam Zampa, George Garton, Henry Crocombe, David Wiese, Matthew Hobden

Match Prediction

The match promises to be a close contest between two evenly matched sides. Northamptonshire have the advantage of home conditions and a more balanced squad, with their spinners and seamers in good form. Sussex, however, have the firepower and recent momentum to challenge any opponent.

Win Probability:

• Northamptonshire: 53%
• Sussex: 47%

With both teams coming into the game with strong batting lineups and potent bowling attacks, the result will likely depend on which side starts the game more aggressively and maintains composure under pressure.

Final Verdict

Northamptonshire are slight favorites to win this encounter, but Sussex are no pushovers and will be confident of pulling off a surprise. This should be an entertaining match with high stakes for both teams in the group stage.

Prediction: Northamptonshire to win by 10-15 runs in a close contest.