Friends Provident Trophy Final Preview
After 86 matches over 18 days of cricket, it is down to the Sussex Sharks and Hampshire Hawks to battle it out at Lord’s for the Friends Provident Trophy on Saturday, July 25th.
The two South Coast sides have excellent pedigree in the Friends Provident Trophy with Sussex set to compete in their 10th Trophy Final, while Hampshire make a return back to the big stage for the second time in three years.
Both sides performed outstandingly to secure their place in the Final with Sussex defeating Gloucestershire at Hove thanks to Ed Joyce’s career high 146, and Hampshire shocking Lancashire at Old Trafford.
Sussex Sharks
Ed Joyce is striking a rich vein of form as he returns to Lord’s eager to show Middlesex what they are missing, while also putting his name forward for contention to the England selectors for later in the summer against Australia. With 531 runs to his name in the Friends Provident Trophy this year, Joyce holds the key for Sussex at the top of the order.
He’ll be well supported with internationals Luke Wright, Dwayne Smith, Murray Goodwin and Yasir Arafat alongside Captain Mike Yardy making for a formidable Sharks lineup, notwithstanding James Kirtley who starred in Sussex’s most recent Trophy success in 2006.
Kirtley produced a terrific spell of bowling in a low scoring affair to give Sussex victory over Lancashire, returning the figures of 5/27 as Lancashire fell 15 runs short off Sussex’s 172.
Hampshire Hawks
Hampshire are not without their own firepower with the bat, with openers Michael Lumb and Jimmy Adams providing the base for the Hawks win over Lancashire with an incredible 159 run opening partnership. In eight Friends Provident Trophy innings, Lumb has three half centuries and a top score of 100 to his name, while averaging a touch below 50.
Further down the order, you need look no further than Sean Ervine and Dimitri Mascarenhas who will combine both bat and ball and no doubt be key factors in Hampshire’s push for Friends Provident Trophy glory.
With so many stars on display, it’s sure to be a match not to miss!