Royals Out to Tame Lions in T20

Full squad and match preview for the Hampshire Royals' Friends Life t20 match against the Surrey Lions at The Rose Bowl on Friday.

HAMPSHIRE ROYALS v SURREY LIONS
Friends Life t20
Friday 3 June 2011 (Start: 7:00pm)
The Rose Bowl

Summary:
The Hampshire Royals look to build on their impressive opening day win in the Friends Life t20 when they take on the Surrey Lions in the same competition on Friday.

The match is due to start at 7pm at The Rose Bowl - DOORS OPEN AT 5.30pm.

Hampshire:
Hampshire manager, Giles White names the same squad that kicked off the competition in style with their seven wicket win over the Somerset Sabres on Wednesday.

Then they were bolstered by the additions of Michael Lumb and Imran Tahir for the first time this season; the former, in particular, doing a great job in hitting a 29-ball half-century. Alongside youngster, Benny Howell, who scored a century in the two sides’ last encounter, there should be plenty to keep the Lions’ attack thinking.

Meanwhile, Tahir’s presence in the Hampshire line-up strengthens an already formidable bowling group, the star of which was Dimi Mascarenhas against Somerset. His three very early wickets set the tone for the game and won the all-rounder a Man of the Match award.

Hampshire continue to await developments on overseas T20 signing Shahid Afridi. The all-rounder had his No Objection Certificate revoked by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday, meaning that unless the club can persuade the PCB to reinstate it, Afridi will not be able to take part.

The Opposition:
Having lost only once so far in all forms of the game this summer, the Surrey Lions arrive at The Rose Bowl in a rich vein of form.

Captained by Rory Hamilton-Brown and managed by Chris Adams, the Kia Oval side have already inflicted two defeats on the Royals in Clydesdale Bank 40 competition this season – a 4-wicket victory on May 2nd at The Rose Bowl and a 36-run win on May 22nd at Whitgift School.

For the Lions, it will be their second match in two days as they open their Friends Life T20 campaign against Gloucestershire on Thursday. They won’t be short of match practise, therefore - although fatigue may be an issue!

That’s not good news for a Surrey side that will already have to do without fast bowler Jade Dernbach as he joins the former Rose Bowl pair of Chris Tremlett and Kevin Pietersen on international duty. However, overseas signing and Australian bowler Dirk Nannes is available to bolster what already is a strong line-up.

Hampshire Squad:

(4) Jimmy Adams	(17) Dimitri Mascarenhas
(6) Michael Lumb	(19) Danny Briggs
(9) Nic Pothas+	(25) Chris Wood
(10) Simon Jones	(27) Neil McKenzie
(12) Dominic Cork*	(42) Imran Tahir
(13) Benny Howell	(98) Johann Myburgh
(14) James Vince

 

Weather Forecast:
Warm and sunny

Coverage:
Live text commentary will be available for this match. Visit Hampshire Cricket’s Facebook and Twitter pages for all the major incidents as they happen. BBC Radio Solent will also be broadcasting live ball-by-ball coverage of the game online.

Tickets:
Tickets are still available for this match. Click here to buy yours or turn up at the match-day ticket office to purchase on the door.

Words: Simon Vincent / Stuart Appleby
Images: Barry Zee

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