Royals Look to Claim Home Finals Day Appearance

Jul 23 2010

Warwickshire Bears v Hampshire Royals
Friends Provident t20 Cup – Quarter Finals
Monday 26th July 2010 (16.40 start)
Edgbaston

Monday’s match is the biggest one of the season so far for the Royals. A quarter-final clash with the Warwickshire Bears represents the chance to move one step closer to making history by being the first team to win the t20 Cup on home soil, as this year’s Finals Day is being held at The Rose Bowl.

The omens are pretty good for the Royals. Earlier this season they scored the club’s highest-ever total in 40-over cricket, a massive 341-6 on this ground, demolishing the previously unbeaten Bears by 130 runs.

Giles White sticks with the side that won against Sussex to book their place in this round, with only one addition to the squad – World Cup winner, Michael Lumb travels with the team hoping to play his first t20 match in three weeks.

Michael Bates continues to keep wicket in the absence of the injured Nic Pothas. The club would like to re-iterate that Shahid Afridi will not be playing for the Royals this season contrary to rumours circulating earlier in the week.

The Opposition:

The Bears finished top of the North Group in qualifying for this round and so will be no push-overs for the Royals.

However, since finishing runners-up in 2003, the team have made it to this stage – and no farther – in six out of seven seasons.

Add to that, the fact that they’ll be missing Ian Bell through injury and may be missing Jonathan Trott through international duty – both opening batsmen – and Hampshire could be favourites to win this.

Nevertheless, the Royals will be mindful of the threat posed by Darren Maddy – the Bears leading run-scorer with 412 runs in the competition so far.

With the ball, Keith Barker has the potential to be equally as destructive. He’s taken 21 t20 wickets so far this season.

Hampshire Squad:

This season we will be commentating live on all matches on Twitter and Facebook. You can keep up with all the action as it happens by clicking on the following links: