Match Preview: Kent Spitfires vs. Gloucestershire
Kent Spitfires’ final match of the 2021 Royal London Cup sees the visit of Gloucestershire to The County Ground, Beckenham.
The Club is pleased to confirm that the match will take place as planned. Kent Cricket already has a robust set of COVID protocols in place at Beckenham.
After an extensive review of COVID cases at Gloucestershire and with the assurance of ECB approval, the Club is satisfied that the fixture on Thursday can go ahead.
As it stands, Kent’s top run scorer in the competition is George Munsey, with 304 runs in four innings, including his maiden List A century against Worcestershire Rapids earlier in the tournament.
Opener Tawanda Muyeye has a strike rate of 118.27, whilst Hamid Qadri, with a few not-out innings of 20+ runs, averages 103.00.
From the Spitfires’ bowling attack, Nathan Gilchrist sits top of the pile with eight wickets in five matches at 20.62, with Matt Quinn just behind (six) and Hamid Qadri has four.
Tickets
Any remaining tickets, and tickets that our Members have returned to us after they can no longer attend, are on general sale until gates open at 09:00 on Thursday 12 August. As more tickets are released/returned, they will be available to purchase.
Click here to check for Kent Spitfires vs. Gloucestershire ticket availability >>>
We urge any Members that have booked tickets and do not intend to use them to contact the Club as soon as possible, so that they may be made available to their fellow supporters.
Tickets will not be available on the gate.
Last time out
Kent Spitfires were defeated by Hampshire in a rain-affected match at The County Ground, Beckenham.
Ian Holland got the better of Kent’s top order with four for 12 as the hosts failed to bat out their overs, despite a rain-reduction to 24 per side. Scott Currie took two for four as the Spitfires were all out for 105.
The Duckworth Lewis Stern (DLS) Method pushed the target up to 107 and Hampshire chased it down, finishing on 107 for four, Tom Alsop the top scorer with 37 and Holland hitting an unbeaten 30.
Opposition report
Following a COVID outbreak within Gloucestershire’s squad last week, our visitors’ CEO, Will Brown, commented in a Club statement on Monday:
“As a Club, we have operated a robust testing regime among all staff throughout the return to cricket and have maintained clear safety regulations and protocols in place even after the easing of government restrictions of the 19th July.
“Our playing squads have acted with the highest standards of professionalism throughout the pandemic and through Club and ECB guidance are still subject to much greater social restrictions than the majority of the general public. All members of the playing squad from Friday against Hampshire returned negative lateral flow tests prior to the start of the match.
“This incident, as with others across cricket highlight the fact that sport is not exempt from the pandemic, and I’d like to thank the Club’s medical and venue staff, as well as the ECB for their immediate response in safely handling the matter.
“Our thoughts are with the affected players and their families and we wish them all a speedy recovery.”
Gloucestershire’s squad for this match will be confirmed in due course.
Return of spectators
It’s our top priority to welcome you back to The County Ground, Beckenham, and to do that safely, we all have a role to play.
Because COVID-19 remains a part of our lives for the time-being – everyone – including the players, officials, staff, stewards and Members – will need to adhere to COVID-protocols to make the return of spectators a successful, and hopefully a permanent one.
All the information you need to adhere to the Club’s COVID-protocols upon your return to watching the Kent Spitfires live can be found in the below Match Day Information Pack:
Live Streaming
Kent Spitfires vs. Gloucestershire will be streamed via Kent Cricket’s Official YouTube channel and embedded into the Match Centre on the Kent Cricket website.
Team News
Marcus O’Riordan has been ruled out of this fixture after suffering an injury away at Middlesex, whilst George Munsey will face a fitness test on his hand injury tomorrow morning.
Jack Leaning will captain the Spitfires in their final match of this year’s tournament.
Kent Spitfires’ Matchday Squad, presented by WW Martin >>>
Members & ticket purchasers – you could be in with a chance of winning a family holiday of a lifetime to Florida’s Paradise Coast.
More information >>>
Match Previews of Kent Spitfires’ Royal London Cup fixtures are proudly sponsored by WW Martin >>>
