Preview: Bears v Gloucestershire, Vitality Blast Quarter final

England seamer Gleeson targeting Bears Blast Quarter Final comeback - Image 2

Bears have a clean bill of health as they prepare for their fourth Vitality Blast Quarter Final in as many years – and eye a first Finals Day at Edgbaston since 2017.

briggford

2024-09-05T15:00:00.000Z

Bears have a clean bill of health as they prepare for their fourth Vitality Blast Quarter Final in as many years – and eye a first Finals Day at Edgbaston since 2017.

England quick Richard Gleeson has recovered from the back injury that forced him to miss the latter stages of qualification, while Sam Hain came through last weekend’s County Championship game against Kent unscathed following a hamstring strain.

Gleeson has been one of the competition’s standout bowlers so far, taking nine wickets in six North Group games and is the most economical with his overs costing just 4.70 runs apiece.

Hain is the Blast’s second leading run scorer this year with 554 (ave 69.25) and has hit more 50s (six) than anyone else in the competition.

New Zealand seamer Zak Foulkes, who took five wickets in six Blast North Group outings, also returns and is included in a 14-player squad.

First Team Coach Mark Robinson praised his side’s progress after winning 10 of 14 group games but said the Quarter Final is just the latest step in their quest to win the T20 trophy.

He said: “The spirit in the camp is good. The message is it’s just another step of the journey. Our goal isn’t to get to Finals Day, it’s to win the trophy.

“This is another game on that path. It’s bigger than a group game, obviously, as you don’t have that second chance. But this isn’t our final, we’re not building it up like that in players’ heads.

“We have to do the things we’ve done on a regular basis in the group to get us to this point. Trust in our skills that we will out match the opponent on the night.

“We’ve done well to secure a home Quarter. It means we have the familiarity of Edgbaston and the backing of a home crowd, supporting us in a way that makes Edgbaston such a special place.”

Gloucestershire sneaked into the fourth qualification spot in the South Group on run rate after winning their final two games.

They boast two of the top five wicket takers in the competition in quicks David Payne (25) and Matt Taylor (23), while Aussie batter Cameron Bancroft is their leading Blast run scorer with 399.

Robinson added: “We have to be very wary of Gloucestershire. They probably didn’t expect to be here: they had a late run and qualified on the last day. We’ve lost in the Quarter Final here against sides that have had a late surge, Hampshire and Essex.

“They are a dangerous side, we know how dominant the South Group has been in recent years – any team that gets out of the South Group will be strong opponents.

“But it’s not about the opposition, it’s about us. It will be a test to see how much we’ve improved with our recruitment and our skill development over last four years and we’ll get another sign of our progress tomorrow.”

Squad

DaviesMoeen AliMousleyHainBedthellBenjaminGartonFoulkesBriggsLintottGleesonBarnardMilesYates

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