Vitality Blast 2019 Preview

The 2019 edition of the Vitality Blast is coming up soon, and with some cracking fixtures coming up (including The Big Match) we've given you the lowdown on Glamorgan's South Group opponents.

Glamorgan play host to seven matches across the summer at Sophia Gardens, with tickets from just £10. After finishing 6th in last year's group, and with Colin Ingram, Billy Root, the Marsh brothers and the rest of Glamorgan's stars, they'll be looking to bounce back against their South rivals.

Somerset

Home: Thursday, 18^th July
Away: Saturday, 24^th August
2018: 1^st in South Group (W10, L4), SF (35-run loss to Sussex)

2018 results vs Glamorgan:

Cardiff: 20/7/18 - Somerset win by 30 runs
Somerset 190/5 (vd Gugten 3-36) Glamorgan 160/9 (Khawaja 44)
Taunton: 12/8/18 - Somerset win by 39 runs
Somerset 210/8, Glamorgan 181/9 (Meschede 35)

Captain: Lewis Gregory
Overseas Players: Babar Azam, Jerome Taylor
One To Watch: Tom Banton

What you need to know:

Glamorgan’s campaign starts off against local rivals Somerset in #TheBigMatch on Thursday, 18^th July and it’s sure to be a cracker of a game. Somerset are always a top quality white-ball outfit and will have plenty of confidence after their Royal London One-Day Cup victory. Babar Azam is the number one IT20 batsman in the world, while Jerome Taylor provides pace and experience for their sharp seam attack. Tom Banton caught the headlines during the 50-over competition and the tall opening batsman has plenty of power to match his timing and elegance.

Middlesex

Home: Friday, 26^th July
Away: N/A
2018: 9th in South Group (W2, L12)

2018 results vs Glamorgan:

Richmond: 5/8/18 - Glamorgan win by 7 wickets
Middlesex 131ao (Smith 4-6), Glamorgan 135/3 (Ingram 46*)

Captain: Dawid Malan
Overseas Players: AB de Villiers, Mujeeb ur Rahman
One To Watch: Tom Helm

What you need to know:

Our first Friday home game is a corker as a global superstar comes to town. Middlesex made a splash when they announced the signing of one of the greatest T20 players of all time, AB de Villiers. One of the original 360* players and capable of taking a game away in a 5-minute spell, AB is the wicket that everyone wants. Afghan mystery spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman can be a tricky customer with the ball, and young Tom Helm is on many people’s radars after a strong and fast start to the season.

Gloucestershire

Home: Thursday, 1^st August
Away: Friday, 19^th July
2018: 4th in South Group (W8, L4, NR2), QF (5-wicket loss to Worcestershire)

2018 results vs Glamorgan:

Cheltenham: 27/7/18 Gloucestershire win by 30 runs
Gloucestershire 197/6, Glamorgan 167/9 (Ingram 38)

Cardiff: 3/8/18 Glamorgan win by 2 runs
Glamorgan 201/6 (Meschede 77*), Gloucestershire 199/9 (Hogan 3-31)

Captain: Michael Klinger
Overseas Player: Michael Klinger, Chadd Sayers, Daniel Worrall
One To Watch: Benny Howell

What you need to know:

The Battle of the Bridge will bring Gloucestershire to town and they will be looking to gain a measure of revenge for their close defeat in Cardiff last year. Michael Klinger returns and brings nearly 6,000 T20 runs to the table. Gloucestershire are a top fielding side and like to bring the pressure early, while Benny Howell’s variations have made him an interesting proposition to franchises around the world looking to employ him and his litany of cutters and slower balls.

Essex Eagles

Home: Friday, 9^th August
Away: Friday, 16^th August
2018: 7th in South Group (W2, L8, T1, NR3)

2018 results vs Glamorgan:

Cardiff: 7/8/18 - Glamorgan win by six runs
Glamorgan 198/7 (Ingram 89, Wagg 53*), Essex 192/7

Captain: Simon Harmer
Overseas Players: Peter Siddle, Mohammed Amir, Adam Zampa
One To Watch: Cameron Delport

What you need to know:

A fantastic Friday fixture sees Essex Eagles swooping in to town looking to ruin the party. A disappointing campaign for the usually strong Eagles in 2018 will be plenty of motivation for this experienced outfit, and with some experienced international signings in Amir and Zampa returning for another crack the Eagles are tougher than their 2018 record suggests. Cameron Delport played for Leicestershire last year and with a good track record in the Mzansi Super League, the Bangladeshi Premier League and the PSL under his belt during the winter he will be looking to cause carnage across the South.

Surrey

Home: Sunday, 11^th August
Away: Thursday, 25^th July
2018: 5th in South Group (W7, L5, NR2)

2018 results vs Glamorgan

Cardiff: 17/8/18 Surrey win 24 runs (DLS)
Glamorgan 183/8 (Lloyd 39), Surrey 60-0

The Oval: 31/7/18 - Glamorgan win by five wickets
Surrey 194/4, Glamorgan 195/6 (Carlson 58)

Captain: Jade Dernbach
Overseas Players: Aaron Finch, Imran Tahir
One To Watch: Will Jacks

What you need to know:

In our ‘Armed Forces Day’ game for 2019 we welcome last year’s County Champions Surrey. In 2018 Glamorgan continued their streak of winning at the Oval as they reached a challenging total in front of the Sky Sports cameras and a star-studded Surrey will be looking for revenge in 2019. Aaron Finch brings some serious firepower to partner Jason Roy up top, while Imran Tahir’s step count after a wicket is something else. Will Jacks hit 36 from an over in a T10 fixture during pre-season and has shown his hitting potential on a number of occasions.

Sussex Sharks

Home: Monday, 26^th August
Away: Tuesday, 6^th August
2018: 3rd in South Group (W7, L3, NR4), RU (5-wicket loss to Worcestershire in final)

2018 results vs Glamorgan:

Hove: 14/8/18 - Sussex win by 98 runs
Sussex 186/5, Glamorgan 88ao

Captain: Luke Wright
Overseas Players: Alex Carey, Rashid Khan
One To Watch: Tymal Mills

What you need to know:

What a cracking Bank Holiday Monday we have lined up. Not only do the Sussex Sharks come to town but it’s also our Aston Martin Owners Day. Sussex came close to nabbing their first T20 crown since 2009 but fell just short against Worcestershire Rapids, and will be looking to go one step further in 2019. Alex Carey provides late order firepower while Rashid Khan is the number one spinner on the planet and his rapid variations are a nightmare for most batsmen. Tymal Mills only plays the shortest format of the game but his pace is still up there, and when Mills, Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan are all steaming in there’s plenty of pace in the Shark attack.

Hampshire

Home: Friday, 30^th August
Away: Friday, 2^nd August
2018: 8^th in South Group (W2, L9, T1, NR2)

Last year vs Glamorgan
Southampton: 6/7/18 - Glamorgan win by 63 runs
Glamorgan 168/6 (Lloyd 38*), Hampshire 105ao (Salter 3-34)

Cardiff: 10/8/18 - Glamorgan win by 8 wickets
Hampshire 151/8 (Meschede 3-21), Glamorgan 155-2 (Ingram 71*)

Captain: James Vince
Overseas Player: Chris Morris
One To Watch: Rilee Roussouw

What you need to know:

Another fantastic Friday clash as Hampshire head to Cardiff looking to get revenge after Glamorgan did the double last year. Normally a class outfit in one-day formats, Hampshire struggled last year in the shortest version of the game and will be looking to use their Lord’s final defeat this year as a springboard for success. James Vince is a classy bat while Chris Morris brings big hits and sharp bowling to the table. Rilee Roussow goes under the radar with the names that come in to Hampshire but he smashed a rapid 50 at Sophia Gardens last year and will be looking to make sure his name is near the top of the charts come Finals Day.

Kent Spitfires

Home: N/A
Away: Wednesday, 14^th August
2018: 2nd in South Group (W8, L2, NR4), QF (6-wicket loss to Lancashire)

2018 results vs Glamorgan

Cardiff: 29/7/18 - Match abandoned without a ball bowled

Captain: Sam Billings
Overseas Players: Mohammed Nabi, Adam Milne
One To Watch: Daniel Bell-Drummond

What you need to know:

After failing to reach the knockout stages the last two years Kent bounced back in 2018, only losing two games. The Canterbury outfit have a well-rounded side, with Mohammed Nabi offering clever off-spin and big hits and Adam Milne hitting 90mph regularly. Hardus Viljoen, signed on a T20 only deal, brings pace and aggression. Daniel Bell-Drummond has been touted for years but his overall game is starting to blossom and the big hitter will be looking to lead the way for Kent. In 2019 there is no home fixture against Kent but the away clash is our only Wednesday game and could be key in the later stages of the tournament.