Meet Sussex Sharks' next Vitality Blast opponents: Hampshire

As Sussex gear up to face Hampshire tomorrow (29 July) we take a look at the Sharks' next opponents.
England international James Vince (picture by Neil Marshall)England international James Vince (picture by Neil Marshall)
England international James Vince (picture by Neil Marshall)

T20 record: Seven Finals Day appearances, more than any other county.

Winners in 2010 and 2012. Semi-finals on the other five occasions.

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Last season: Third in group, lost in semi-final to Notts Outlaws.

Captain: James Vince

Overseas Players: Colin Munro (New Zealand - until end of July), Dale Steyn (South Africa - second half, if not selected for South Africa one-day series in Sri Lanka) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan)

Big Hitter: Hampshire proved in the Royal London One-Day Cup how important an aggressive top order is, as they eased to the final.

Rilee Rossouw and James Vince will open up and provide the power-play chaos, with Vince’s clever guile backed by the South African’s brute six hitting force.

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Vince is the real danger man though, with his incredible ability to form long one-day innings with high strike-rates – typified with two centuries and a strike-rate of over 110 in the One-Day Cup.

The skipper has been a man on a mission since being left out of England’s Test squad earlier this summer.

Key Bowler: There are doubts over the fitness of Mason Crane, so watch out for seamer Gareth Berg - he has worked hard on his one-day skills over the winter and could cause a few surprises.

Wild card: Taking over in the mystery overseas spinner category from Shahid Afridi this season is Afghan teenager Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

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No spinner, who took more than 10 wickets, had a better average at the IPL this year than the 17-year-old – with his 14 scalps taken at 20.64 for the Kings XI Punjab.

His ability to bowl off and leg spin is making him one of the most justifiably hyped players in world cricket – with Virat Kohli, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler already all accounted for.