Dawson - Performances mustn't dip now
15 August 2018
Head coach Richard Dawson is demanding the same high standards his side has shown over the majority of their games in the Vitality T20 Blast as Sussex head to the Brightside Ground for Gloucestershire's final home match in the South Group on Thursday (6.30pm).
Sunday's win over Surrey took Gloucestershire into the quarter finals, and it is possible that a home tie could - depending on what happens elsewhere - be secured with a victory over the Sharks, who maintained their own hopes of a last eight place with a midweek win over Glamorgan.
"I would have taken this position at the start of the competition and I want to play a home quarter final but my goal is about maintaining our performance levels" said Dawson. "They mustn't dip with two games left in the group."
"It's almost been knockout cricket since we played Sussex at Hove because all the leading teams have been beating each other. I watched their game at Cardiff and they are a seriously good side who have a lot to play for. They have been unfortunate with four washouts and they've used a core who are good T20 players so it's no surprise they are in contention."
Gloucestershire have won their last three completed matches in the South Group and Dawson refuted the idea that the backbone of that sequence has been down to the bowlers.
"Miles Hammond's innings at Canterbury was exceptional on a tough wicket and Kieran Noema-Barnett got us to a competitive total against Surrey" Dawson said. "We've generally planned well and been clear in what we wanted to do. Only two games stick out - the one at Cardiff, when we weren't at the races with the ball, and the one at Taunton where our fielding was the worst I've seen for a long time. Other than that the lads have done well and played decent cricket."
Gloucestershire will pick their final team from the same squad selected for Sunday's match with Surrey. Left arm wrist spinner Jacob Lintott is again included.
"Jacob trained with us during the winter, and has played against us for the last two years in our annual T20 game against a WEPL side at Clifton College" Dawson added. "We've registered him as a different spin option after seeing him play in the second eleven."
Squad :
Klinger (c), Hammond, Cockbain, Howell, Higgins, Neoma-Barnett, J.Taylor, Roderick, Tye, Smith, Payne, Dent, M.Taylor, Lintott
Sussex skipper Luke Wright is unavailable because of a back injury so Danny Briggs will captain the team in his place.
Squad:
Salt, Finch, Evans, Rawlins, Bruce, Wiese, Burgess, Archer, Jordan, Khan, Briggs (c), Mills, Robinson, Beer.
Coverage:
You can follow the match via the live scorecard available on the website, or via Twitter @Gloscricket.
Ball by ball commentary is also available on the BBC Sport website.
