News

T20 Blast & KSL fixtures announced

29 Nov 2017

Sussex’s 2018 season is starting to take shape following the announcement of next summer’s T20 Blast fixtures.

It has also been revealed that, as well as being the venue for Finals Day on Monday 27th August, The 1st Central County Ground will host a Southern Vipers Kia Super League (KSL) group match for the very first time.

Sussex Sharks’ T20 Blast campaign of 14 matches will run from Wednesday 4th July until Friday 17th August.

All seven home games will take place at The 1st Central County Ground, Hove. Three of these will be Friday night affairs.

Sussex start their T20 season with a run of three away games, however. A trip to Chelmsford to take on Essex Eagles (Wednesday 4th July) promises to be a lively way to kick-start a week-long road trip, which also includes stops in Cardiff (Sunday 8th July) and Southampton (Thursday 12th July).

That Thursday night derby against Hampshire is sure to raise the pulse ahead of Sussex’s first home game the very next night against another local rival, Surrey (Friday 13th July). It’s hard to imagine a better way to raise the curtain at Hove and anticipation will be sky-high following Sussex’s thumping eight-wicket win last season.

A two-week pause for players and fans alike to catch their breath follows, before the Sharks resume their campaign with a trip to neighbours Kent for a soirée in Canterbury (Friday 27th July)

The run of local derbies is concluded with El Clasicoast when Hampshire make the trip along the ‘Great Ocean Road’ (M27/A27) to Hove on the afternoon of Sunday 29th July.

The week after sees back-to-back midweek games at home to Gloucestershire (Wednesday 1st August) and away at Lord’s (Thursday 2nd August), where the Sharks will be looking to avenge this year’s agonising defeat against Middlesex.

Sussex’s itinerant start means they have the advantage of playing four of their last six fixtures at home. The first of these sees the Sharks entertain Somerset at Hove on Sunday 5th August.

A trip to the Oval on the evening of Thursday 9th August is followed immediately by another legendary Friday night at The 1st Central County Ground. The atmosphere should be especially electric with Kent Spitfires the visitors (Friday 10th August).

On the following Tuesday (14th August), fans are in for a mid-week treat bang in the middle of the school holidays. Not only are Sussex taking on Glamorgan under the lights at Hove, but straight before the ground will host the KSL clash between Southern Vipers and Surrey Stars.

Sussex’s South Group campaign ends with another set of fixtures on consecutive evenings. The Sharks head to Bristol for a match with Gloucestershire on Thursday 16th August, before returning to Hove for their final home match against Middlesex on Friday 17th August.

After that - and if all goes to plan – Sussex Sharks will turn their attention to the quarter finals which will be held between the Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th August and then Finals Day at Edgbaston on Saturday 15th September.

Supporters can watch all seven of Sussex Sharks’ home games and the Southern Vipers match at Hove for one great price with the T20 Blast Pass, which is on sale from Monday 4th December. Full information is available here.

Sussex’s 2018 Specsavers County Championship and Royal London One-Day Cup fixtures will be announced at 11am on tomorrow (Wednesday 29th November).

Sussex Sharks 2018 T20 Blast Fixtures:
Wed 4th Jul: Essex Eagles vs. Sussex Sharks, The Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford (Floodlit)
Sun 8th Jul: Glamorgan vs. Sussex Sharks, Cardiff Wales Stadium, Cardiff
Thu 12th Jul: Hampshire vs. Sussex Sharks, The Ageas Bowl, Southampton (F)
Fri 13th Jul: Sussex Sharks vs. Surrey, The 1st Central County Ground, Hove (F)
Fri 27th Jul: Kent Spitfires vs. Sussex, The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury (F)
Sun 29th Jul: Sussex Sharks vs. Hampshire, The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
Wed 1st Aug: Sussex Sharks vs. Gloucestershire, The 1st Central County Ground, Hove (F)
Thu 2nd Aug: Middlesex vs. Sussex Sharks, Lord’s, London (F)
Sun 5th Aug: Sussex Sharks vs. Somerset, The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
Thu 9th Aug: Surrey vs. Sussex Sharks, The Kia Oval, London (F)
Fri 10th Aug: Sussex Sharks vs. Kent Spitfires, The 1st Central County Ground, Hove (F)
Tue 14th Aug: Sussex Sharks vs. Glamorgan (double-header with Southern Vipers vs. Surrey Stars), The 1st Central County Ground, Hove (F)
Thu 16th Aug: Gloucestershire vs. Sussex Sharks, The Brightside Ground, Bristol (F)
Fri 17th Aug: Sussex Sharks vs. Middlesex, The 1st Central County Ground, Hove (F)