We must beat the Sabres
Source -
epost.co.uk
ark Alleyne issued a statement of intent ahead of tonight's Twenty20 Cup derby showdown between Gloucestershire and Somerset in Bristol.
Mark Alleyne issued a statement of intent ahead of tonight's Twenty20 Cup derby showdown between Gloucestershire and Somerset in Bristol.
Gloucestershire's head coach is in bullish mood and insists more is at stake than simply qualification for the quarter-finals.
In a rallying call to his players, he declared: "If we achieve nothing else this season, we must ensure we beat our arch - rivals.
"Our supporters will be desperate for us to put one over on Somerset and I, for one, don't want to disappoint them."
A full-house crowd of 8,000 is expected to turn out for the first meeting between the sides in more than a year, and Alleyne is determined to give long-suffering Gloucestershire fans something to cheer.
He said: "This is a very big game for the supporters. Local pride is at stake and whoever loses will have to put up with the opposition crowing.
"Our season has been disappointing so far and we owe it to our supporters to put things right.
"Beating Somerset will go a long way towards keeping them happy."
Both counties could still qualify for the quarter-finals and Alleyne expects Somerset to provide stern opposition.
He recalled: "We beat them very comfortably in this format a couple of years ago, but Somerset are an altogether different proposition now.
"They have a new coach and a new director of cricket, and they have made a pretty good start to their Twenty20 campaign.
"There is a lot more consistency in their game and we know we?re in for a tough contest."
Gloucestershire chief executive Tom Richardson is confident the game will be a sell-out.
He said: "This fixture has a lot going for it. It's on a Friday night and it's a derby. Twenty20 has caught the public's imagination and succeeded in putting bums on seats, and this is the kind of game they want to see.
"We have been delighted with our pre-sales and we're very confident we will fill the ground."
Gloucestershire will be without seam bowler Jon Lewis, who has rejoined the England camp ahead of tomorrow's NatWest Series final against Australia at Lord's.
Slow left armer Ian Fisher is expected to return to the side to face Somerset.
Alleyne confirmed: "We don't want to change a winning formula and Jon's absence means Ian Fisher will probably come back into the team."
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