Surrey vs Sussex Prediction & Match Preview – T20 Blast 86th Match

Surrey host Sussex at Kennington Oval on Wednesday 8 July in the 86th match of the T20 Blast 2026. The game starts at 6:30 pm local time in warm, dry weather, and our preview expects a high-scoring evening on a quick outfield with short square boundaries.

Surrey’s possible XI is led by Ollie Pope, with Laurie Evans, Jason Roy, Josh Philippe and Dan Lawrence in the batting order. Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Tom Lawes, Reece Topley, Yousef Majid and Sean Abbott make up an experienced bowling unit.

Sussex are expected to be captained by Tymal Mills and feature Daniel Hughes, Harrison Ward, George Thomas, Tom Alsop and wicketkeeper John Simpson. Oliver Carter, Jack Carson, Danny Briggs, Henry Crocombe and Sean Hunt provide the bowling options.

Bowlers may find a little movement with the new ball, but batting should become easier once the powerplay ends. A score of around 190 should be highly competitive, while anything over 200 could pile pressure on the chasing team. Surrey are our favourites.

Probable playing XI

Pitch report

The Oval is generally a batting-friendly ground, with true bounce and a fast outfield. Batters usually enjoy playing shots once set, although seamers can find swing and movement early, especially under cloud or in the evening. The pitch settles as the game goes on, which encourages higher scoring. Spinners have a limited role but can be effective by varying pace and using the larger boundaries. Totals of 170 to 190 are regarded as strong here.

Weather

Warm and sunny at the 6:30 pm local start, with temperatures of around 26 to 27°C. No rain is forecast, so interruptions are very unlikely. A light breeze and clear skies make for comfortable conditions.

Expected scores

• 1st innings: 180–200
• 2nd innings: 170–190

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