HAMPSHIRE ROYALS V SURREY at the Ageas Bowl (CB40), 19 AUGUST 2012

Last summer, Surrey performed a CB40 double over Hampshire, but that followed three successive defeats at the hands of the Royals in List A one-day cricket. Hampshire currently top Group B, albeit having played one game more than the south Londoners, who have lost on two out of their last three CB40 outings.

With the ball, Hamza Riazuddin is no Dimitri Mascarenhas, who is struggling for fitness, so the Royals will be looking to the spin duo of Liam Dawson, who generally keeps things quiet, and Danny Briggs, who has taken 16 wickets in this season's CB40 at an average of 21.81. Sean Ervine has struggled to make an impression, but only this week the 29-year-old Zimbabwean picked up 3-35 against Somerset at the Ageus Bowl.

Other than Michael Carberry, who is also sidelined, James Vince (440 runs at an average of 62.85) has been Hampshire's standout batsman in the CB40. Since taking a sabbatical, Neil McKenzie has threatened to work wonders, but, on the whole, it has been a story of under-achievement - Jimmy Adams is averaging 23.37, Ervine 20.57 and Simon Katich, amazingly, is only averaging 19.33 with the willow.

Click here for the Surrey v Hampshire List A Records sheet as at the start of the 2012 season.

Three bowlers have one-day milestones in their sights - Gareth Batty (196 List A career wickets), Zander de Bruyn (148) and Murali Kartik (246). Meanwhile, Hamphire's Danny Briggs and Chris Wood both go into tomorrow's contest with 49 List A career wickets, while Neil McKenzie (7,423) is closing in on 7,500 one-day career runs.

Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Meaker return to county action, which should come as a massive boost for Surrey, who looked drained, yet relieved when the end finally came today, against Middlesex. The only surprise is the omission of Rory Burns, who was one of only two batsmen to make thirty against Durham just over a week ago. Jon Lewis is named in the 13-man squad and appears to be vying for a place with the out-of-form Zander de Bruyn. The other selection head-to-head is likely to be between Rory Hamilton-Brown and Gary Wilson.

This contest promises to be a "winner takes all" battle. Prediction - if KP comes to the party, the Oval outfit are capable of keeping their hopes of retaining the CB40 trophy alive.

J Vince, J Adams (capt), S Katich, N McKenzie, S Ervine, L Dawson, M Bates (wk), C Wood, H Riazuddin, D Briggs and D Griffiths.

Neil Mallender and Tim Robinson.

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