SURREY LIONS V HAMPSHIRE ROYALS at the Kia Oval (CB40), 3 JUNE 2012

If the rain stays away, which, according to the weather forecast is a big if, tomorrow will see the Group B leaders take on second-placed Hampshire.

The biggest threat the Royals have with the bat is Michael Carberry, who is averaging 97.66 in this year's CB40, having gone on to make fifty every time he has taken guard. Jimmy Adams, Hampshire's skipper, and James Vince have also been in great touch and Dimitri Mascarenhas's return from the IPL has given the Rose Bowl outfit an added dimension lower in the order. Having Mascarenhas around has also improved the bowling, which, at the start of the campaign, was reliant on Liam Dawson. It would appear that the key to tomorrow's battle will be whether Hampshire can restrict Surrey's free-scoring batsmen.

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

For Hampshire, Liam Dawson, with 948, is approaching one thousand List A career runs.

Zander de Bruyn is doubtful, after injuring a hand during today's victory over the Welsh Dragons, therefore Gary Wilson has been placed on standby.

But for James Taylor's breathtaking 115 off 77 balls in the week, Hampshire would also be boasting a one hundred percent record. Put simply, the Royals could prove a real test for Rory Hamilton-Brown's men. That said, the Lions are the team to beat in one-day cricket and the arrival of Murali Kartik simply raises the bar for their opponents. So, I'm expecting a Surrey victory. 

M Carberry, J Adams (capt), J Vince, S Katich, S Ervine, L Dawson, D Mascarenhas, C Wood, M Bates (wk), Kabir Ali and D Briggs.

Nick Cook and Ismail Dawood.

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