NatWest T20 preview: Tymal Mills desperate to lead Sussex Sharks to quarter-finals

Mills is restricted to white ball cricket for the rest of the season because of a potentially serious back injury. So he is desperate to lead Sussex Sharks into the quarter-finals so he can prolong his season.

The former Essex quick bowler cranked up the speed gun at Lord’s last week to take a career-best 4 for 22 against Middlesex and help Sussex secure a fourth successive win, their best winning run since 2010.

They came back down to earth the following night when Kent beat them to regain top spot in the South Group, but will be confident of returning to winning ways when Glamorgan visit the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground on Friday (7pm).

Mills says the fact he is able to focus 100% on the shortest format of the game has been a key factor in his excellent form, which has seen him take 14 wickets, the same as teammate Ollie Robinson.

He said: “All my eggs are in one basket as I am only playing Twenty20 so to be taking wickets quite regularly is nice. As my focus is just on this competition it means I’ve got all week to prepare. I can see all the footage of who we’re playing against and come up with different plans to get them out. I have got a lot of time to think about it and that has helped me.”

Another victory against Glamorgan would virtually guarantee Sussex’s place in the knockout stages for the first time since 2012 while two wins ought to secure a coveted home quarter final.

Mills added: “Confidence is a massive thing in T20 cricket and it’s high in the group at the moment. Everybody knows their role and what their job is and they’re confident in executing it. Things are looking good but we can’t afford to ease up otherwise you can lose all that momentum you’ve worked so hard to build up.

“We’re all desperate to reach the quarter-finals but I’ve got an extra incentive as I’m not playing in the Championship. The back injury is still there so I won’t be playing any first class cricket for the rest of the season so if we don’t do well in the white ball stuff my season could be done by mid-August.”

Sussex (probable): Nash, Wright *, Machan, Cachopa +, Bailey, Finch, Beer, Yardy, Robinson, Mills, Liddle.

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