Fantasy Cricket Tips

HAM vs ESS Dream11 Prediction Today Match, Dream11 Team Today, Fantasy Cricket Tips

Aarav Malhotra · · 2 min read

Essex vs Hampshire: Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips

Essex will travel to County Ground, Southampton, for the eighteenth match of the England Domestic T20 2026 against Hampshire on 26th May at 11:30 PM IST.

Captaincy Picks:

Paul Walter – Walter showcased his clean ball-striking for Essex by hammering 58 off 37 deliveries, applying relentless pressure through the middle phase of the innings.

James Vince – Hampshire relied heavily on Vince’s polished top-order batting, and he responded with a classy 58 from 34 balls to give the innings early momentum.

Michael Pepper – Pepper brought fearless intent to the Essex top order, attacking aggressively inside the powerplay to immediately challenge the opposition bowlers.

Wiaan Mulder – The South African all-rounder added strong balance to Essex’s setup, contributing disciplined seam bowling and valuable tactical versatility in his debut appearance.

Budget Picks:

Simon Harmer – Harmer once again demonstrated his experience and control for Essex, expertly managing the middle overs with his accurate and intelligent spin bowling.

Sonny Baker – Baker strengthened Hampshire’s pace attack with genuine high-speed bowling, using his sharp pace and bounce to unsettle batters during the early overs.

Match Insights:

The South Group action in the Vitality Blast 2026 moves to the Utilita Bowl in Southampton, where Hampshire Hawks will face Essex Eagles in the seventeenth match of the tournament on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 11:30 PM IST. Both sides enter this contest after difficult starts to their campaigns, making this clash an important chance to register their first victory and move away from the lower half of the table.

Current predictions slightly favor the home side, with Hampshire Hawks holding a 62.5% winning probability, while Essex Eagles stand at 37.5%.

Pitch Report and Weather Forecast:

The pitch at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton is expected to be batting-friendly, with an average first-innings score of 160-170 runs.

The weather forecast suggests a clear sky with a temperature of around 18-20 degrees Celsius.

Playing XI:

Hampshire Playing 11: James Vince (c), Joe Weatherley, Toby Albert, Tom Prest, Hilton Cartwright, Delano Potgieter, Liam Dawson, James Fuller, Manny Lumsden (wk), Scott Currie, Chris Wood.

Essex Playing 11: Dean Elgar, Michael Pepper, Tom Westley (c), Matt Critchley, Paul Walter, Wiaan Mulder, Shane Snater, Simon Harmer, Simon Fernandes (wk), Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.

Dream11 Combination:

Considering the team combination, Essex is expected to win this match.

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Aarav Malhotra

Aarav Malhotra is a cricket features writer from Pune specializing in player biographies, IPL season stories, and emerging cricket talents. His content focuses on storytelling-driven sports journalism optimized for modern cricket audiences and search platforms.