It is Friday night which means only one thing – more matches in the NatWest T20 Blast! Usually this is the night all the teams come out to play but with games being switched for TV this week and next there are just five of them in what looks a really good night of T20 action.
Both groups are in operation on Friday with the Roses clash on TV after the Test has finished for the day and then four other matches taking place around it.
North Group
The action begins early in the north as Worcestershire play host to Leicestershire in the 5.30pm start time before the two later matches. Lancashire host their bitter rivals Yorkshire in the big match of the night while Northamptonshire head to Birmingham Bears with good memories of two Finals Day successes at Edgbaston.
South Group
Just the two matches in the South Group take place on Friday night but the top three in the early table are on show in those matches. At The Oval, Surrey and Kent face each other with both sides playing for the second day in a row which is never easy. Hampshire host Middlesex in the other match.
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Betting
I’m going with four bets here. In the Roses clash I am expecting a high scoring match. This is the first game at Old Trafford in this tournament this season and so the wicket should be excellent as a result. In the last two Roses clashes on this ground three of the four innings have contained more than 200 runs and with the firepower these two have the boundaries should keep flowing. Yorkshire have already plundered 200 against Nottinghamshire this season and Lancashire pounded Durham for 190+ so runs look likely which should mean plenty of boundaries.
I’m also going to take Lancashire in the match. I think they have extra firepower with the bat an
d Junaid Khan brings an X-factor to them with the ball. I don’t think the home side should be odds against in this match. They will have a huge crowd behind them and won’t want to disappoint so it is Lancashire for me.
Possibly the best bet of the night comes at the Ageas Bowl where Hampshire take on a Middlesex side who have to back up from the night before. I’ve mentioned time and again how that is never easy and I would not be surprised to see Middlesex a little flat here. Hampshire look a very strong unit this season and have no scheduling issues whatsoever. They have the likes of Brad Wheal, Jimmy Adams and Fidel Edwards who can’t even get in their side too that is how strong they are. With Middlesex having to get themselves up after an emotional epic in front of a huge crowd for a much lower profile match less than 24hrs later too much is against them not to take Hampshire.
Northamptonshire love Edgbaston. They’ve won two finals days there and they have more than held their own against Birmingham in recent times too. I think they are overpriced in this match. Northants have a good attack and their batsmen have all had time at the crease. Birmingham’s top three have dominated their matches so far so if the champions can get stuck into that line up early they could have a significant advantage.
Tips
TIED – Back Lancashire to beat Yorkshire for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Ladbrokes
Back them here:
VOID – Back Lancashire vs Yorkshire – Over 39.5 boundaries for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with William Hill
Back them here:
WON – Back Hampshire to beat Middlesex for a 5/10 stake at 1.91 with Betfred
Back them here:
WON – Back Northamptonshire to beat Birmingham Bears for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Coral
Back them here:
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