The first one day competition of the county cricket season begins later this week when the Royal London One Day Cup returns. The competition has an earlier slot in the schedule this season due to the Champions Trophy later in the summer and all 18 counties will be out to get their hands on the trophy at Lord’s in July.
Recent Winners
2016 – Warwickshire Bears
2015 – Gloucestershire
2014 – Durham
2013 – Nottinghamshire Outlaws
2012 – Hampshire Royals
2011 – Surrey Lions
2010 – Warwickshire Bears
2009 – Hampshire
2008 – Essex
2007 – Durham
The Format
The 18 counties have been split into two groups of nine – North and South. In the first phase of the tournament each side plays the others in their group once to produce eight group matches. The top four in each group at the end of the league phase go into the knockout stages where the quarter finals, semi-finals and final are played.
Each match is over 50 overs and is played to international rules throughout. The winner will be crowned at Lord’s on 1st July.
North Group
The nine sides in the North Group are Derbyshire Falcons, Durham who begin the group stage on minus two points for their punishment for financial irregularities, Lancashire Lightning, Leicestershire Foxes, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Nottinghamshire Outlaws, Warwickshire Bears, Worcestershire and Yorkshire Vikings.
South Group
Generally the South have had the edge in this competition through the years. Essex Eagles, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent Spitfires, Middlesex, Somerset, Surrey and the Sussex Sharks will be aiming to be the team to win it this year.
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Betting
I’m going to take two counties this season, one in each group, each who I think have the potential to go all the way. We’ll begin in the South Group where the shortest of my two bets are.
The South Group is always a hugely tight and tough group to escape from and you can make genuine cases for the likes of Kent, Surrey, Sussex and to a lesser extent Gloucestershire but I’m all about Hampshire this season. It is hard to ignore the two South Africans they have signed and both Rilee Rossouw and Kyle Abbott are class acts who will ensure Hampshire make big strides. With Liam Dawson, Reece Topley and James Vince seemingly forgotten about by the England selectors and class acts like Michael Carberry, Sean Ervine, Mason Crane and Chris Wood around too Hampshire will take a lot of beating in this.
In the North Group I think Worcestershire are ready for success. I don’t think this group is as hard to get out of but Worcestershire are ready to do it anyway. They have a talented young batting line up with the likes of Joe Clarke, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Ross Whiteley all likely to go on to big things. John Hastings is a brilliant overseas player and the attack that they have should make them dangerous. I think Worcestershire are a huge price given the strides they have made.
Tips
Back Hampshire to win Royal London One Day Cup (e/w) for a 3/10 stake at 11.00 with Betbright (1/2 1-2)
Back Worcestershire to win Royal London One Day Cup (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 with Betbright (1/2 1-2)
Back them here:
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