The first day of action in the Royal London One Day Cup sees five matches taking place across the two groups as we get into white ball action for the first time this season. Each of the 10 sides in action will be looking to get off to a winning start so we should be in for a decent first day.
Among the fixtures we have a TV game which is the day-night match while there are various ways of keeping up to date with the other four matches including the live streams that some counties are offering these days.
North Group
The TV match comes in the North Group where the defending champions Nottinghamshire get their title defence underway. They head to Old Trafford to take on Lancashire. There are two matches earlier in the day where Northamptonshire host Leicestershire at Wantage Road. Warwickshire get their campaign underway by hosting Derbyshire at Edgbaston.
South Group
There are two matches to get the South Group underway on Thursday with the pick of the matches probably coming from Radlett where Middlesex, with England captain Eoin Morgan in their ranks, host an Essex side looking to kick their season off with a winning start. Sussex take on Kent in the other match on the opening day of the tournament.
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Betting
I’ll open up with three bets for the first day. In the TV match I like the defending champions Nottinghamshire even though they don’t have Alex Hales available for this one. Chris Nash should go well at the top of the order while the likes of Ross Taylor, Samit Patel and Steven Mullaney along with Riki Wessels form a power batting line up. Harry Gurney and Jake Ball add an international flavour to the bowling attack. Lancashire will be without Jimmy Anderson and their attack has a bit of a hit me feel about it. With the exception of Liam Livingstone their batting has a flaky look to it as well. Nottinghamshire are a gun one day side and they can open with a win here.
Northamptonshire have had a difficult time of it in the Championship and they will look to express themselves in the 50 over format. With Rory Kleinveldt back in their ranks they should go well. Their attack looks pretty good for this level and we know they have a batting line up that can take any side apart. Leicestershire should be a decent one day side under Paul Nixon this season but they might need a match or two to get going especially if Varun Aaron goes around the park. Northants have been a decent one day side for a while and they can open up with a win here.
Sussex have a wonderful bowling attack when everyone is there but with Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer away at the IPL that time is not now. With that in mind I think Kent might be a good bet to win at Hove. Sussex look to lack runs at the top of the order now that Chris Nash has left while Kent have a wonderfully deep batting line up led by the classy Joe Denly. There is enough in the Kent attack to get through the Sussex batting so I’m with the visitors here.
Tips
WON – Back Nottinghamshire to beat Lancashire for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with 888sport
Back them here:
Back Northamptonshire to beat Leicestershire for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with Ladbrokes
Back them here:
Back Kent to beat Sussex for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Coral
Back them here:
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