The last day of group matches in the Royal London One Day Cup take place on Thursday with the North Group closing out proceedings. We already know the three teams that will move into the knockout stages from the South and we will find out who will join them on Thursday.
Amazingly the group has worked out that we have two knockout matches to qualify and another match where a side plays knowing if they win they are in. It should be a fascinating and dramatic afternoon and evening of cricket. We have a TV match which is a huge one and we’ll kick the preview off with that.
Warwickshire vs Worcestershire
Quite simply it is winner takes all here. The winner of this match will not only progress but they will do so as the group winners meaning either Warwickshire or Worcestershire will be a semi-finalist at the end of the evening. The loser will be praying Northamptonshire beat Yorkshire else they will be out.
With the stakes high we are going to find out so much about both these sides. I favour Warwickshire here with home advantage and the experience they have in their side but I’m not one to write Worcestershire off, especially with the form Callum Ferguson has arrived in. I will take advantage of that form in a couple of bets though.
The first of them is for Worcestershire to score the most runs in the first 15 overs. Worcestershire are quite a free flowing side at the top of the order and if Moeen Ali in particular gets going they can rack up any score but Joe Clarke, Ferguson, Daryl Mitchell and even Brett D’Oliveira if they get that far down score quickly. Warwickshire continue to employ their building a platform approach and early doors Jonathan Trott isn’t going to take a game away from anyone and first up neither is Sam Hain or Ian Bell in truth. Unless Ed Pollock goes bonkers I think Worcestershire will lead through 15 overs.
The other bet I like is for more than 57.5 boundaries. I was tempted by the 6.5 sixes with county one day matches at Edgbaston usually played to a short boundary but if that is the case then even this line will get covered and we don’t need to worry about the likes of Trott, Bell or Mitchell hitting four after four rather and some sixes. I’m expecting a high scoring match here because that tends to be what both have dealt in so far and with the class on show the boundaries should flow, especially if we are on one of the edges of the square.
Leicestershire vs Durham
The bottom two in the North Group meet to avoid the wooden spoon when Leicestershire take on Durham with the winners finishing second from bottom. I dare say that doesn’t mean much but two young sides could probably do with the confidence.
I was expecting Durham to be worth backing in this match but both sides are experimenting and resting key players with a Championship match barely 36hrs away from the conclusion of this match. That is fair enough but it doesn’t present a betting proposition so we’ll move on.
Nottinghamshire vs Derbyshire
Our second winner takes all clash comes from Trent Bridge when Nottinghamshire take on Derbyshire knowing the winners will progress to the quarter finals and the losers will be done for 50 over cricket for the season.
It is hard to go against Nottinghamshire here but the defending champions are in this position because they have not been consistent so far and Derbyshire have shown enough to suggest they can be dangerous. They’ve just gone cold at the wrong time have Derbyshire but even so with the nerves around I don’t fancy being on Nottinghamshire at the price.
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Yorkshire vs Northamptonshire
Yorkshire go into their final match of the group stage knowing if they win they will finish second in the table and will host Kent in the quarter final. If they lose they will be out and focusing on the other two competitions. Northamptonshire’s focus is already with what is to come as they are out.
As you would expect, Northamptonshire have changed much of their squad for this match so when you add in that Joe Root is back for this one Yorkshire should be rendered as good things here. That is reflected in the prices though and I’m not that keen on smashing into a side who can be a gloriously great as they can badly brutal.
Tips
WON – Back Worcestershire Highest 1st 15 Overs vs Warwickshire for a 4/10 stake at 1.90 with 888sport
Back them here:
WON – Back Warwickshire vs Worcestershire – Over 57.5 boundaries for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with William Hill
Back it here:
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