It is all about making it to Finals Day as the first Vitality Blast quarter final takes place at Canterbury on Thursday evening. Kent host Lancashire with the winners booking the first spot at Edgbaston in three weeks.
Kent came through in second place in the South Group and their reward is a home match against third place in the North Group which courtesy of three wins in their final four matches in the first stage was Lancashire.
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Kent
It hasn’t been all plain sailing for Kent in this competition but much of their struggles have been against the rain rather than any opposition. Kent have won six of their last seven completed matches in this tournament and the only side to beat them in the group stage were Gloucestershire so they are in pretty good spirits.
In the past there would be concerns over Kent in a knockout match but we saw the way they powered through two of them in the Royal London One Day Cup earlier in the campaign and the experience they have brought into the side in recent times is paying dividends. If they needed any more confidence it came via a good win in the Championship in midweek.
Lancashire
After a spell of inconsistent form Lancashire had to win three of their last four matches to make it through which they did. The concern would be how awful they looked when we last saw them on TV against the Birmingham Bears but it could just be that they had a bad night at the office there. The evidence either side of that match suggests that is the case.
Injuries haven’t helped Lancashire through this campaign with their batting decimated by issues as we have gone along. Their bowling attack has generally delivered the goods although I have noticed that on good wickets they have struggled somewhat. Their attack is largely spin orientated so if this pitch doesn’t turn that could be a concern.
Team News
Kent have named Marcus Stoinis in their squad and they will be desperate for him to be fit to play as he is almost two players in one. He also has plenty of big game experience which is needed in this situation. Adam Milne is still here to fill the other overseas spot.
Lancashire have been allowed to include Jos Buttler and Keaton Jennings in their squad as both have been given permission by England to play. Zahir Khan and James Faulkner will continue with their overseas duties but Liam Livingstone remains out.
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Betting
I’m already on Kent outright and I’m happy enough to let that ride here as I see this as a 50/50 match and hope that home advantage will give Kent enough of an edge to make it through. With that in mind I’ll head to the side markets for a punt.
I’m expecting a high scoring game. I think the addition of Jos Buttler will almost guarantee that. Kent bat deep and Lancashire bat much deeper with the return of their two England men as well. We saw in the last game here just how accessible the boundaries are and so over 40.5 boundaries looks a good thing especially after there were 57 here last time out.
It is pretty obvious that Kent are going to get a trial by spin here and there is no better player of spin in their side than Sam Billings and at 5/1 there is enough mileage in him to top score for the home side. He made an unbeaten 50 in the previous match on this ground and added 33 at Chelmsford the following night. He looks in good form and his plethora of sweeps and paddles could be just the ticket here.
Tips
Back Over 40.5 boundaries for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with William Hill
Back it here:
WON – Back S.Billings Top Kent Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 6.00 with Ladbrokes
Back him here:
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