The last four nights of the group stage of the Vitality Blast begins with one match from the South Group on Tuesday evening as Sussex take on Glamorgan in a big match for both sides. Quarter final spots are on the line in what is a big night at Hove.
Sussex go into the evening in sixth place, three points behind Glamorgan in fourth with a game in hand. The Sharks will keep their hopes alive with a win while Glamorgan will secure a knockout place if they come out on top.
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Sussex
Given that we have been experiencing a heatwave in England, Sussex must be cursed in some way because four of their 11 matches have been lost to the weather which is a pretty crazy number. They have not helped themselves by losing three of the seven that have been completed but even so the elements have done them no favours.
One concern would be that three of Sussex’s four wins this season have come against Middlesex, Hampshire and Essex, comfortably the worst three sides in the group. The positive would be that the other win came against a Glamorgan side that they take on here and that is something they will need to draw on knowing that they need to win their final three matches to have a chance of the quarter finals. That needs to begin here.
Glamorgan
The Welsh outfit are one win away from the quarter finals for a second successive season and having made finals day last year but missed out they will not be short of motivation to get back there. Glamorgan lost three of their first five matches but then they went on a winning run of five games before defeat to Somerset last time out.
There is no shame in losing to Somerset. They are the top dogs in the group table and have actually accounted for two of Glamorgan’s four defeats this season thus far. The Glamorgan batting line up is as powerful as anything in the competition, even without their overseas players but from time to time their bowling can have indifferent days.
Team News
Sussex will be without their captain Luke Wright for this match as he suffered pain in his back on the eve of the contest so Danny Briggs will lead the side in his absence. Harry Finch replaces his captain in the squad.
Glamorgan have named an unchanged squad for this match which means that they remain without an overseas player. Lukas Carey will be hoping to force his way into the side but that might not be too easy.
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Betting
I think the absence of Luke Wright means that Glamorgan have to be the call here. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t like taking this Sussex bowling attack on although when you look at it, three times in their seven matches they have conceded 170 or more so it isn’t exactly firing on all cylinders.
Sussex beat Glamorgan in the reverse meeting much earlier in the campaign but they were indebted to 88 in 53 from Luke Wright who will not feature in this match. Indeed Wright is one of just three Sussex batsmen with more than 100 runs to their name in this competition so regardless of how good their bowling attack is they are not scoring runs and Wright missing won’t help with that cause. Glamorgan are firing with the bat and they have enough dangerous options with the ball so the Welsh side have to be the call at the odds available.
The absence of Wright also makes the top Sussex batsman market a must attack proposition. The majority of the books still have Wright in the market and favourite for it so there is some value to be had. A trend that is happening more and more frequently is someone going ballistic against Glamorgan later in the innings and I’m not surprised at that because they do lack a genuine death bowler. With that in mind I’m going to chance that Michael Burgess is in towards the end. If he is he can give it a good lick. He opened up the tournament with 50 against Essex and with the weather and things he’s barely batted since. If he can be in for the last few overs 10/1 could become huge on him top scoring.
Tips
Back Glamorgan to beat Sussex for a 4/10 stake at 2.30 with Boylesports
Back them here:
Back M.Burgess Top Sussex Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 with Betfair
Back him here:
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