We have a full round of fixtures in the Vitality Blast on Friday evening with four matches in each of the groups on what should be a big night in the competition. There are some standout clashes on the card so it could be a key day.
Unfortunately as far as followers of this tournament are concerned, the women’s T20 gets the TV treatment so we are reduced to the live streams to keep an eye on the action for these matches. There are a few home sides with them however.
North Group
The standout match in the North Group comes from Old Trafford where a very good looking Lancashire side go up against the defending champions Worcestershire while at Northampton, the leaders of the group, Birmingham Bears will take on a Northamptonshire side who haven’t looked particularly competitive just yet. Two sides at the wrong end of the table from their point of view go at it at Grace Road where Leicestershire take on Durham. The other match in this group sees Derbyshire hosting Nottinghamshire in another match that both teams need to win in.
South Group
There is a right old bun fight shaping up in the South Group where Kent are the only team with a 100% record even at this early stage in proceedings. They play host to Essex looking to maintain that record while down in Cardiff, second placed Middlesex will look to bounce back from their loss at Gloucestershire on Thursday when they take on a Glamorgan team reeling from being battered by Surrey on Thursday night. Sussex host the aforementioned Surrey at Hove with the other match in the group being a repeat of the Royal London One Day Cup final as Somerset host Hampshire.
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Betting
I’ll go for a couple of bets over the course of the night with the first one being on the defending champions Worcestershire who look value at odds against to beat Lancashire. You would have to say that Lancashire look very good at the minute but you would also have to think the schedule has gone against them here. Worcestershire had their feet up while Lancashire were having to go through the emotions of a derby in Leeds until well gone 10pm last night. They won’t have got back to Manchester much before 1am and less than 18hrs later they’ve got to go again, against a very competent side. There is no hiding the fact it would have been better if Moeen Ali was available but they are still a very good team in his absence and with the schedule very much in their favour my money is siding with them.
The other team I like on Friday night is Sussex. Surrey might have beaten Glamorgan on Thursday night but you sense there was an element of the freak about that result and I’d like to see them win a ‘normal’ contest before I am happy siding with Surrey again. There was nothing freaky about Sussex’s win over Hampshire on Wednesday evening and when you think they are strengthened by the availability of Jofra Archer for this match the home side look good things here even at odds on. Surrey’s batting hasn’t fired as one yet. You sense it’ll struggle to do that against Archer, Mills, Topley, Rashid and co so Sussex have to be the call.
Tips
Back Worcestershire to beat Lancashire for a 4/10 stake at 2.25 with Betfred
DEAD HEAT – Back Sussex to beat Surrey for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with Betfred
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