The Vitality Blast continues with a couple of matches in the South Group on Monday evening although given the rain that is around there might be one or two delays and conditions not completely ideal for ultimate T20 action.
With there being a lull in the international action on Monday it means that there is a gap for a televised Blast match. The other one will be shown on the live stream that the counties and ECB provide so there is no reason not to enjoy them.
Kent vs Somerset (19.00)
The TV match on Monday evening comes from down in Canterbury where if the forecast is to be believed we have more chance of getting through unscathed as Kent look to regain top spot in the South Group, when they host a Somerset team who can latch themselves onto the top four with a win of their own.
Kent have been going along nicely this season and have overseas star Adam Milne available for the first time here. Even though England have had their players at different times, the Spitfires have won six of their eight matches. Somerset have had some frustration with the weather but have won three of the completed five matches they have had so they will head to Kent in confidence mood. The concern I have for Somerset is their two leading scorers in the Blast this season are both missing due to injury in James Hildreth and Tom Abell. Kent look to be getting stronger personnel wise and although it isn’t ideal that Sam Billings is with England, Ollie Robinson is one of the more promising young keeper batsmen in the country so I like Kent in this one.
Given that Somerset are without their two leading batters this season I think we have to seek out some value in the top Somerset batsman ranks where if the Kent new ball bowlers can sort out Tom Banton and Devon Conway, which in gloomy conditions is perfectly possible, then someone could go in at a decent price. Will Smeed has only played four matches this season and has delivered returns of 23, 7, 42 and 63* so he is someone who is in decent form. He can give it a good belt which is never a bad thing but he has been around enough to know when to knock it around as well. There is enough juice in his 8/1 price to take a chance on him.
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Hampshire vs Middlesex (19.00)
The other match on Monday evening sees the bottom two teams in the South Group doing battle at the Ageas Bowl as Hampshire finally get the chance to play at home again after giving up their ground for the World Test Championship final and the last England vs Sri Lanka T20. Hampshire host Middlesex.
These two met at Radlett earlier in the competition when both sides put up over 200 in a good game of cricket which was won by Middlesex. Based on what we’ve seen you would side with them here too but they are not consistent and are masters at finding ways to lose. As a Hampshire fan I hope they are going to improve with Colin de Grandhomme in their ranks, although to be fair getting worse wasn’t really an option. Unfortunately the forecast in Southampton isn’t as kind as in Canterbury so the best way to play this one is to steer well clear.
Tips
Back Kent to beat Somerset for a 3/10 stake at 1.73 with Betfair
Back them here:
Back W.Smeed Top Somerset Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 with Coral
Back him here:
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