The Metro Bank One Day Cup continues with just the one match on Monday where someone will see their campaign ended from a competitive standpoint when two winless sides meet as Middlesex host Northamptonshire in Radlett.
Both these teams have played twice in this competition this season and lost on both occasions and with five wins only enough with a monstrous net run rate with the weather unlikely to kybosh matches anytime soon, the loser here can say goodbye to their chances of progressing. Despite the Test match finishing early you will need the Middlesex live stream to watch this one.
Middlesex
When the competition started, Middlesex looked to have a fighting chance in this competition because their Vitality Blast record in recent times has meant that they have only lost players to The Hundred who were previously contracted to their teams and the Middlesex XI left for this tournament looked stronger than many on the circuit. When it has got onto the field though it is yet to perform and if they don’t do that here then they will be playing out time very early in the campaign.
The big problem has been that their bowling has let them down in a big way. So far they have conceded 371/3 to a weakened Worcestershire side in 48 overs in their first match and then Derbyshire chased down 266 with eight full overs remaining for the loss of one wicket so their bowling seriously needs to come good here else they are going to be in trouble. They have a solid enough top eight but the bowling has given them no chance so far.
Northamptonshire
The same can be said of Northamptonshire in many ways. The one caveat they have is that this isn’t as important a competition for them as it might have been in previous seasons because when it concludes they are three wins away from regaining the Vitality Blast title. Even so, they have an XI which on paper should be performing much better than it has done so far, although unlike their opponents here, Northants have at least been competitive in their matches.
Northamptonshire probably should have won their first game against Derbyshire but an eighth wicket partnership got away from them in that one and then they were all over Hampshire for 20 overs with the ball on Friday but they allowed that one to get away too so they need to find more of a ruthless streak to put sides away. To be fair to them, Jack White, who had bowling incredibly well, picked up an injury and couldn’t bowl his last four overs else it might have been different.
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Key Players
Luke Hollman was one of the best bowlers in the Vitality Blast even though Middlesex stunk the place out like they have been making far too much of a habit of doing. On a baking hot day his leg spin and big hitting down the order could be valuable commodities for Middlesex.
Saif Zaib took three wickets at the Utilita Bowl on Friday and generally bowled a good spell but when his side needed him to push on with the bat and challenge the Hampshire total he got out. They could use a big score from him here.
Betting
I wouldn’t really want to trust either of these sides to carry my money here. If I was going to pick one of them then I would back Northamptonshire but they just look like a team who have forgotten to win 50 over matches even though they seemingly have no problem getting themselves in a winning position in them. They are nothing more than a fair price at 4/5 anyway but I can’t be getting involved in Middlesex so I’ll head to the side markets for a bet on this one.
The bet that I like is for Northamptonshire to be beyond 60.5 runs after the first 10 overs. Middlesex are getting carted in the powerplay having conceded 61 and 73 in their first 10 overs so far in the competition and now Northamptonshire, who put Hampshire to the sword to pick up 66 runs in the first 10 overs on Friday, arrive with Prithvi Shaw looking to hit the ball cleanly and they get a crack at this weak Middlesex attack on a small club track in Radlett which is known for being a high scoring venue. Unless Shaw goes before he gets in I would expect Northamptonshire to be scoring quicker than a run a ball through the first 10 overs and even if Shaw does go Ricardo Vasconcelos is no mug with the bat.
Tips
Back Northamptonshire – Over 60.5 runs in first 10 overs for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
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