The one remaining LV County Championship match to begin this week does so on Monday when two teams at opposite ends of the Division One table collide when former champions Essex host relegation threatened Middlesex at Chelmsford.
The TV channels are focusing on the international action this week so there is no television coverage of this game but if you have a bet and want to watch the game there will be a live stream provided by Essex.
Essex
This has already been a very good campaign for Essex in terms of them reaching finals day in the Vitality Blast but they came up short in the title showdown and will be keen to avoid a repeat of that in the County Championship. They are currently on course for a second runner up spot of the season but they are in striking distance should Surrey slip up at the top, It is important that Essex win their last three games and see if some help comes their way.
Essex are a very good side with no real weakness in them. They have a batting unit which is suited to red ball cricket but with the right amount of aggression where it is needed to have them picking up bonus points but the real strength of this side is with the ball. That strength only gets stronger the longer the season goes on too because they have the best spinner in the County Championship in Simon Harmer and on tired pitches he comes into his own.
Middlesex
This first season back for Middlesex has gone largely how most teams who come up from Division Two find their maiden go at the new level. They have found it tough going and are battling hard to avoid the drop. This was always going to be a battle though so it isn’t like they are doing worse than expected. The good thing for Middlesex is that they are in a position to get out of trouble if they can come up with a big finish to the campaign.
Middlesex certainly have the bowlers on paper to get the job done for them. They have a tough time keeping them all fit but if they can have one big month with the ball then there are a few counties not really going anywhere that the Lord’s based outfit can overtake, although forcing results at Lord’s is never easy which would be a concern. They have signed Indian spinner Jayant Yadav which could be critical given the weather this week.
Special Offer
Sign up for a Boylesports account and bet £10 to get up to £20 in free bets! Perfect offer for this series! Click the image below for this great offer! New accounts only. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware.
Key Players
Spin might well be king this week not just because the temperatures are set to be scorching all week but also because Essex know that draws aren’t good enough for them anymore so a result pitch is likely to have been produced. That brings Simon Harmer even more into the game.
Jayant Yadav has been signed to keep Middlesex in the top division and he’ll be looked at to lead the attack, if not in the first innings then certainly in the second innings. The Indian will be a key man in any Middlesex win.
Betting
Essex are 4/9 to win this match and I think that is fair enough based on what we have seen so far this season but with results the order of the day the pitch might make this a little more 50:50 than that. I’m not going to oppose Essex but I’m happy enough to let them win at that price. I’ll head to one of the side markets that have been priced up for the match which is the top Essex first innings bowler where I think Simon Harmer is the man to be on.
These two first met this season in the opening week of the campaign where Jamie Porter ran through the Middlesex top order to reduce them to 20-5 but even then Harmer picked up three wickets and in conditions which will be much more conducive to spin I expect Harmer to build on that effort. He is only two wickets behind Porter despite not really having conditions to suit in what has been a largely wet summer. He does have them here so I’ll take the South African the lead the Essex wicket taking in the first innings.
Tips
Back S.Harmer Top Essex 1st Innings Bowler for a 3/10 stake at 2.25 with Betway
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2023
