Wednesday’s match in the NatWest T20 Blast comes from the North Group and it is a huge match for both Derbyshire and Lancashire. I don’t think it is exaggerating it too much to say that the losers of this one will see their campaign ended from a realistic qualifying point of view and there is no way Lancashire will want their title defence to end that way.
Derbyshire
Derbyshire have suffered back to back defeats coming into this match and that has left them bottom of the table and drinking at the last chance saloon. You don’t have to go too far to see where their problems have lied in this competition. They simply haven’t been able to stop the opposition’s flow of runs.
They generally haven’t had too many problems with their own form with the bat but the more they concede the more pressure is on their batsmen to go a little too hard up top and they have fallen victim of that more often than not. If they can restrict sides they have the potential to win games with the bat.
Lancashire
Lancashire Lightning haven’t been as consistent as they would like in their title defence so far but they weren’t really ever great last season until a late run catapulted them into the playoff picture and from there they never really looked back despite riding their luck in the quarter final against Kent.
I’m not sure whether Lancashire’s attack has been found out or whether they just aren’t bowling as well this year but they have struggled to restrict sides at times and that has had an impact on their results. Just like Derbyshire you would think if they can start to put a hold on sides scoring against them they’ll get a run going.
Team News
Derbyshire have added Ben Cotton to the squad which lost to Yorkshire at the weekend. Wes Durston is back from injury and firmly back in the side which is very much a positive.
Lancashire will be without Jos Buttler after the England man broke his thumb in the win over Worcestershire on Friday night. Jordan Clark is likely to go back up to open the batting in his absence.
Betting
This isn’t an easy match to bet on. Normally I’d probably be with Lancashire but Derbyshire appear to be their bogey side which isn’t ideal and I’m not keen on getting involved in the sixes or the boundaries with all the rain that has been around potentially making the wicket play a bit slower than we’d like.
In the end I’ve decided to go with just one bet which is on Hamish Rutherford and his run line. The line is 19.5 which looks a little low for a player who has international quality about him and who is averaging 28 in the competition this season.
If that isn’t enough he has already blasted 71* from just 40 balls against Lancashire this season and with 37 and 44 in two of his last three matches he is in good enough form to suggest he should make it to 20 again in this innings.
Tips
WON – Back H.Rutherford Over 19.5 runs for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Paddy Power
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