There is another large set of NatWest T20 Blast matches on Friday night which despite the Test match going on at Lord’s does include a TV game so there are plenty of opportunities to make a few quid heading into the weekend.
In all there are seven matches across the two groups and with just two weeks of group matches left for those who can still make it into the quarter finals every game is going to be significant. We’ll kick off the preview with the TV match.
Sussex vs Hampshire
Sussex begin the night just outside the playoff places in the South Group but a win over their local rivals will give them every chance of making it into the top four and give them a position to really kick on from. Hampshire know they are out whatever happens here despite their win over Glamorgan on Thursday night.
Sussex are close to full strength for this match with Chris Jordan and Tymal Mills back in their bowling attack. They are without a second overseas player though as Mustafizur Rahman was meant to be around for this match but he hasn’t arrived yet. Even so Sussex look to have a balanced attack.
Hampshire head to Hove with the same squad which they took on Glamorgan with on Thursday night and it is a very young squad with just Sean Ervine, Adam Wheater, Liam Dawson and Shahid Afridi who can be termed as experienced. Hampshire are without Michael Carberry after the awful news that he has been diagnosed with cancer. We wish him well.
It is hard to see past Sussex here on a number of grounds be it experience, motivation, ability or the schedule going against Hampshire but the price is nothing to write home about so I will let them win on the provision that they are good enough.
There is one bet I like though and it comes in the performance markets where the line on Liam Dawson is simply far too low at 31.5. Dawson comes into this match off the back of 76* and 4/23 against Glamorgan on Thursday night and that is just an extension of his good form in the competition.
Dawson has covered this line in his last five T20 matches and in the Championship recently he took Warwickshire for 116 runs. With Hampshire going down the route of blooding some youth he has a much bigger role with the bat and the ball and this total should be well within his reach.
Non TV Matches – North Group
There are four matches in the North Group on Friday night with the top four all in action. Durham host Northants in the match of the night while Nottinghamshire vs Yorkshire should be a great game. Worcestershire take on Birmingham at New Road and Leicestershire face Lancashire in a basement battle.
Only one of these matches interests me from a betting point of view and it is the one between Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. It isn’t the match result that catches my attention but the sixes market where the line is 10.5.
We’ve seen a real focus from Nottinghamshire to play attacking and aggressive cricket in recent times and you would have to say it is working for them so I don’t see them chancing that style but Yorkshire might have to go toe to toe with them here if they are going to get a result so I like the idea of plenty of sixes in that match on what is rarely the biggest ground in the world.
Non TV Matches – South Group
The other two matches in this group see Kent taking on Surrey and Somerset hosting Middlesex in matches which have big implications on who will and who won’t qualify. I like bets in both matches.
In the first game Kent look a good price to me to see off an overrated Surrey who just don’t bat well in this competition. Aaron Finch has strengthened their batting but if Kent get rid of him early then there isn’t a lot to come especially with Gary Wilson away on international duty.
Kent have Daniel Bell-Drummond back from injury and Sam Billings is available before the two go off and play for England Lions and while there is still no Matt Coles at least Kagiso Rabada is still around and his spell could be very significant especially if he can get rid of Finch and/or Roy.
I don’t see Kent too far behind Surrey with the ball but in terms of batting length and form they are a lot stronger with the bat and that makes me side with them at a shade of odds against.
Like Hampshire, Somerset have decided to give youth their chance in the tournament from here on in and that has to make them vulnerable against a Middlesex side who seem to have the wood on them at the minute.
Middlesex won a crazy Championship match here earlier in the week and then beat Somerset to win the 2nd XI Trophy yesterday and against an inexperienced and injury hit Somerset side I’m expecting them to complete a unique treble.
Middlesex don’t have Brendon McCullum anymore but George Bailey is capable. Paul Stirling being away with Ireland isn’t ideal but they do have Toby Roland-Jones back from England duty and Eoin Morgan is around. Middlesex aren’t always the most reliable in this format but if we can’t trust them here we may never be able to. I’ll go with the London side in this one.
Tips
WON – Back L.Dawson’s Performance – Over 31.5pts for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Back it here:
WON – Back Nottinghamshire vs Yorkshire – Over 10.5 sixes for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Coral
WON – Back Middlesex to beat Somerset for a 4/10 stake at 1.85 with Coral
Back them here:
WON – Back Kent to beat Surrey for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Betfred
Back them here:
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