There is another round of matches in the NatWest T20 Blast on Friday night but the weather is already playing havoc with them as Leicestershire vs Worcestershire has been cancelled hours before the scheduled start time.
That leaves us with seven matches on the card with a TV game which is the London derby at The Oval and then six other matches away from the cameras. Unfortunately the majority of matches are going to have to dodge showers which is a real shame as this was a card I had a number of bets lined up in. I’m not going to take on the rain though.
Surrey vs Middlesex
The TV game should be a great match if it goes ahead but sadly the rain is scheduled to arrive just at the start of the match. Without the rain I would have taken Middlesex who have Steven Finn back to complement their exciting batting line up but if this is a shortened match I’m not wanting to get involved until I know who wins the toss.
Non TV Matches – North Group
There are three North Group matches left on the card but there has been an awful lot of rain around in the Midlands so I’m not going near Derbyshire vs Birmingham and sadly the forecast for Leeds is awful where Yorkshire go up against Nottinghamshire. Were that to go ahead with all the firepower on show I would have been looking at the sixes but it seems unlikely for 20 overs to be played.
One match which isn’t set for any weather issues is the match between Northants and Durham and I like the home side in that match. Northants are continuing to play good cricket even though they are suffering from injuries whereas Durham are very hit and miss at the minute.
Interestingly Durham haven’t had a match in this tournament for a couple of weeks but they haven’t been inspiring too much in the 50 over competition and they have the potential to really implode with the bat especially in the face of a solid bowling attack which Northants have.
Even without Levi and Kleinveldt, Northants are batting nicely and deep and even at 4/5 they look the obvious pick in this match.
Non TV Matches – South Group
The three other matches in the South sees Glamorgan hosting Kent in what should be a good match if the weather holds. I’m tempted by Kent at odds against but taking on the Glamorgan attack and the weather probably isn’t the wisest thing we can do.
I was going to be all over Somerset at Bristol but the forecast is bad there which is so annoying because the scheduler has been rotten to Gloucestershire who were only finishing up at 10pm on Thursday night so won’t have been back in Bristol until the very early hours.
The first awfully named ‘El Coastico’ takes place at the Ageas Bowl on Friday where the weather isn’t likely to be an issue but there isn’t really a bet I like there with Hampshire probably as strong for this game as they have been at any point of the competition so far.
Tips
WON – Back Northants to beat Durham for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Boylesports
Back them here:
