It is the final night of qualifying in the NatWest T20 Blast on Friday night with both groups nicely poised going into what is being dubbed around the country as ‘Judgement Night’. There are still qualifying spots to be confirmed in both groups as well as who will be at home in the quarter finals so there is much to play for.
In among the eight games of which four are from each group we have a televised match which is Northamptonshire against Yorkshire, three others from the North Group and four from the South Group on what is likely to be a bumper night of action.
Northamptonshire vs Yorkshire
Northants go into this match knowing they only need to avoid a thumping to be confirmed in second place in the group and secure a much needed home quarter final. Yorkshire have to win and win big if they are to overtake Northants and snatch the home quarter final themselves.
Northants go into this match without Richard Levi who is out injured but thankfully for them they have Ben Duckett not just back from England Lions duty but also in the form of his life. Rory Kleinveldt has recovered from his injury and he will aim to produce an all-round performance that secures the financial windfall of a home last eight clash.
Yorkshire remain without their England duo of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow but they are close to full strength aside from that with Travis Head the man to carry their overseas duties. They will need to bowl well and bat even better if they are to get the size of win needed to overhaul Northants in the table.
These sort of matches are ones I like to bet on because one side can achieve their aim by losing which is never good from a match betting point of view so rather than bet on the outcome I will back the boundaries where the line looks a touch on the low side at 39.5. These two shared 50 boundaries last week at Headingley and their Royal London One Day Cup match was high scoring too. With Yorkshire having to score fast and big we should see plenty of boundaries here.
Non TV Matches – North Group
The other matches in this group see Durham hosting Derbyshire at the Riverside, Lancashire taking on Birmingham Bears at the Riverside and Nottinghamshire welcome Leicestershire. The latter match is a dead rubber so I’m not interested in that one from a betting point of view.
Birmingham Bears know they have to win to make it into the quarter finals. If they lose they are out so the pressure is really on them at Old Trafford. Lancashire’s title defence ends after this match as they know they can’t go through. I’m expecting Birmingham to win that match but they rely far too heavily on their openers right now for me to merit a bet.
I will bet on the other game though as Durham play Derbyshire in what is a knockout match should Birmingham Bears not get over the line at Old Trafford. Durham will be playing their first match since Phil Mustard left and you would have to say his departure time was a strange one. He is their top scorer by almost 100 runs and nobody left has more than 200 runs for the season which is more than a concern.
Derbyshire aren’t the greatest side you will ever see but they’ve been pretty game in this competition and they do have fireworks in their batting line up which could be the difference here especially if Durham do struggle with the bat. Derbyshire also have a balanced attack and having won their last two in this competition they have plenty of momentum. Mustard’s absence is a big one and as a result I’ll take Derbyshire here.
Non TV Matches – South Group
The closing night in the South Group sees Gloucestershire hosting Middlesex at Bristol in a battle of two sides who know their fate while Glamorgan, already assured of a home quarter final, head to Essex who need a tie or better to finish fourth in the table. They could sneak third with a win if Middlesex lose.
Were Essex to lose then Surrey and Kent could still qualify if they win their battle at The Oval by a sizeable margin while the other game in the group is a complete dead rubber as the two worst sides in the South this season meet when Hampshire host Somerset.
I’m not a bettor in dead rubbers so the Ageas Bowl and Bristol matches are easily left alone. I would have taken Essex against a Glamorgan side who look to have run their race for the time being but they are a little too short in what isn’t the most competitive match of the season.
The only match with anything close to any significance on it is the match between Surrey and Kent at The Oval but the odds look about right in that one to me so again I will leave that one alone and just take the two from the North Group to round off the betting in the group stages.
Tips
Back Northamptonshire vs Yorkshire – Over 39.5 boundaries for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with William Hill
Back it here:
Back Derbyshire to beat Durham for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Bet365
Back them here:
