There are two more matches in the NatWest T20 Blast on Saturday afternoon including a televised match as the group stages enter their last few weeks. Both matches come from the South Group with Hampshire playing Gloucestershire on the television and Surrey hosting Essex at The Oval away from the cameras. As ever we’ll begin with the TV match.
Hampshire vs Gloucestershire
Hampshire have gone from being the stars of T20 to not being able to get anything going this season and if anything their performances are getting worse and worse which is not good at all. Gloucestershire are starting to improve in both one day competitions and they will be eyeing up the quarter finals from the start they have made. Even with six group games left Hampshire need snookers to qualify from their position.
I mentioned ahead of opposing Hampshire on Friday night how their batting has been awful this season and that continued on Friday night when they were well beaten by Essex and in truth even their bowling isn’t living up to standards. Yes they have injuries but there is only so long they can be used as an excuse. They are no excuse for poor standards particularly in the field.
Gloucestershire started this campaign poorly but they won four of their last five matches in the tournament and have found some real momentum. It is no surprise that this run has coincided with Michael Klinger arriving to steady the ship. He is a real class act and manages this side very well. Gloucestershire are performing nicely with the bat and the ball.
Even if we forget about Hampshire’s rotten form in this competition this season I would probably have taken them on here anyway because of the schedule. They were playing a T20 match in Chelmsford until 10pm on Friday so won’t have got back in Southampton until the early hours and now they start another game less than 12hrs later which has even been brought forward because of the threat of an England football which as fate would cruelly have it never materialised.
While all that was going on Gloucestershire had their feet up getting ready for this game. They should be better prepared for the match are in better form in this competition and having smoked the life out of Hampshire’s bowlers in the 50 over competition know they have the beating of this side. That all points to Gloucestershire being extremely good value at odds against.
Surrey vs Essex
This is the match between two sides who both played on Friday night with Surrey taking a heavy beating and Essex coasting past Hampshire. I guess on the face of it you could make an easy case for Essex being value but Hampshire are no form guide these days and Surrey lost to the best side in the group on current form.
Surrey beat Essex in the reverse fixture and I would have taken them in this one but a trek from Cardiff to London and all the timings that go with it make this one a no bet match with the schedules they have both had.
Tips
VOID – Back Gloucestershire to beat Hampshire for a 4/10 stake at 2.05 with Unibet
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