The NatWest T20 Blast returns on Wednesday evening with a juicy looking clash between Somerset and Glamorgan down at Taunton. The South Group is incredibly tight this year so this could be a pivotal match.
A Glamorgan win will send them two points clear at the top of the table while a Somerset win will send them into the large logjam on six points so there is plenty at stake not just relatively local bragging rights.
Somerset
Somerset lost their opening two matches of the season and looked a little bit of a shambles when we last saw them against Sussex but since then they have bounced back with two solid wins over Essex and Surrey and with a decent run in the Royal London One Day Cup things are on the up for the Cidermen.
There is no doubt where the strength of this Somerset side is. It is in their batting with superstars Chris Gayle and Mahela Jayawardena in the ranks not to mention solid players like James Hildreth and Jim Allenby. They can be exposed with the ball though as we saw at Hove.
Glamorgan
The Welsh side are very much the surprise package of the season in one day cricket this year but it isn’t a fluke that they are doing so well because they are going strong in both forms of the limited overs game. A win here puts them in a very strong position in the early stages of this group.
While Glamorgan are competent with the bat their strength is definitely with the ball especially while Dale Steyn is in town and he is around for this match. He compliments Michael Hogan, Graham Wagg and Timm van der Gugten nicely.
Team News
Gayle is still around to play in this match and Jayawardena is included in the squad having finished his commentary stint for Sky. Yasir Arafat continues to feature in one day cricket for Somerset too.
Van der Gugten was rested for the Royal London Cup match on Tuesday but he is back for this match so Glamorgan are at full strength. Colin Ingram has hit fine form in the 50 over tournament and is the difference maker with the bat here.
Taunton
Whenever a cricket match takes place at Taunton you know what you’re going to get – a decent wicket to bat on and tiny boundaries ready to be taken apart and I’m expecting no different here.
There have been two matches here this season in the T20 and not surprisingly both were won by the chasing side. Totals of 178-7 and 186-4 were chased down with plenty in hand which highlights how good the wicket is to bat on.
Betting
This should be a great match to watch if it goes ahead. I say if it goes ahead because the forecast is rotten and sadly a washout has every chance. If the game is played I would normally go for the better bowling attack which is without a doubt Glamorgan here but on this ground I don’t think the bowlers make much difference.
The ground is impossible to defend at the best of times let alone if the rain comes and DLS comes into play so until we know who it batting second it is hard to bet on the match. With the forecast the way it is there is a strong chance that all the side markets get voided due to a shortened game so while this is a match I hope is played as I’m really looking forward to it, I can’t recommend a bet on it.
Tips
No Bet
