Regular finals day attendees Hampshire have put themselves in position to make it to the big party in the NatWest T20 Blast once again but in order to make it back there they have to head to Worcester on Friday night to take on a dangerous Worcestershire side looking for their first ever appearance in the last four of the competition.
Worcestershire are one of only two counties never to have made it to finals day and they have a good chance to get that monkey off their back here with a first ever knockout home match in the competition. This is a big match for the home side.
Hampshire are appearing in their seventh consecutive quarter final in this tournament and if they win they will reach a record breaking sixth finals day in a row. That highlights two things to us. Firstly how consistent they are in the format and secondly how much big game experience they have and they will hope that experience serves them well here.
Worcestershire will be pleased to have Moeen Ali back for this match. He will give them a boost with the bat and a real solid option with the ball. Daryl Mitchell is hoping to be fit but he faces a fitness test on an injury ahead of the game. Saeed Ajmal will skipper the side if Mitchell fails that test.
Hampshire have named a full strength squad with the exception of Jackson Bird. Bird has gone back to Australia to prepare for their domestic season. Sean Ervine has been out with a finger injury but he returns for this match while Liam Dawson is in the squad having spent the group stages on loan at Essex. Fidel Edwards replaces Bird.
In terms of the odds this is the closest of the four quarter finals but I think experience is going to be a big thing in this match and for that reason I’m happy to side with Hampshire to get it done.
There are a couple of side bets I like too and they revolve around a couple of Worcestershire players. Saeed Ajmal is really experienced and he is going to need to use all that experience to keep his side competitive here. He is the favourite to be the most economical bowler in this match which I would agree with.
There are just six bowlers in this market. Ajmal, Brett D’Oliviera, Daryl Mitchell, Danny Briggs, Will Smith and Yasir Arafat. The Hampshire players aren’t daft. They know that Ajmal is the danger and they could well look to play him out and tuck into everyone else. Ajmal should avoid the Carberry and Vince blitz too which is a bonus. The Hampshire trio all bowl in the powerplay while the likes of D’Oliviera and Mitchell are bowlers Hampshire will target so Ajmal looks to be in a nice slot here.
The final bet I like is for Ross Whiteley to be the leading batsman for the home side. Hampshire don’t always take wickets up top but it is rare they let sides get away from them early on and then they like to get the squeeze on with their spinners but they can leak runs at the back end of their innings and if everything goes to plan that is when Whiteley will be batting so the 7/1 on him to top score could end up looking very good indeed particularly if Hampshire can keep Moeen Ali quiet.
Back Hampshire to beat Worcestershire for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Boylesports
Back S.Ajmal Most Economical Bowler for a 2/10 stake at 4.33 with Stan James
Back R.Whiteley Top Worcestershire Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 with Paddy Power
