We are back to a full round of matches in the Rothesay County Championship this week as the 18 counties play a four day game for the penultimate time before the break for the first part of the Vitality Blast comes along.
Both tables are starting to take shape and with one round of matches after this set of games left before we get to the halfway point of the season we should be in for a competitive week of cricket with the weather set fair.
Division One
Nottinghamshire are the frontrunners in the top division going into the week and they will be looking to maintain their advantage or even extend it when they make the trip to mid-table Durham. Warwickshire are beginning to justify their dark horse tag and they are home this week. They begin the round in second place and will look for a win against Hampshire which will close the gap between them and Nottinghamshire. Sussex are the surprise package of the season so far and the Hove outfit, third going into the week, make the trip to Taunton to take on a Somerset side who haven’t really fired yet this term. Surrey are finding wins hard to come by this term but they will be looking for one at The Oval when Yorkshire are the visitors. It already looks like being a long season for Worcestershire but they’ll be looking for some solace when they host Essex at New Road.
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Division Two
Leicestershire have been the pacesetters in Division Two throughout the season and they will look to keep hold of their advantage at the summit when they head to the capital to take on Middlesex at Lord’s. Middlesex sit in third heading into the week so that is a big match. All eyes might well be on Old Trafford though where troubled Lancashire look to come off the bottom of the table. They will at least have the services of Jimmy Anderson to call upon when they entertain second placed Derbyshire. Just six points separate the other four sides who sit fourth to seventh and they meet each other this week. Gloucestershire host Kent at Bristol while Glamorgan, with Marnus Labuschagne in their ranks for this week and next, host Northamptonshire.
Betting
I’m a little surprised that Leicestershire have been priced up at odds against for their clash with Middlesex. Middlesex haven’t been terrible this season by any stretch but their wins have come over a depleted Glamorgan side and a Kent outfit who had their bowling unit decimated. They have failed to beat Lancashire this season and had to follow on against Derbyshire before drawing with them. I wouldn’t be completely surprised if they win here but with the weather set the way it is I have to be on Leicestershire here.
Leicestershire are unbeaten in the Championship this season and have the leading wicket taker in the competition and two others who have reached 15 wickets already this term. Leicestershire also have four batters with 300 or more runs for the campaign too so they are a decent all round outfit who deserve to be top of the table. This will probably be their toughest test so far but with an attack which should suit conditions at Lord’s and a form batting unit I can’t ignore the 11/10 on them to deliver the goods.
Tips
Back Leicestershire to beat Middlesex for a 3/10 stake at 2.10 with Bet365
