We’re down to the final two days of group matches in the Royal London One Day Cup with Group A coming to a conclusion on Tuesday as eight sides end their initial set of fixtures.
Monday was an up and down day personally. The morning bets all landed but a remarkable innings from Sam Billings took the double away from me and Hampshire’s death bowling haunted them again which was a little frustrating but Tuesday is another day and a day with more betting potential as we have a TV match to get stuck into.
The four matches sees Derbyshire hosting Worcestershire at Derby, Leicestershire host Somerset at Grace Road, Gloucestershire take on Surrey in Bristol and all eyes will be on Headingley where Yorkshire take on Northamptonshire in front of the TV cameras.
Two of the four quarter final spots from this group have been determined and the winner of the Gloucestershire vs Surrey match will top the group and be at home in the last eight. The loser will be relying on other sides losing to get a home game in the next round. I fancy Surrey to come through but they’re no price and given both sides lost on Monday I’m happy to leave that match alone.
Leicestershire vs Somerset is a dead rubber. I expect Somerset to build on their win over Surrey on Monday but they are no price and I’m not a massive one for betting short prices at the best of times but especially in a nothing game.
The other dead rubber comes at Derby where Derbyshire’s hopes of qualifying were ended by Durham on Monday. They host Worcestershire who’ve been out for a while but the mere fact that Daryl Mitchell played in their win on Monday says to me that they are still looking to continue the momentum they have picked up from the T20 this season. Mitchell clearly isn’t fully fit yet so playing him is very interesting.
Derbyshire were pretty ordinary at Durham on Monday and have had the long journey back with motivation pretty low and they could be there for the taking in this match. Although they had qualification hopes going into Monday they’ve never truly impressed in this tournament. The likes of Saeed Ajmal give Worcestershire something positive with the ball and the youngsters Fell and Clarke are in great form with the bat. Worcestershire look a little big at the prices.
In the TV game it is win or bust for Northants. Anything but a win and they will miss out on a second one day quarter final on the year. Yorkshire are already in the quarter finals as long as they don’t get mullered in this match which adds a little intrigue to the day. Were Yorkshire to bat second it might be that they chase the total they need to qualify rather than the one they need to win the match for example.
Yorkshire lost their last match of the tournament to Somerset which has put them in this quandary type position. Worse news came when England called Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett into their squad for the final Ashes Test and with pictures of them both training in London developing on Monday it is hard to see them playing in Leeds at 10.30am on Tuesday. Yorkshire do have the advantage of having not played Monday.
I’m not sure that will be a massive advantage though because Northants are carrying bags of confidence and momentum with them. They saw off a competent Gloucestershire side on Monday having made T20 finals day last week so they will be absolutely flying at the minute which gives me confidence with them.
The forecast for Leeds isn’t the best on Tuesday so we might see a shortened game of some kind which if we factor 20 over form this season into the equation then that strongly favours Northants too. They’ve shown they’re a top 20 over side so at the prices they are worth a punt too.
Back Worcestershire to beat Derbyshire for a 4/10 stake at 2.25 with Ladbrokes
Back Northants to beat Yorkshire for a 4/10 stake at 2.63 with Ladbrokes
Blog cricket YTD: +0.23pts
