The second leg of Royal London One Day Cup matches since the return of the competition take place on Tuesday with five more games across the two groups. Despite the Test match finishing a day early we haven’t got the luxury of a televised match here so it will be the usual score updates on Twitter and Cricinfo as well as radio commentary to keep us informed.
North Group
We have two matches in the North Group on Tuesday with two strugglers facing each other at Grace Road when Leicestershire face Lancashire while the other game is pretty important when Warwickshire welcome Northamptonshire to Edgbaston.
Both Leicestershire and Lancashire will be drinking at the last chance saloon on Tuesday although to be fair Leicestershire might already have drunk that bar dry. With four defeats in five matches their race looks to be run in this competition. Lancashire have more of a chance of making it but with an awful run rate they are going to need three big wins to have any chance.
In fairness there isn’t much that even comes close to reeling me in there so I’ll sit that one out and while I see Northants as a shade of value against Warwickshire I respect the Bears enough in this format to sit that one out too even though I’m severely tempted by Northants.
South Group
Three matches in this group on Tuesday see Somerset hosting Middlesex while Hampshire welcome Kent to the Ageas Bowl and in the other match Essex take on Glamorgan in Chelmsford on a busy and important day at the top of the table with all of the top four in action.
First meets third at Chelmsford in a match I fancy Essex to win but I’m in no rush to take on Glamorgan’s bowling attack any time soon so that is one I can sit out quite easily but I’m getting involved in the other two matches.
Middlesex head to Somerset in fourth place in the table at the minute but they are in fantastic form in all formats of the game right now. They are on a five match winning streak in all competitions and confidence must be sky high amongst their squad. They have won those matches without Dawid Malan and Toby Roland-Jones who have been away with the Lions which is a further boost.
Somerset picked up a really good win over Glamorgan on Sunday but there were times when they were just starting to creak in that match but Glamorgan couldn’t find the lower order power they needed to get on top. Middlesex don’t lack for batting power and they are pretty decent with the ball too.
Form and a look at both sides tells me that Middlesex have the edge in this one and I’m happy to take them in the current rich vein of form that they are on.
In the other game Hampshire host Kent in a match where both sides need to win but whoever does win will make significant strides because two of the sides above them have to drop points at the same time.
Hampshire have missed Michael Carberry and James Vince in all formats recently while Reece Topley and Chris Wood’s injuries have really messed up their bowling attack as well. Hampshire do get Liam Dawson back from Lions duty which is a boost but this is a very young Hampshire side who could be there for the taking although Dale Benkenstein leaving as coach could give them a new lease of life.
Kent have Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Billings back from their wonderful England Lions duties and that has to be a boost to them. With Matt Coles back in the squad as well now and Will Gidman a decent loan signing Kent look to be at full strength and that can be crucial.
An experienced Kent side exploding with talent against a very young, naïve and occasionally very expensive Hampshire side looks to be an excellent chance for the visitors to pick up a much needed win. That’s where my money is going here.
Tips
Back Middlesex to beat Somerset for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Betfred
Back them here:
WON – Back Kent to beat Hampshire for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Titanbet
Back them here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016
