The last three quarter final places in the Royal London One Day Cup will be filled on Tuesday when the group stage comes to an end when the South Group concludes in what has all the potential to be an enthralling last day.
Somerset have already secured their qualification and a home match in the last eight to boot and on Tuesday three of Essex, Hampshire, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey will join them in qualifying. There are four matches on the day with the television cameras focusing on the London derby at Lord’s.
Middlesex vs Surrey
This is a weird match in that depending on the other results there could be everything to play for or there could be nothing at stake and that is what makes this final afternoon so appetising. One thing is for sure whoever loses this match will end their 50 over campaign there and then so this is a big match.
Middlesex can count themselves fortunate to be in the position they are. Although they did ever so well to turn their match with Essex around on Sunday they should have lost that game and had they done they would have needed snookers now. Eoin Morgan and Steven Finn miss out for them while Dawid Malan and James Franklin face fitness tests in order to feature.
Surrey have already had one knockout match in this group on Monday when they had to get something out of Glamorgan. As it was the rain came and they picked up a point which while it wasn’t ideal, it does keep them alive in the tournament. If they win here and either Kent, Hampshire or Essex lose then Surrey will qualify.
Middlesex are missing some key players with the bat and the ball but even if they were at full strength I’m not convinced they are the better side of the two here. Surrey don’t bat well in 20 over cricket but this format suits their middle order much more while their top three are special and with the ball there is no weakness. They have all bases covered and they keep on coming. All things being equal I expect Surrey to win this match.
Hampshire vs Somerset
This is a huge match for Hampshire. If they win they are through. If they lose they are out so the equation is pretty simple. They will either rise to the occasion or they will flop. It won’t be easy for them though as they face the group leaders who have already qualified and are playing some really good stuff at the minute.
I fancy Hampshire might just have it in them to get the job done here but the prices are probably about right. One thing that isn’t right though is a performance line and it is the one on Liam Dawson, Hampshire’s captain for this match.
His line is 45.5 which is very low. He is going to bat probably at number four but no lower than five and barring something remarkable he is going to bowl a full allotment of overs as well and just four days ago against this opponent in the NatWest T20 he took five wickets. That was against a second string Somerset side but there were some batsmen in that match who will play here.
It is his batting form which interests me more anyway. He comes in here off the back of a majestic ton against Glamorgan and that has pushed his average in this competition this season up to a massive 84. That alone highlights how achievable this performance is without factoring in the bowling and the fact he is a mighty fine fielder. Everything points to the overs and that is where my money is going.
Gloucestershire vs Essex
Essex are in the same position as Hampshire in that if they win they are through and will be at home in the quarter final but a defeat sees them looking over their shoulder relying on other results. Gloucestershire are out of this competition now no matter what happens.
You would think the nature of the beast will mean that Essex will win this but after the shambles of their loss on Sunday I’m in no rush to go back in on them here so that is a match which is easily left alone for me especially given the skinny price of Essex.
Sussex vs Kent
Kent are the other side in the win or bust scenario but fortunately for them they go to a Sussex side who have been rotten in this competition and who look like a busted flush at the minute. That said the forecast isn’t the best for Hove which isn’t ideal.
We’re on Kent outright so hopefully the weather gods allow us to get a match in and hopefully Kent can win it but there is no need to go in again especially with the threat of being mugged off in a DLS scenario.
Tips
WON – Back Surrey to beat Middlesex for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Coral
Back them here:
WON – Back L.Dawson’s Performance – Over 45.5pts for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Back it here:
