The Specsavers County Championship returns for more action on Sunday with three matches across the two divisions and after a dramatic week that has just gone you get the feeling the competition is coming to the boil quite nicely heading into the second half of it.
We have two matches in the top division and one in the second division which begin on Sunday and we will preview all three games here even though we’re only betting on one of them. We’ll begin with the Division One matches.
Somerset vs Middlesex
Middlesex come into this match off the back of finally ending Yorkshire’s unbeaten run in Scarborough last week. Not only did they end that run but they actually beat them by an innings which was almost even more amazing. Somerset were getting pelted by Pakistan while that was going on so the two could hardly be more chalk and cheese in terms of preparation.
Somerset sit in mid-table but with a game in hand of the top three so if they can find a win in this match they could put themselves right in amongst the title picture. They have been in dominant positions in a number of their matches but the weather has scuppered their chances of winning.
Middlesex must be full of confidence right now but it has to be said they’ve not been helped by the international call ups this week. Steven Finn and Toby Roland-Jones are away with England while Tim Murtagh and Paul Stirling are with Ireland so that is almost their entire seam attack they miss here and those three combined for 15 of the 20 wickets they took last week not to mention the 126 runs they scored too.
With Middlesex without so many bowlers and Somerset near enough full strength and going better than their results have suggested this season I think the price on the home side is a little too big and I’m happy to get involved in that. They should have learnt a lot from the Pakistan game and that can stand them in good stead here.
Warwickshire vs Hampshire
Warwickshire’s title hopes really increased last week with their comfortable win over Surrey and Yorkshire’s defeat to Middlesex and the Bears have a real chance to build on that here against a very poor Hampshire side who will be missing their captain James Vince once again.
Hampshire have struggled with the bat all season so going up against arguably the best bowling attack in the competition isn’t going to help them while Warwickshire have been full of runs throughout the season.
I don’t see anything but a Warwickshire win here but 4/9 odds aren’t really for me so having backed Warwickshire outright I’ll sit this match out in the hope they win to enhance their title credentials even further.
Northamptonshire vs Worcestershire
Last week’s washout at Derbyshire has consigned Northants to another season of Division 2 cricket next year but Worcestershire’s controversial win over Leicestershire has kept their promotion hopes alive and if they are to remain in that position they have to win this game.
Worcestershire don’t look in great form though. If the Clarke decision wasn’t overturned last week they would have lost to Leicestershire and their form in the T20 has been poor with their bowling attack getting carted.
I’m not sure of Northants’ motivation in this competition with them going well in the T20 but with Worcestershire at odds on I’m in no rush to back them so this is another match I will leave alone, sticking with just the punt on Somerset.
Tips
Back Somerset to beat Middlesex for a 4/10 stake at 2.25 with William Hill
Back them here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016
