The Vitality Blast returns after a week off on Friday night as we go deeper into the second half of the group phase over the next week or so. With this being a Friday we have a full slate of matches to enjoy up and down the country.
Even though The Ashes is getting the majority of the TV attention, there is still room in the schedule for a TV game on Friday while as always all of the other matches can be streamed via the live streams each county who are at home offers.
North Group
The leaders Nottinghamshire have the night off on Friday so the chasers get the chance to close in or even overtake them. Birmingham Bears are the closest side to Nottinghamshire and they will go top if they can win at their rivals Worcestershire, who have lost their last three matches after winning their opening four. If there is a slip up from Birmingham then Yorkshire will end the night on top of the group if they can see off a Leicestershire side who might have left their challenge a little too late. Durham and Derbyshire meet at the Riverside in a match neither will want to lose while Northamptonshire host Lancashire with both those sides in the same boat.
South Group
The TV action comes from the South Group on Friday night as the second ‘El Coastico’ of the season takes place down in Hove where lowly Sussex look to keep their hopes alive when they host rivals Hampshire who have already battered them by 10 wickets this season. The top two meet in what might be the game of the night at Taunton as Somerset welcome Surrey to that part of the world. Essex and Glamorgan are currently either side of the quarter final line so their meeting at Chelmsford is a key one. Middlesex know they won’t be making progress in the competition this season and if Kent don’t beat them at Lord’s then neither will they.
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TV Match Betting
There are two bets that I like over the course of the TV game on Friday. The first of those comes in the form of Hampshire to beat Sussex and also to hit the most sixes in the match. This Sussex side is carrying too many passengers for my liking and I would be very surprised if Hampshire don’t win this game even allowing for the travelling they have been doing in recent times. Hampshire are going well in the competition this season and the addition of Benny Howell for this match is only going to strengthen them further. They already had Nathan Ellis and Liam Dawson who weren’t going for many and Howell fits that mould too. Hampshire have already demolished Sussex this season at the Ageas Bowl where they won and hit the most sixes that evening too, six to four. Two of those Sussex sixes were hit by Fyn Hudson-Prentice who isn’t in the squad for this match and so if Hampshire keep Ravi Bopara and Shadab Khan quiet they should complete a comfortable win and hit the most sixes.
The other bet I like in it comes in the form of James Vince to be the player of the match at 8/1. It is a mystery how Ben McDermott got the nod in the reverse meeting when Vince scored more runs at a quicker rate but that is Sky for you. Since then Vince has filled his boots again in the Championship and looks in sensational form for another big innings. Add in the fact he can win matches with his captaincy as well and he is overpriced at 8/1. I don’t see this being a match where the Hampshire bowlers are going to be tested to the full so an opening batter who is in excellent form should have every chance of nailing the player of the match honours.
Other Match Betting
I like two other matches over the course of the evening with the first of them coming at Headingley where the 337.5 run line looks low in the match between Yorkshire and Leicestershire. Both these teams filled their boots last Friday night. Yorkshire piled up more than 220 on this ground against a better Worcestershire attack than the one which they face here while Leicestershire went big against Durham a week ago in ultra quick time. We know the hybrid wickets at Headingley play brilliantly these days and so I’m expecting a great pitch and a match where between them the two sides go comfortably above this line.
I also like over 13.5 sixes when Essex take on Glamorgan at Chelmsford. These two met a week ago in a high scoring contest at Cardiff where the sixes started early and kept on coming and I see no reason why that won’t be the case when they do battle on an even smaller ground at Chelmsford. Essex seem to be playing the aggressive batting mode regardless of the situation this season. Even when they were making a mess of that televised run chase at Kent recently they kept on coming with big hits and with Daniel Sams at seven there is no worries about Essex and their batting depth. Glamorgan don’t lack for hitting power either so the 13.5 sixes line doesn’t look nearly high enough in this one.
Tips
Back Hampshire to beat Sussex and hit the most sixes for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Back J.Vince Player of the Match for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 with Betway
Back Yorkshire vs Leicestershire – Over 337.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Back Essex vs Glamorgan – Over 13.5 sixes for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Betway
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