Another week of English domestic T20 Blast begins tomorrow night and with it's aim of the season to have most of the games on Friday nights we have 9 games over the weekend with 8 games being played on the Friday while Sussex take on Somerset on Sunday afternoon.
Things are certainly hotting up in both the North and South groups and all of the sides in action will be looking to boost their group standings with the top 4 in each making the quarter-finals, so let's have a look at how I think things will go this weekend.
Friday 13th June:
Somerset Vs Hampshire - This should be a close little match looking at the two teams on paper, although if you look at the results they've had this season and where they sit in the table you might actually say that this could be quite one sided. Somerset may be top of the county championship but they have lost 3 of their 4 opening games in this competition losing a couple of matches that you would have expected them to win every day of the week. Somerset will be missing Jos Buttler who moved to Lancashire for the start of the season and when you don't have much momentum then it's always tough to turn things around. However, even with a slightly new look T20 side Hampshire are playing brilliantly having won their last 4 in a row after losing the first. Hampshire are such a good T20 side anyway and they always seem to have that little edge on Somerset but I think they have a slightly bigger edge here.
Prediction: Hampshire
Nottinghamshire Vs Warwickshire - In the North group there is only a couple of places and a single point separating these 2 sides ahead of what is quite an important match here at Trent Bridge. Notts are back to full strength in there fantastic T20 side, while Warwickshire are also incredibly strong looking this year though they don't have the all-round strength of Notts. Both sides have won a couple of games so far this season and there isn't too much between them really with Notts losing a tight one to Durham and to a good Worcestershire side, but when at home they always get great support and seem to play really well. With a squad like there's Notts should be making it into the quarter-finals for sure.
Prediction: Nottinghamshire
Glamorgan Vs Kent - Glamorgan and Kent, somewhat surprisingly, have both had some very good starts this season in the T20 games with both achieving 3 wins from there first 5 games. Kent have a decent squad to play with, with some experience mixed with some young players with that strategy coming off against some of the poorer T20 sides while they won't have as much joy against the stronger teams which will probably stop them making the quarter's. Glamorgan though seem to have come together as a unit and they've beaten a lot of the top T20 teams and with a number of home games to come you'd expect Glamorgan to really make a push for the quarter's and gather some real momentum.
Prediction: Glamorgan
Lancashire Vs Leicestershire - Looking at the table and the general difference between Lancashire and Leicestershire everything points to a one sided contest. Not only do Lancashire have the key home advantage here but they general have a much more quality squad and a lot more momentum with 4 wins out of their first 6 games. Leicestershire meanwhile are struggling once again in all formats of the game, with only 1 win from 4 games and no real quality to speak of. Leicestershire could well be going for the North group's wooden spoon while Lancashire should certainly be aiming for the quarter-finals and a home draw.
Prediction: Lancashire
Surrey Vs Sussex - Both of these guys are level pegging in the South group table with 2 wins, with Sussex struggling a little bit more than usual having lost 3 out of 5 while Surrey have been average winning half of their 4 games so far. Both sides have very good teams, Surrey probably having the slight edge with the same very good team that got them to the final of this event last year while Sussex's bowling just doesn't really seem to quite match their batting and that could be the difference as they go forward in this event. With home advantage as well like Surrey have The Oval is always a tough place to go and win in any form of Cricket especially if you don't quite have a complete unit.
Prediction: Surrey
Northamptonshire Vs Yorkshire - There is absolutely nothing to choose between Yorkshire and Northamptonshire in this years T20 Blast with both teams having 5 points from 4 games with 2 wins, 1 loss and a no result to their names. Northamptonshire of course were winners last year and still have that same good side together and they did beat Yorkshire earlier in the season. Yorkshire meanwhile have had some improvements since then and there win last week in the Roses match was a very impressive all round performance and I really like the way Yorkshire's T20 side is shaping up for this season in the long run and they will certainly want to draw their games with the holders 1-1 after their opening match defeat, having not lost since. A big hitting side with plenty of bowling, Yorkshire should go far this season.
Prediction: Yorkshire
Essex Vs Gloucestershire - Quite a lot separates Essex and Gloucestershire so far this season in the T20 Blast. Gloucestershire have won 2 games out of 5 and while playing well and having a no result so far this season their general side just doesn't look as impressive as Essex's. Essex have started off with 4 wins from 5 matches including a great win against Kent this week and another at Surrey last Friday. Essex have a brilliant batting and bowling line-up all together this year and with Ravi Bopara in the form of his life as well things look very rosy for the Essex boys. Things look even better for them as they've only had one home game so far this season and Chelmsford for them always seems to be a fortress in T20 as Essex know every inch of the ground and how to utilise perfectly for their strengths. I'll be astonished if Essex don't reach the quarter-finals this season once again.
Prediction: Essex
Derbyshire Vs Worcestershire - To say that their is quite a bit of distance between Worcestershire and Derbyshire this season in the T20 Blast is an understatement. Derbyshire with a squad lacking any real quality are yet to win a game of their opening 5 so far and their only point has been through a no result which all leaves them bottom of the North Group with no real chance of qualifying already, at such an early stage. However, Worcestershire couldn't be any more different. They really are riding on a high in championship cricket as well as in the T20 Blast where they are top of the North Group with 4 wins from 6 games and they do really have a very good team to try and make a charge for the knock-out stages which really is a realistic target for them, and one thing they will have to do to get there is win games like this with the momentum and the superior squad.
Prediction: Worcestershire
Sunday 15th June:
Sussex Vs Somerset - This match is very intriguing with Somerset beating a very good Hampshire side by 1 run on Friday night while Sussex were thrashed by 10 wickets against Surrey and now Sussex only have 2 wins from 6 games and Somerset have 2 wins from 5 games and that brilliant win against Hampshire could really spur them on for the rest of the season. For me Somerset have a slightly stronger side as well and they're probably just slight favourites for this match.
Prediction: Somerset
It should be another good weekend of T20 action then in a tournament that has already some surprise results and some fantastic games, although it is a slight shame that with the Test Cricket on during the day, sky won't be showing any of the T20 games on the Friday evening. Still it should be an enjoyable weekend of Cricket if you're following the scores or at any of the games and I hope you enjoyed my preview.
No comments:
Post a Comment