It's another very important week of cricket in the English T20 blast as there are still a lot of teams in both the North and South groups that are in with a shout of making it to the quarter-finals with most teams already halfway through their group games and the groups looking incredibly tight.
With lots of games on TV this weekend we should be in for some more very exciting cricket so it's time for me have a look ahead to all of those games:
Friday 27th June:
Essex Vs Somerset - To start off this weeks preview we have an absolutely cracking game to look ahead to at Chelmsford as 2 big hitting sides take each-other on in a crucial game. The hosts, from their 7 games so far, have won 6 of them only losing the once to top side in the South group Hampshire. Essex have a very strong squad with very few weaknesses and even when they struggle as they did last week against Middlesex, they still find a way to win such is the strength and depth in the squad. Somerset however, have only won 3 of their 7 games this season losing out last time around to Middlesex, which makes this game crucial for them. They still seem to have a very strong squad though even after they lost Jos Buttler to Lancashire but their is a little weakness in their bowling which I think Essex can take advantage of.
Prediction: Essex
Worcestershire Vs Nottinghamshire - Over in the North group this is also a very crucial game for both sides who are very evenly matched with the first game between the 2 just going the way of Worcestershire who are top of the North Group. Worcestershire as a unit have played very well this year even though they don't have as many stand-out players as a side like Notts or even Warwickshire who they beat convincingly last time out to take them onto 6 wins from 8 games. As I mentioned there Notts do have a strong side, but they haven't always been able to connect well as unit like they did last year, so far this with 4 wins from 7 games including one in their most recent game against Derbyshire. Notts though will be driven this week by their need to pick up vital wins sitting in 4th place, the fact that Worcestershire beat them earlier in the season on their patch and I think they certainly have an advantage with the bat when all of their guys are on form. It'll be tight again as always but Notts might just have the strength to sneak over the line.
Prediction: Nottinghamshire
Surrey Vs Hampshire - This has the making of another very tight game with Hampshire looking good with 6 wins from 8 in the South group but not looking as strong as previous Hampshire sides in recent seasons, with certainly vulnerabilities within their bowling unit. Surrey meanwhile are slightly the opposite with vulnerabilities in their batting line-up and having a very strong bowling line-up which is what makes this such a close call to make. Both teams beat Glamorgan in their most recent games and Surrey have won 4 of their 6 games and sit in 3rd place looking for a home win to consolidate things. However, the Hampshire batsmen are in pretty good form and might be in good enough shape to handle Surrey's bowling, while their death bowling with Chris Wood is superb and that may be a deciding factor against Surrey's weaker batting. Think it would be more of a Hampshire certainty at the Rose Bowl but they should be able to sneak the win at The Oval all the same.
Prediction: Hampshire
Yorkshire Vs Lancashire - The 2nd Roses match of the season this time on Yorkshire turf will hopefully be as close as the first with Yorkshire winning a very tight game there. However, Lancashire have still been very strong in this years T20 Blast with that loss being only one of two that they've had so far in their 8 games with their match last week seeing them thrash a very poor Northamptonshire side. Lancashire look a very strong unit overall, but so do Yorkshire who have only played 5 games so far in the competition with 3 wins and a no result in there. Their last T20 game was 2 weeks ago when they just edged out Northamptonshire and Yorkshire really do have a very strong squad in all formats of the game with very few weaknesses. The second Roses T20 of the season may be a repeat dose for Lancashire here.
Prediction: Yorkshire
Northamptonshire Vs Durham - This match is crucial for any thoughts these 2 have of making the quarter-finals, because even though there is a long way to go, the losing side here will very much have an uphill battle to stay in the competition. Durham so far have really struggled and only won 2 of their 6 games though Northamptonshire have been even worse with only 2 wins from 7 games with a no result though those 2 wins came within their first couple of games and their form in the T20 competition has closely mirrored their abysmal championship form with a T20 Blast lowlight being last weeks huge defeat to Lancashire. Durham were not helped by a loss in their last game to Leicestershire who they really needed to beat as a side that are around them, making this weeks game even more crucial after they've already lost lot's of tight one's. Neither side will have much confidence, but morale in the Northamptonshire camp will be very low which could give Durham who have a slightly stronger team as well on paper, a sight edge in this clash.
Prediction: Durham
Gloucestershire Vs Kent - Gloucestershire have been a very sorry team this year with injury problems and a pretty weak squad before they even started and they've been a pretty weak side in all formats for the last 2 or 3 seasons. They were saved by rain this evening against Middlesex after only posting 105 in 20 overs on a reasonably tough pitch and they have only had 2 wins from their 8 games so far with little chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals. Kent though do have a chance of qualifying for the quarters. They may have lost last time out against Sussex and it may ultimately be a side heavy on youth that let's them down but they do have a good leader in their side with the experienced Rob Key and the likes of Darren Stevens and James Tredwell do steady things for them in the field which is why they've been able to get 3 wins and a tie from 7 games leaving them 5th in the South group. With Gloucestershire having little ambition left or fight within them that could be a telling factor in this match.
Prediction: Kent
Derbyshire Vs Warwickshire - This game is certainly a tale of 2 teams with 2 differing fortunes so far in the T20 Blast. Despite a loss last time out to top side Worcestershire, Warwickshire have been strong and boosted by a brilliant bowling line-up on their way to 4 wins and a no result from 7 games and they have very strong hopes of making the quarter-finals but they need to carry on winning and especially winning games like this against poor sides. There's no beating around the fact here that Derbyshire are the worst side of all 18 over both the North and South groups this season as another miserable loss in their last game against Nottinghamshire leaves them bottom of the pile winless with half of their games gone, and no hope of making the quarter-finals barring the best turnaround ever to take place in sport. Only a no result has spared Derbyshire from a pointless start as well as a winless start and with the weak squad that they have I can't see things getting any better for them.
Prediction: Warwickshire
Sussex Vs Middlesex - Middlesex's no result against Gloucestershire tonight pretty much ends their qualification hopes as they sit rock bottom of the South group with only a single win from 9 games, and you have a pretty good sign that a side knows a T20 campaign is over when they bring in the youngsters and rest their better bowlers for the County Championship, which is just what Middlesex have done. It doesn't mean they can't compete in games, though playing youth will always give a mixed lot of results. Sussex on the other hand, were able to beat Kent last week and still have hope if they can have a strong last 6 games with 3 wins from their first 8. It will be tough for them but if they can start with a home win against Middlesex here they are usually a strong one-day side and this could give them some momentum.
Prediction: Sussex
Saturday 28th June:
Nottinghamshire Vs Yorkshire - Both of these teams suffered Friday night wash-outs which means it's as you were with both teams in strong positions with strong squads at their disposal to do the best that they can. Notts have 4 wins from 8 games now with 1 no result, while Yorkshire have 3 wins from 6 games with only one loss. This is a massive game in the context of things although I think both of these sides may qualify anyway. If their isn't any weather around we're going to be in for a very tight match. Notts lose very few games at Trent Bridge though and that may well be a deciding factor in this match.
Prediction: Nottinghamshire.
Sunday 29th June:
Durham Vs Derbyshire - Durham were saved by the rain on Friday against Northamptonshire after making a very poor start to that game, while Derbyshire actually got their first win and a very impressive win against Warwickshire who are actually a very strong side. That may give them some confidence coming into this game which will be very good for them and with Durham struggling for one reason or another and lacking in confidence I think they are certainly there for the taking as well. It should be a very close game this, but there is the possibility that Derbyshire may be able to add something to there first win of the campaign against Warwickshire.
Prediction: Derbyshire.
Whatever the outcome of this weekends games you can be sure that we'll have plenty more tight, tense and thrilling T20 action with 10 very good games, and i'll be back again next week to preview another great week of T20 blast games.
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