As we head into the final group games in the T20 Blast there is still a reasonable amount to play for in both the North and South groups which means we will at least have a couple of games with some meaning in this final group round. In the South group Essex, Hampshire and Surrey are all through to the quarter finals with Essex having a home draw secured while Surrey should be the other side with a home draw. Anything other than a defeat for Glamorgan coupled with a big win for either Somerset or Kent will see Glamorgan join them. Heading Northwards, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire are into the quarter-finals and Lancashire have the home draw secured while Nottinghamshire's is practically in the bag as well. Worcestershire should be through barring a collapse from them in their game and wins for both Yorkshire and Warwickshire, who are battling for 4th place with just a point between them but it's in Yorkshire's hands.
So then, there is still a little bit to be decided tomorrow so it's time to look at those all important games:
Friday 25th July:
Durham Vs Northamptonshire - This match is a complete dead rubber with neither defending champions Northamptonshire or Durham being able to qualify. So they're just playing for pride here and Northamptonshire lost their last game on Wednesday to Nottinghamshire while Durham were beaten tonight by Lancashire and have had a very mixed season. I still think Northamptonshire are the better side of the 2 and a poor middle of the campaign for them is the main reason they aren't challenging or already in the last 8. Durham though have been far too inconsistent and that's been the reason for their failings and that is never a positive thing.
Prediction: Northamptonshire
Essex Vs Sussex - This match is a thorough dead rubber with Sussex in with no chance of qualifying while Essex are pretty much guaranteed top spot in the South group despite losing their last 2 games to Hampshire and Gloucestershire while resting a few players for the quarter's but also suffering a couple of injuries. Sussex though are just playing for pride and will want to go out with a bang in this tournament, but with Essex playing well with a good unit and looking to pick up another win at Fortress Chelmsford to boost their momentum for the knock-out stages.
Prediction: Essex
Worcestershire Vs Derbyshire - Again this is another dead rubber with Worcestershire already being through and Derbyshire having been unable to qualify for some time. Derbyshire have been so poor in this competition only winning the one game in the whole tournament while a win last time out for Worcestershire against Northamptonshire secured their quarter-final place and they'll be wanting to build the momentum for that big knock-out match and they have the perfect chance to do it against a weak Derbyshire side that are very unlikely to win this game after such a poor season.
Prediction: Worcestershire
Somerset Vs Middlesex - Somerset will be after a victory in this game should Glamorgan falter being 2 points behind and able to qualify on net run rate which would be huge for them after the season they've had. As that suggests it's been a mixed bag for them including a loss last time out to Kent. Middlesex though have been appalling this season and they've been dead and buried for a long time in this tournament and haven't really provided anyone with much of a challenge though they did beat Somerset earlier in this season as one of their 2 wins this season after another loss to Surrey tonight. Somerset haven't been playing as well this season after some injuries and of course the loss of Jos Buttler to Lancashire but they should still finish strongly with a win here.
Prediction: Somerset
Warwickshire Vs Leicestershire - This is a must win game for a Warwickshire side that are 1 point behind 4th placed Yorkshire who are playing Nottinghamshire tomorrow night and there is every chance that Yorkshire can slip up there and open the door for Warwickshire who have much easier opponents in Leicestershire. Last time out Leicestershire were bowled out for 90 chasing just 122 to win which really is quite poor. Warwickshire though have the momentum and the confidence staying in this competition by beating Yorkshire in their last game and that sort of confidence booster will help them here and so will the fact that they are just a much stronger team than Leicestershire and they will be well aware of that without taking any liberties.
Prediction: Warwickshire
Kent Vs Surrey - Kent have the slimmest of slim chances here to qualify for the quarter-finals and with their net run rate as it is it means that an inconsistent campaign that was always bound to happen when you have a large mixture of youth and experience in the side, especially when they had injuries to their experienced guys in the middle of the campaign which cost them. That infact really is the key difference between them and Surrey who are a much stronger side and are full of experience in their team from top to bottom which is why the likelihood is they will qualify in the top 2 of the South group with a home draw. When you look at things like that it points at Surrey doing really well in the competition and probably making finals day.
Prediction: Surrey
Yorkshire Vs Nottinghamshire - This is probably the biggest match of the round with Yorkshire needing to win to get their quarter-final place secure after a set back losing last week to Warwickshire when they could've won through then. In Nottinghamshire though they have incredibly tough opponents who have won their last couple of games on Sunday and Wednesday to secure their knock-out phase place and 99% secure a home draw. Nottinghamshire's batting may fail at times but they have such a strong bowling line-up to the extent that I could easily see them winning this tournament and knocking Yorkshire out tomorrow if Warwickshire get their win. As the holders of the 4th position all the pressure will be on Yorkshire to win while Warwickshire won't be as pressured and there will certainly be no pressure on Notts to perform either which could be a telling factor.
Prediction: Nottinghamshire
Glamorgan Vs Gloucestershire - Here Glamorgan are looking to absolutely confirm their place in the knock-out stages with Somerset and Kent still possibly being able to qualify on net run rate although Glamorgan would need to lose quite badly for that to happen. Glamorgan did lose though last time out to Essex when they would've guaranteed a place beyond doubt while Gloucestershire have been no push overs in this tournament actually inflicting a rare defeat on Essex in their last game and they have played a little better at times than 8th place would suggest. Glamorgan though have been good in this tournament and haven't lost many games against poorer opposition like Gloucestershire and their home form and home advantage will help them to the quarter-finals here in my opinion.
Prediction: Glamorgan
There may be some dead rubber games out there, but at least half of the games have some interest in them for one of the teams involved if any of the sides poised in 4th lose out and the guys in 5th can pounce so it should be a nervy, tense and incredibly close finish to the group stages of this years T20 Blast competition and I'm excited to see how it plays out.
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