Another week of T20 Blast action means another week of exciting Twenty20 Cricket and tense, intriguing games and there are a lot of them this week as the race for the top 4 in the North and South groups continues as the sides look for quarter-final spots, but who will get there? Slowly but surely in both groups the likely candidates for the top 4 are being whittled down with really about 6 sides in each group being in with a really good chance though there are still 7 or 8 in each that could still mathematically make it, you wouldn't fancy them.
After a few games have already taken place during this week, it's time to have a look at what we can look ahead to this week from Thursday right through to Sunday, with a quick mention of what's already happened this week:
Thursday 3rd July:
Middlesex Vs Glamorgan - This game could really be a one sided one with one side in Glamorgan that are sat in 5th on net run rate behind Sussex and really need every win they can to have a chance of making it into the quarter-finals, while Middlesex with 4 games to go and only a single win to their name have no qualification hopes have already turned to the young players in order to give them some experience and rest their best players for the County Championship which is the best way forward for them you feel. Glamorgan have been playing really well this year and Middlesex simply haven't been playing at all in the T20 competition so with one team very determined and another with nothing to play for there is one very obvious way that this game should go.
Prediction: Glamorgan
Northamptonshire Vs Warwickshire - This game should be a lot closer in the North Group with both sides needing the points to have any chance of making the quarter-finals. Northants won their opening couple of games but haven't won a single one of their next 6 with a couple of no results just about keeping them in the hunt if they can get a win tomorrow as they'd still have 5 games left if they could get on a run. Warwickshire were sitting pretty ahead of their last game, but with losing that in poor fashion and the likes of Durham, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire all getting wins since. Warwickshire may have a game in hand but they need to use it well by getting a win otherwise their chances of making the quarter-finals will start to fade out. Northants have been a bad run in recent times so this a good time for Warwickshire to get their own form back after a couple of bad games.
Prediction: Warwickshire
Friday 4th July:
Durham Vs Nottinghamshire - This is another massive game in the North group with Nottinghamshire sitting in 3rd place on 11 points from 9 games whilst Durham are in 5th on 9 points from 9 games with both sides beating 4th placed Yorkshire in their most recent games. The first game between these 2 sides was won by Durham by just 3 runs and this game is bound to be just as good. Durham have managed to pick up a couple of consecutive wins while Nottinghamshire have been slowly warming up in this event which is always good news for a side with their sights set on winning the whole tournament. Durham have been far from convincing though this year and even in their win on Wednesday against Yorkshire they could only make 123 with the bat in 20 overs showing some certain batting weaknesses and I think Notts look pretty strong all round which makes them the favourites in this tight game.
Prediction: Nottinghamshire
Leicestershire Vs Northamptonshire - Leicestershire have almost been the whipping boys of the T20 Blast this season with a poor squad that really has struggled to gain any real momentum or pick up very many wins at all. Northamptonshire have also struggled after early successes but a win yesterday against Warwickshire keeps them well in the hunt and only 2 points behind 4th placed Yorkshire. Therefore, this game is much more crucial for what is still a very good Northants side who of course won this last year, than it is for Leicestershire and if Northamptonshire could just pick up a bit more confidence they could go on a run that'd take them to the quarter-finals.
Prediction: Northamptionshire
Worcestershire Vs Yorkshire - Here we see top of the table Worcestershire take on Yorkshire in yet another key game in the North group as Yorkshire need the points to keep up their push for the quarter-finals. This has been a big week for Yorkshire with games on Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday of which they've only won the one against Leicestershire losing the other 2 against much better opponents. Worcestershire have been very all season long though losing only 2 of their 9 games and they should make the quarter-finals as long as they don't collapse in their last 5 games. If they can pick up a win here though they should be as safe as houses and they have been a strong all-round unit home and away while Yorkshire have just lacked a little bit of consistency to their performances and a side high on confidence like Worcestershire should take advantage after a long week for Yorkshire.
Prediction: Worcestershire
Gloucestershire Vs Sussex - Back onto the South group now and these 2 sides again are at opposite ends of the table with Gloucestershire struggling in 7th place and although they can still qualify for the quarter-finals, they don't really have the squad to compete and make that mark now with a win here certainly being a must if they have any hopes. Sussex meanwhile are in 4th place and won't want to let that position slip from there with the good one-day side that they have, coming into this after an easy win over Middlesex. As I say their is quite a large difference in these 2 sides squads even if that isn't reflected in the group tables as much but I can't really see Gloucestershire having as much of a chance if Sussex are on form.
Prediction: Gloucestershire
Warwickshire Vs Lancashire - Warwickshire are just hitting a little bit of a downward curve in the T20 Blast as they were nicely situated in the top 4 a couple of games ago but now with bad defeats to Derbyshire and then Northamptonshire yesterday the Bears are down to 6th in the table still within a point of 4th spot but they need to get their momentum back and they have a tough game here if they are to do so. Lancashire have played really well in this seasons competition siting joint top with Worcestershire and their only losses being their opening game to 3rd placed Notts and a Roses clash with 4th placed Yorkshire. However, when it's come to playing sides lower down the table Lancashire have been on top form home and away, and they will need to be again here for victory, but right now they are playing really well as a T20 unit and that is one of the biggest factors to T20 success.
Prediction: Lancashire
Glamorgan Vs Somerset - Last night Glamorgan had a nice win against poorly placed Middlesex who have been very poor in this competition, but with a much stronger side than Middlesex, Somerset have also been struggling and only picking up 3 wins from 8 games leaving them 4 points behind 4th placed Glamorgan with a game in hand on them. Therefore, it doesn't take an idiot to work out that, even with 6 games to go, this is a do or die game for Somerset who can't afford to go 6 points off of the top 4 with only 5 games left as that would leave them needing to win them all, but a win tonight would mean that winning their game in hand would put them level on points with Glamorgan so it's all to play for. Somerset have a very strong side but Glamorgan have been playing well as a unit and last nights win gets them slightly back on track having lost a few games since a very good start. However, when the pressure is on and the need to win is this great the cream rises to the top and that cream is Somerset.
Prediction: Somerset
Essex Vs Surrey - With Surrey's convincing win on Wednesday over Kent these 2 are now the top 2 sides in the South group with Essex just a couple of points clear of Surrey having only lost the single game while Surrey have lost a couple of games including the first between these 2 teams. Both of these sides look like powerhouses with the teams they have with neither side really having much weakness throughout the side which makes this such a great contest. Surrey's big hitting batsmen should thrive on the much smaller Chelmsford ground and Jason Roy is probably one of the in form batsmen of the whole competition right now the way he is striking the ball. Both sides weakness may be the bowling and things will all depend on how the Essex quick bowlers like Topley, Napier and Masters go as they can either be very economic when going well but if the big hitting Surrey batsmen go at them from the off that may be the difference as both sides bat very deep.
Prediction: Surrey
Kent Vs Hampshire - Hampshire's last game may have seen them lose out to Surrey in quite a crushing defeat there for the one-day specialists but they will be massive favourites for this match as Kent are now starting to tail off thanks to injuries of experienced players in what was already a team packed with young players and even more so now. Realistically that could be the difference from Kent making the quarter-finals with games like these to come as they really needed their experienced players to make a game of it or even win games like this against strong one-day sides with fewer weaknesses like Hampshire, even if their bowling doesn't look quite as good as it has done in previous years. However, their bowling line-up is still very good and their batting is even stronger than ever now with lots of quality ball strikers in the line-up.
Prediction: Hampshire
Saturday 5th July:
Hampshire Vs Somerset - Preview to follow Friday's games
Sunday 6th July:
Derbyshire Vs Leicestershire - Preview to follow Friday's games
Worcestershire Vs Lancashire - Preview to follow Friday's games
As you can see there are plenty of games to keep us entertained throughout the week and this may well be one of the really key weeks of action as I think we will really have a feel of who the main contenders for the quarter-finals will be as most sides will only have about 3 or 4 games left at the end of this week. Will be very interesting as always to see how it pans out.
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