It's another massively important week of T20 Blast cricket coming up with another 8 Friday games as the sides all close in on the end of the group stages with a lot of sides still looking for a place in the top 4 and the quarter-finals with about 6 sides still in contention in the South group and 7 in the North group with a lot of teams around there still having 3 games left but most teams only have a couple of games to go as the final group games take place next Friday and you can expect another massive preview there. It's been another mixed week of results from last Friday and in a couple of games since then heading into this week so it's another case of perhaps expecting the unexpected in some games as we have a lot more tough calls.
On we go then as I look ahead to this weekends games:
Friday 18th July:
Gloucestershire Vs Surrey - Here in Gloucestershire we have a side that are basically out with 3 games to go and will be confirmed as out if they do lose this game but I think we can consider them out already having lost their last game to Somerset last week and sitting 8th in the table means there are much better teams ahead of them with a better chance of making the quarters. That could see them rest a few players as they have struggled with injuries in this campaign and they won't want to risk many more players. Surrey though are in a great position having beaten Somerset in mid-week and while not having their quarter-final place secured they do have 3 games left, an incredibly strong side and a nice 3 point cushion sitting in 2nd place, and they'll be looking for that home draw so will certainly be looking to keep the momentum up in this game, and I'd expect them to as well.
Prediction: Surrey
Leicestershire Vs Durham - Leicestershire haven't been too useful so far in this competition and their chances of qualifying are no more after a loss last week to Lancashire, while Durham do still have hope with 3 games left and a 4 point gap between them and 4th place but they do have to win this game, of that we can be sure of. That means with Leicestershire perhaps looking to re-shuffle the team while Durham have a clear objective and motivation although things didn't go great in the last game where they were thrashed by Yorkshire so they clearly have a lot to work on before this game but Leicestershire having only won 3 games have been consistently weak all season and that points to a clear prediction in my mind.
Prediction: Durham
Kent Vs Somerset - Again this looks like a real mixed bag as Kent realistically can't qualify for the quarters after their latest defeat to Essex in what was a real rout last weekend, and with a squad that is now packed with youth and has been struggling with injuries their attention will now turn to the upcoming 50 over competition. Somerset though have 2 games to go and are only a couple of points behind Glamorgan and also importantly only the one place off of the quarter-finals although they did receive a dent by losing out to Surrey in mid-week they have picked up their momentum and started building up some pace in this competition after what certainly seemed like a very slow start. One team of experience against a team with a lot of youth, a team struggling and out against a team with high ambitions really points to one winner in this game in my mind.
Prediction: Somerset
Yorkshire Vs Warwickshire - Yorkshire should have their place in the quarter-finals secure after a couple of thrashings they handed out last week, and on top of that they are 3 points clear of 5th placed Warwickshire and actually sat in 2nd place which also leaves them further room for manoeuvre and with their momentum and home advantage in this game they'll be confident of securing the one win that would seal the deal. Warwickshire's win last week against Worcestershire keeps them well and truly in the hunt with the gap being 2 points with both having 2 games to play but Warwickshire do have to win this game and I'd put them as slight outsiders given the strength of both sides and Yorkshire's other advantages coming into the game but it'll be a game that is decided on moments of brilliance.
Prediction: Yorkshire
Hampshire Vs Sussex - This game to me looks like one where we have one side who are almost into the quarter-finals in Hampshire who are in 3rd place in the South Group and are 3 points clear of 5th place with a win here confirming that place although they could've had it secured by now if it wasn't a heavy defeat to Middlesex last time out. Sussex kept their hopes alive last time out against Glamorgan with a very nice victory but the fact is that they are still 3 points behind 4th place with only 2 games to go and they are now relying on other results going massively their way which is never what you want. With Hampshire having a supposedly strong batting line-up and Sussex's bowling seeming like a weak area and this being at the Ageas Bowl which Hampshire have made pretty close to a fortress over the last few years, Sussex's qualification hopes may have just taken a further hit.
Prediction: Hampshire
Lancashire Vs Derbyshire - This is definetly a tale of 2 sides with massively differing fortunes as Derbyshire are bottom of the table having only won one game, and are certainly out of the competition as well after a huge defeat last time out against Yorkshire so it may not be a bad time for them to start resting players as they know they can do nothing in this competition. Lancashire though have been at the other end of the spectrum having only lost 2 out of 12 games and their quarter-final place is confirmed but they will want to keep their momentum going after several games unbeaten including their last against Leicestershire as they big to go into the quarter-finals on a hot streak and with that important home draw that they missed out on last season. I really can't see them slipping up and losing this game either so it should be another routine win with confidence high.
Prediction: Lancashire
Glamorgan Vs Essex - This game is a huge game in the South Group with 4th placed Glamorgan really looking for 2 wins from their remaining 2 games to keep hold of their 4th placed spot with them currently sitting 2 points clear of 5th. However, when you need to win both of your remaining games you don't want to be starting off against a side that is top of the table having lost just the one game in the whole competition and that was some time ago. Essex in my opinion look to have the strongest team in this years competition across both of the groups and it shows from the fact that they still have 4 games left and yet they're already into the quarter-finals and it would take a dramatic collapse in these last games for them to not have a home draw at fortress Chelmsford which would always have been their aim. Glamorgan on the other hand did lose last time out to Sussex and in my view the actual body of their team doesn't look horrendously strong but they've clearly gelled very well as a team. Essex though look a monstrous team to try and beat right now with no obvious weaknesses in my opinion.
Prediction: Essex
Northamptonshire Vs Worcestershire - This game is going to be an incredibly tense one with the winner certainly having the best chance of qualification. Northamptonshire are 3 points behind Worcestershire in 4th place being sat in 6th place themselves with a game in hand on them and if they were to win their 3 remaining games they would certainly finish above Worcestershire. Worcestershire did start really well in this competition but successive loses will have left them under huge pressure and their momentum would've gone while Northamptonshire's is coming back to them with successive victories. As the home side here and defending champions as well knowing exactly what they're capable of in this format now with very much that same team I think they have a slight edge in this game but this easily one that could go either way.
Prediction: Northamptonshire
Sunday 20th July:
Nottinghamshire Vs Leicestershire - Preview to follow Friday's games
Gloucestershire Vs Essex - Preview to follow Friday's games
As I say it will be another tense week of Cricket but also incredibly exciting stuff as it's a make or break week for a lot of teams in both groups as the chances of many to make the top 4 will be dashed and others will guarantee qualification and finally it will be completed in the group stages next Friday with some thrilling games in store there too and i'll be back again to preview those.
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