Natwest T20 Blast

[BigMozzyDog]

Somerset vs Essex - 4pts Somerset to win at 10/11

 

Last season, Chris Gayle hit runs for fun in his six-game stint for Somerset, including 151* against Kent, and 92 against today’s opponents, the Essex Eagles. Can he repeat that performance this term?

Somerset made an indifferent start to the T20 Blast 2016 with a poor bowling display away to Sussex Sharks. The home team was able post a huge score, with a Chris Nash ton helping them to 222.

Although Somerset came nowhere near chasing such an above par total, they did score, what would have been a respectable first innings. For bowlers like Jamie Overton and Yasir Arafat to bowl so poorly, surely must be an anomaly. For that reason, we’re giving them the benefit of the doubt here.

Mahela Jayawardene started his campaign with a classy half-century, showing he’s continued his sensational form from the legends T20 in the UAE, and from the Big Bash. The 39 year old, Sri Lankan is still a force in this format, and could provide the perfect foil for Gayle.

As for the big Jamaican, he will need to be wary of the pace of Essex’s Wahab Riaz at the start, but if the Pakistani seamer bowls first change, he will be able to get his teeth in to David Masters and Matt Quinn, neither of whom are blessed with any real zip. Gayle could go very big here.

 

As for Essex, they are no mugs, but their weakness with the ball could be exposed on the excellent County Ground track.

With the bat, however, they could provide some threat, especially through Jesse Ryder, who clobbered a 23-ball 42 in the first game. Also with pedigree at this level is Ryan Ten Doeschate. The Dutchman is a consistent performer, who contributes well with bat and ball. He’s in some decent form too, hitting an unbeaten 30 last time, and hammering a 145 in his last first class game.

That said, Essex were only up against a very poor Glamorgan in their first T20 Blast match, and will find it much tougher here. On this wicket, renowned for high scores, the Essex attack should prove to pedestrian for the power hitters of Somerset.

You can back Somerset to win at 10/11 with Coral.

As for the other markets, the sixes line makes for interesting reading.

The County Ground is the highest scoring in the country in terms of runs per over, and Gayle himself smashed 15 in his huge knock against Kent last year.

They have hitters throughout, with Peter Trego an especially good ball striker, and Roelf van der Merwe helped himself to five in the last game.

 

The line looks low to me, so we’re all over 15 sixes in the match.

 

You can back over 15 sixes in the match at 5/6 with Bet365.

[BigMozzyDog]

This day night match at Lord’s certainly looks close on paper. Very little separates the two sides in the league, but the home of cricket is a place where a particular brand of cricket often gets rewarded, so there could be real value in predicting the winner of the game.

Both of these teams have lost just once in the T20 Blast so far, and both appear to have a decent balance to their sides.

Middlesex in particular have the classic batting set-up, with world-class ball strikers at the top, canny accumulators in the middle, and a selection of heavy hitters to use whenever appropriate. It’s a formula that won the Windies the World Cup, and one that has always worked.

In Brendon McCullum, they have one of the best T20 players of all time. The Kiwi is a talisman for every side he joins, and Middlesex is no different. So often he sets the tone with his charges down the pitch. It’s an approach that gives immense confidence to his younger teammates.

Much has been made of the pace of Tymal Mills, but he will be coming up against someone a little bit more accustomed to attacking a rapid ball. If he misses his length, Baz will punish him.

Also scheduled to open for the home side is Dawid Malan. We’ve been championing his for the England squad for some time, and he finally got his call-up this week. He will be eager to cement his place in the starting eleven with a strong showing here.

In fact, these two players go into this game on the back of an opening stand of 170-odd in the Royal London One Day Cup victory over Glamorgan.

Further down they have the likes of Eoin Morgan, John Simpson and, crucially, Nick Gubbins.

 

Likely to come in at three, Gubbins is a star in the making and a player of complete ability. He has the talent to be as good an all round player as a Kane Williamson or Joe Root. If he fulfills that potential remains to be seen. Here he provides the perfect foil for the openers.

With the ball they boast one of the stars of the IPL, Mitch McClenaghan. An immensely strong death bowler, this big strong Kiwi started his time with Middlesex by taking 4/33 against Essex last time. He’s a wicket taker of the highest calibre, and will give this Sussex Side something to think about.

And what of Sussex. Well they are by no means a push-over, in fact no side with Luke Wright in it is. But what they seem to lack is a little depth.

Their overseas players, Ross Taylor and David Wiese aren’t as potent as the home side’s superstars. The same theme is reflected throughout the line-up.

Chris Nash and Luke Wright up top present a very formidable force, but after that there isn’t a great deal.

Ross Taylor doesn’t get the volume of runs he used to, and while young Phil Salt is decent, he’s not likely to boss many games.

Middlesex are the home side. They understand how to win games at Lord’s, and they have a strong, in-form side that could go a long way in the T20 Blast.

 

You can back Middlesex to win at evens with Skybet.

 

Brendon McCullum is fresh and raring to go, and after 110 against Glamorgan, he could go massive. This is a small, batsman friendly ground, and Baz could be the man to exploit it.

 

You can back McCullum to be top Middlesex batter at 5/2 with Stan James.

[BigMozzyDog]

Notts vs Durham

 

Both of these sides go into this game with some confidence, even though neither has started their T20 Blast campaign in fine style. Durham won last time to make it two wins from five games, while Notts have only managed a single win in their first four games.

Notts are set-up to perform well in T20 cricket, with skipper Dan Christian an experienced all rounder who is well suited to leading a team in this format.

They also have a raft of proven talent, especially in the batting department. Michael Lumb is constantly a star performer for the Sydney Sixers, and is currently in the form of his life. He has made a strong start in the four day game, but it’s the 50-over format that has been especially strong.

He has smashed Notts to some serious scores in the Royal London One Day Cup, with three tons in his last three knocks. Those scores read 105, 133, and most spectacularly a blistering 184 against Northants. He’s an international quality opener in the shorter game, and he’s proving it this year.

They also have the likes of Samit Patel who, but for an additional stone or two, would be in the England limited overs side.

Also interesting is their use of Brendan Taylor, who finds himself down the order at six, used in the finishers position, and presumably, to provide impetus in the later overs. To have a player of his calibre so low means they clearly have depth of quality.

With the ball, they are very tidy if the likes of Jake Ball and Harry Gurney are available, while Luke Fletcher is a consistent performer. Their spin options are also solid.

All this aside, Durham won’t be push-overs.

Phil Mustard was one of the first England players to truly adapt to this format, and his 18-ball 46 in the last game shows he hasn’t lost that ability.

The former England keeper will be arguably the hardest hitting batter on display, and has the ability to take a game away. He comes into this game on the back of some real time in the middle, including a quick-fire 47 against this opposition in the 50-over game this evening.

Another guy with a serious bit of T20 talent is Graham Clark. The young Cumbrian started the season flying in the 2nd XI, and started his Blast campaign with a 30-odd in decent time against Lancashire. He could be one to watch, but he, like most of the Durham top order, is enduring a torrid time.

Where they might prove a match for this good Notts team is with the ball. Collingwood’s canny cutters, Borthwick’s leggies and Arshad with the new ball, look to be a potent triple threat.

Another young lad who made a great impression last time out, was Barry McCarthy. This young Irishman may be hit and miss at this early stage of his career, but his has the priceless ability to pick up wickets.

The deciding factor in this game could be the form of both sides since their last Blast games. The break couldn’t have suited Notts more, and their big players are all scoring massive runs, and the team are winning well. They go into this game with bags of confidence.

You can back Notts to win at 8/11 with Paddy Power.

They also look incredible value for the top opening partnership field, where they have looked strong all season, compared to this struggling Durham top order.

 

You can back Notts to have the highest opening partnership at 17/20 with Coral.

[Kingmoses]

Hi,  BigMozzadog,  are you referring  T20 Friday evening because.  Northamptonshire are playing Durham  & Yorkshire are playing Notts.

Just litte confusing. Thanks in advanced 

 

[BigMozzyDog]

Kingmoses - Sorry chap, I'm afraid I've managed to preview a game that's happening in a few weeks. I blame the mrs.

For what it's worth at this late stage, I fancy Notts to win today a decent price with Skybet. 

Apologies again,

BMD

[BigMozzyDog]

Derbyshire vs Yorkshire

 

Derbyshire and Yorkshire are pretty much polar opposites in the world of county cricket, with Yorkshire often top of the pile, and Derbyshire more accustomed to the lower league, especially in one-day competition. This year, things haven’t started that way in the T20 Blast.

Yorkshire skipper has made the tough decision to leave himself out of the game, on the back of the poor form he’s displayed, and the return of a quintet of England stars.

Adam Lyth has made himself indispensible with back to back 60-ball tons in the Royal London Cup. Lees described his decision as a “no brainer” given the embarrassment of riches this Yorkshire side possesses.

That said, this won’t be the first time that the county champions have their big guns back, and it hasn’t always gone well. Especially at the beginning of the year when they were at roughly full strength.

And their general form in the one day games has been poor. They have one win from five in the T20 Blast, and sit well below Derbyshire. And while they have gone better in the Royal London, thanks to Lyth, they sit third in a group topped by this Derbyshire side.

Yes, Root, Bairstow, Plunkett and Rashid returning is a big bonus, but, given their hectic schedule, it remains to be seen how they go. Rashid in particular, has struggled for form this year despite his stellar Big Bash displays.

For all their new found strength in the batting department, they are struggling for bowling. That may be why they have re-signed Azeem Rafiq until the end of the season. They are missing Sidebotham, Brookes and Fisher, who take so many wickets week in, week out.

Derbyshire on the other hand, are pretty much full strength, with their array of exciting Kiwi talent making them a pretty formidable T20 force.

If we discard reputation domestically, Derbyshire look good to go a long way in either limited overs tournament.

In their last game they went down in the final ball against an Ian Bell inspired Warwickshire, but it was a game that could have easily gone their way, such is the nature of T20.

They have Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom and Jimmy Neesham peppering their top order, which is exciting to see. Rutherford in particular hits the ball miles in all formats. Many will remember his astonishing debut knock against England where he tore our attack to shreds.

Neesham on the other hand, is an all rounder with a rapidly growing reputation. He is one of the most exciting players in this tournament.

With the ball they are also strong. Young Ben Cotton is improving at a rate of knots, while young leggy Matthew Critchley is dangerous.

Skipper Alex Hughes is a spinner who is being watched by plenty of bigger counties, while Shiv Thakor is a player who adds quality in all three disciplines. I think they can cause an upset at Headingley here.

 

You can back Derbyshire to win at 13/8 with Bet365.