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THE FACTS
Where can I get tickets for the T20 Blast? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for the T20 Blast
What channel is the T20 Blast on in the UK? Sky Sports have the rights to show the T20 Blast so it is worth checking their schedule here
Where can I stream the T20 Blast in the UK? Matches that are televised on Sky Sports can be streamed live on Sky Go. If not televised on Sky, this match can be streamed live on the official websites and YouTube channels of each competing team
THE FIXTURES
Below is a list of the day’s South Group fixtures:
Glamorgan vs Kent Spitfires: 18:30 BST
Somerset vs Middlesex – 18:30 BST
Gloucestershire vs Surrey: 18:45 BST
Essex Eagles vs Hampshire Hawks – 19:00 BST
GLAMORGAN vs KENT SPITFIRES
THE LOWDOWN
GLAMORGAN
Glamorgan put Middlesex to the sword on Wednesday, taking advantage of the tiny outground boundaries at Merchant Taylor’s School to pile up 238/3 batting first. A violent display of hitting from Colin Ingram and Craig Cooke did the damage, the latter striking an astounding 113 not out from just 41 balls. Ingram was unbeaten on 92 as the Welsh county restricted Middlesex to 209/5 in response, winning their second match from three played thus far.
KENT SPITFIRES
Kent Spitfires were well shacked by Somerset in a rain-affected contest in Canterbury, ultimately losing by 13 runs via the DLS method after being bowled out for 112. Worryingly for Kent recently has been the lack of contribution from the middle-to-lower order in their last couple of T20 Blast fixtures, putting too much pressure on the top order to get the bulk of their runs required.
THE PREDICTION
Glamorgan will be delighted to finally swing into action on their home ground. They’ll be delighted with four points from a possible six on the road and now need to back this up. Kent Spitfires may well struggle on the long boundaries of Sophia Gardens and momentum is against them having lost their last two games. When taking this into account, back Glamorgan to come out on top in this one.
TIP: GLAMORGAN TO WIN
SOMERSET vs MIDDLESEX
THE LOWDOWN
SOMERSET
Somerset took full advantage of Surrey’s Sunday slip-up, defeating Kent Spitfires two days later to open up a cushion at the top of the South Group table. In terms of all 18 counties, Somerset are the best-performing side so far in the T20 Blast. Not only do they boast four wins from four games played, they also contain a net-run-rate of 2.184, which is comfortably the best of any team in both the North and South group.
MIDDLESEX
As if Middlesex’s T20 Blast campaign couldn’t get any worse, Glamorgan proceeded to inflict further misery upon them this past Wednesday. The hosts looked in a promising position with Glamorgan at 51/3 batting first, only for Colin Ingram and Craig Cooke to then turn up the heat in dramatic fashion, adding a whopping 187 runs for the fourth wicket as the Welsh county ended on 238/3. Unsurprisingly, that total proved far too big for Middlesex to chase down, the margin of defeat being 29 runs.
THE PREDICTION
This has to be the biggest mismatch of the competition so far in terms of the two teams lining up against each other. Somerset have won four from four, Middlesex have lost four from four. Taunton suits Somerset’s fast and furious batting style and the Middlesex bowlers are likely to be in for another gruesome encounter. Stranger things have happened in the T20 Blast, but Middlesex pulling off an upset here would be the biggest surprise we’ll see all summer.
TIP: SOMERSET TO WIN
GLOUCESTERSHIRE vs SURREY
THE LOWDOWN
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Gloucestershire couldn’t quite back up their dramatic win over Middlesex last Monday away to Essex Eagles one day later. Although Jack Taylor’s side did rack up 195/7 after being put in to bat, failure to score over 200 at Chelmsford always leaves you vulnerable on a ground with such short boundaries and so it proved, Essex reaching their target in the final over of the match. The visitors never gave, consistently chipping away with wickets but never at any stage got on top of their opponents.
SURREY
Surrey answered any questions against them following that loss against Sussex Sharks in emphatic fashion on Wednesday night, beating reigning T20 Blast champions Hampshire Hawks by six wickets at the Ageas Bowl. The visitors restricted Hampshire to an under-par score following an excellent display of death bowling, before opener Will Jacks masterminded a perfectly crafted run chase, striking an unbeaten 83 from 57 balls to make it three wins from four for the Rey.
THE PREDICTION
Although Gloucestershire contain home advantage, their last encounter at Bristol saw them come out on the losing side against Glamorgan. They have been further weakened by the injury to fast bowler Marchant De Lange, who pulled up whilst bowling against Essex Eagles, leaving Jack Taylor without his biggest point of difference with the ball. When taking on a team as strong as Surrey, not having such a weapon available is likely to cost them dear.
TIP: SURREY TO WIN
ESSEX EAGLES vs HAMPSHIRE HAWKS
THE LOWDOWN
ESSEX EAGLES
Less than 24 hours after playing on the South Coast away at Sussex Sharks, Essex Eagles must travel back home to Chelmsford in order to play another South Coast based county in Hampshire Hawks. Whilst logistically, this match being played at the Ageas Bowl would be a lot easier for them, they’ll be hoping their recent home record in T20 cricket over the past year or so will make the journey to play on their own ground worthwhile. Especially when considering the notoriety of a Friday night T20 Blast fixture at Chelmsford in terms of atmosphere, with a sell out crowd expected.
HAMPSHIRE HAWKS
Hampshire Hawks didn’t put enough runs on the board against Surrey last time out, the overreliance on captain James Vince not helping their course. Of their 156 runs accumulated batting first, 88 were scored by Vince, who in the process became the highest T20 Blast run scorer in the competition’s 20-year history, passing the now retired Luke Wright. Vince also joined Wright as the only batter to have scored more than 5,000 T20 Blast runs. At only 32 years old, it would be no surprise to see Vince well out on his own by the time he retires.
THE PREDICTION
An intriguing encounter lies ahead between two really good teams. You feel the performance of James Vince will be key once again from a Hampshire Hawks perspective. Another big score from him will give his side a really strong chance of victory, but an early dismissal as he copped against Somerset may have the opposite effect. For Essex Eagles, plenty depends of the bowling and whether they can tighten up in the powerplay, which saw them concede far too many runs against Gloucestershire last time out at Chelmsford. Expect a close contest and whilst home advantage makes backing Essex slightly more favourable, this one really could go either way.
TIP: ESSEX EAGLES TO WIN
