Cricket: Twenty20 Cup 2009

[kevshat]

As one twenty20 tournament finishes, as is the way with cricket at the minute, another one begins. Our domestic twenty20 tournament begins tomorrow.

	Durham	365" onclick="a(0,372426328,6,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>7	7	7	8	7.5	7	7.5	7	7.5	7.5	7	7	7.5	7	7	9.4
	Kent	365" onclick="a(0,372426333,6,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>7	7	7	8	8	6	8	8	7	7.5	7	7	8.5	7.5	7	8.6
	Essex	365" onclick="a(0,372426329,6,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>7	7.5	7.5	9	9	8	8	8	9	9	7	8.5	10	9	8	9.6
	Lancashire	365" onclick="a(0,372426334,9,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>10	10	10	11	11	9	10	11	11	10	11	10	11	10	10	11
	Nottinghamshire	365" onclick="a(0,372426338,10,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>11	13	11	11	11	11	11	11	13	13	11	13	11	12	13	13
	Somerset	365" onclick="a(0,372426339,12,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>13	11	13	13	11	11	11	13	13	12	11	13	15	11	13	11
	Middlesex	365" onclick="a(0,372426336,11,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>12	11	11	15	15	9	13	11	15	17	15	11	9	13	11	16
	Sussex	365" onclick="a(0,372426341,14,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>15	15	15	15	17	15	17	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15.5
	Warwickshire	365" onclick="a(0,372426342,16,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>17	17	17	17	15	15	17	17	15	13	17	17	15	15	17	17
	Yorkshire	365" onclick="a(0,372429538,16,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>17	17	15	15	17	17	17	17	17	13	15	17	13	15	17	14.5
	Hampshire	365" onclick="a(0,372426332,12,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>13	15	17	15	13	15	15	13	17	15	15	15	19	15	17	17
	Gloucestershire	365" onclick="a(0,372426331,16,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>17	17	13	15	17	23	17	17	17	17	21	17	17	19	17	20
	Surrey	365" onclick="a(0,372426340,20,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>21	17	15	23	19	15	21	26	19	21	15	15	17	21	17	30
	Worcestershire	365" onclick="a(0,372426343,25,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>26	21	21	26	23	21	21	26	23	19	21	21	19	23	21	28
	Northamptonshire	365" onclick="a(0,372426337,25,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>26	21	21	29	21	23	26	21	23	21	26	26	29	21	21	28
	Glamorgan	365" onclick="a(0,372426330,40,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>41	34	34	34	29	29	34	41	41	29	34	26	26	34	41	27
	Leicestershire	365" onclick="a(0,372426335,40,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>41	34	34	41	41	34	41	41	34	41	34	34	29	34	41	42
	Derbyshire	365" onclick="a(0,372426327,40,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>41	34	34	34	34	34	34	51	41	34	34	34	34	34	41	42
Place terms		5 1/4	2 1/3	2 1/3	2 1/3	2 1/2			4 1/5	2 1/3	2 1/3		2 1/3	2 1/2

Best Price Percentage: 105.9%, Bookies Only: 108.8%

Quick run down of the format for those new to domestic cricket.

The 18 counties are split into 3 geographical groups and play each other twice. At the end of the group stages the top 2 go through to the quarter finals and the 2 best 3rd placed finishers also go through. Quarter finals are then played before the semi finals and final take place on the same day on what for me is the best day on the sporting calendar. Edgbaston hosts finals day this season. Any teams tied on points at the end of the groups are settled by H2H and then run rate.

All teams finishing in the top 3 of their group this season will go into Division 1 of next season's twenty20 league and the bottom 3 in each group into division 2. There's an extra reward for the finalists in this competition in that they qualify for the Champions League which has been scheduled for October.

I'll do a preview post for each group as with the world twenty20 clashing with this there's a lot of comings and goings.

[kevshat]

North Group

	Durham	365" onclick="a(0,373769882,21,10,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>3.1	3.75	3.5	3.5	3
	Lancashire	365" onclick="a(0,373769886,3,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>4	3.75	3.75	4.5	4
	Nottinghamshire	365" onclick="a(0,373769883,10,3,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>4.33	4	3.75	4.5	4.33
	Yorkshire	365" onclick="a(0,373769890,9,2,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>5.5	5.5	6	4.8	6
	Derbyshire	365" onclick="a(0,373769903,10,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>11	10	11	8	11
	Leicestershire	365" onclick="a(0,373769900,10,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>11	11	11	10	11

Durham made finals day last year and have Dave Warner in their side for this competition. Paul Collingwood will be with England and Shiv Chanderpaul will be in for finals day instead of Warner.

Lancashire will have VVS Laxman in as their overseas player but will only miss the regular England players - Flintoff and Anderson.

Nottinghamshire are perhaps worst hit in this group. Their overseas player is Adam Voges. Graeme Swann, Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad will be away with England and Kevin O'Brien will be with Ireland.

Yorkshire are able to play Rana Naved this season after he was released from his ICL contract but they'll be without Tim Bresnan who is with England's ODI side for the 1st few days.

Derbyshire don't miss anyone. They have Chris Rogers as overseas player throughout the tournament.

Leicestershire will be without overseas player Iain O'Brien when the world twenty20 kicks off.

[kevshat]

Mid/West/Wales group

	Somerset	365" onclick="a(0,373769854,9,4,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>3.25	3	3.25	3.75	3.25
	Warwickshire	365" onclick="a(0,373769855,3,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>4	4.5	4	4	3.75
	Gloucestershire	365" onclick="a(0,373769864,3,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>4	4.5	5	5.5	5.5
	Worcestershire	365" onclick="a(0,373769859,13,2,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>7.5	5.5	6	5	7
	Northamptonshire	365" onclick="a(0,373769858,13,2,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>7.5	8.5	8	7	6
	Glamorgan	365" onclick="a(0,373769862,10,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>11	13	9	8.5	11

Somerset won't lose anyone. Justin Langer is their overseas player throughout the competition.

Warwickshire will be without overseas player Jeetan Patel once the world twenty20 starts.

Gloucestershire will be without William Porterfield who is away with Ireland and their overseas player James Franklin who is with New Zealand although Stuart Clark could be coming in.

Worcestershire will lose Alex Kervezee who is away with Holland in the world twenty20. Ashley Noffke is the overseas player.

Northamptonshire will be without Niall O'Brien who will be with Ireland for the world twenty20. Johannes van der Wath is their overseas player for the event while Ian Harvey has been signed for the competition too.

Glamorgan will have all their players throughout the tournament. Mark Cosgrove is the overseas player for the start of it and Herschelle Gibbs takes over for the 2nd half.

[kevshat]

South Group

	Essex	365" onclick="a(0,373769925,11,4,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>3.75	4	4	4	4
	Kent	365" onclick="a(0,373769924,11,4,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>3.75	4	3.75	4	3.75
	Middlesex	365" onclick="a(0,373769926,10,3,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>4.33	4.5	5.5	4	5
	Sussex	365" onclick="a(0,373769928,6,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>7	6.5	6.5	7	6
	Hampshire	365" onclick="a(0,373769927,9,2,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>5.5	6.5	5	7.5	6
	Surrey	365" onclick="a(0,373769929,9,1,0,15); return false;" onmouseout=cellExit(this);>10	8	9	7.5	9

Essex will be hit hard. Graham Napier, Ravi Bopara and James Foster will all be away with England, Ryan ten Doeschate will be with Holland but overseas player Danish Kaneria will be at Chelmsford for the whole tournament.

Kent will also be hit hard. Captain Robert Key will be away with England for the world twenty20 while overseas player Wayne Parnell will be with South Africa. Martin van Jaarsveld captains the side.

Middlesex will be without Owais Shah and Eoin Morgan who are in England's twenty20 squad. Andrew Strauss, Tyron Henderson and Murali Kartik are expected to be included as the competition goes on.

Sussex will lose Luke Wright to England duty and overseas player Yasir Arafat who is with Pakistan. Matt Prior returns from England duty a few days in.

Hampshire will be without Kevin Pietersen and Dimitri Mascarenhas who are both with England. Imran Tahir is the overseas player who will be at the Rose Bowl for the entire competition.

Surrey only miss overseas player Grant Elliott for the world twenty20. Everyone else has avoided international call ups.

[kevshat]

2 for me outright. I've got a decent record in the outright of this event so hopefully that can continue this season.

1pt ew Nottinghamshire to win Twenty20 Cup 12/1 Stan James (1/3 1,2)

Nottinghamshire are a side who have massively underachieved in this event down the years but the signings they made in the winter I believe will set them up better in this years tournament. Alastair Brown hasn't done a lot for Notts yet but if he starts smearing it to all parts he can cause carnage. Jason Brown is a good acquisition too so Notts can have two international spinners in tandem in Brown and Patel. Kevin O'Brien has also come in from Ireland and I've seen 1st hand what he can do. The likes of Broad, Sidebottom and Swann will be big misses but they could be back if Notts can get to the latter stages of the tournament. Even so, a bowling attack of Ealham, Adams, Pattinson and Fletcher is nothing to be sniffed at. Wagh, Patel and Voges have plenty of runs in them and in a weak group initially I'm confident Notts can progress, possibly with the home draw and go from there.

1pt ew Hampshire to win Twenty20 Cup 18/1 Totesport (1/2 1,2)

I'm biased here but I like what Hampshire are doing this year and I believe we've got the side to win this competition. Down the years, our main problem has been the South Group and how tough it is but this year we're going to be massively helped by Middlesex, Essex and Kent all being depleted by the world twenty20. As I always say in this once you are through the group stage then it's wide open and I believe Hampshire have a great chance to qualify this season. Michael Lumb is in the form of his life with the bat while Imran Tahir could be very hard to face. Dominic Cork is loving his cricket and with the likes of Mascarenhas and potentially Kevin Pietersen in Hampshire colours should we get as far as finals day, this 18/1 which has been quoted will be a big price.

[WoodyTHFC]

Outrights:

Somerset 14/1 3 pts e.w (1/2 odds 2 places) and to win Mid/Wales/West group 11/4 tote 10 pts Somerset have had a real mixed bag of a 20 20 history. They are previous winners yet they also have had several poor campaigns when they haven’t come close to getting out of their group. However this year they must arrive into this event with a good boost following in the main a good FP campaign. They won their group in that easily and only just found Sussex too good in a high scoring q/f. They probably have one of the best batting line ups in the country. Trescothick, Kieswetter, Langer, Hildreth, De Bruyn, Trego there is real substance to their batting and also some devastating hitters. It goes almost without saying their bowling isn’t as strong and can go round the park at times. However for all of that in Willoughby and Thomas they have two good 20 20 bowlers. Willoughby one of the most economical of all time and Thomas good enough to play an international 20 20 for SA and a class operator at the death. Banks can provide a spin option. So whilst there are concerns with their bowling, I think their batting is powerful enough to get them out of the weakest group imo and possible as winners, from then on, their firepower will always ensure they are a threat.

Nottinghamshire 12/1 wh 3 pts e.w (1/2 odds 2 places) and to win north group 7/2 tote 10 pts Notts are in a tough group with durham, lancs and yorks the main threats. However they are a strong line up and still capable of coming through that group even though it will be difficult. At their best, they can be good in 20 20 as shown with a near miss in 2004 and they have such depth to their squad. Even without Swann, Sidebottom and Broad they still have a good enough bowling line up with guys like Pattinson, Franks, Ealham, promising Fletcher, Adams and crucially good spin options in Patel and Brown. Their batting has some class acts like Patel, Brown, Jefferson, Voges and late order strength from the likes of Ealham and Read. What helps is the encouraging start to the season in both county and FP and that only breeds some confidence. Whilst they are not always the best team to rely on under pressure, they are still a very talented team and could go well in this.

Hampshire 18/1 tote 3 pts e.w (1/2 odds 2 places) and to win south group 7/1 wh 5 pts For me the hardest group with all the teams in it having quality, the fact the 3 through from this group last year made finals day told something about this group last year and it will be just as tough this year. However Hampshire are a team on a bit of a roll having made the FP semis and despite little history in this event, they could put that right this year. Their batting hasn’t always been great in the past but has found some form lately. Lumb, Benham, Ervine and Carberry all had good enough FP campaigns and they have some useful quick scorers like Pothas, Dawson. There is no Dimi for most of this but their bowling is much boosted by the form of new signing Cork and what I like about it is that they cover the invaluable spin option with Dawson and the classy Tahir which could be so crucial.

S.Patel top tournament run scorer 40/1 sky 2 pts e.w (1/4 odds 5 places) I feel Patel may well be really keen to prove a point in this event this year. He would have been in the Eng squad but for poor fitness and will be feeling aggrieved about that having done so well for eng last year in ODIs. However this is the sort of tournament where I can see him doing well. His spin should be useful once more but I can see him scoring some runs this year from around the no.4 spot. He is a classy batsman when he gets going and as I say a good tournament would not surprise.

C.Kieswetter top tournament run scorer 22/1 buesq 2 pts e.w (1/4 odds 5 places) Kieswetter has been batting up the order for somerset lately and with lots of success in the FP when he was one of the most prolific run scorers at nearly a run a ball and in the county where he has made some runs already this season so clearly his form is good. He is a batsman who hasn’t really done it in 20 20 in the past but probably hasn’t been batting so well going into a 20 20 before and there is no reason why he can’t strike gold in this format. His is a very aggressive player when he gets going and given how I feel his side have a good chance of being in the later stages, he could get lots of opportunities to score runs.

[kevshat]

One other outright for me at the minute. I've actually taken this at 25/1 but I'll post it up at it's current price which has been slashed since the sporting life website tipped it.

1pt ew J.Denly Top Twenty20 Cup Batsman 16/1 Stan James (1/4 1,2,3,4,5)

England have called Robert Key into their world twenty20 squad but for me they called the wrong Kent opener up. I'm a huge fan of this kid. It's not a case of if he'll play for England, it's when and as I say that would've been this summer if I was a selector. Denly was the top scorer in this competition last season and he wasn't just ahead, he ended up 59 runs ahead of anyone else thanks to 5 half centuries in his 13 innings. He hits the ball very well both on the ground and over the field and he's in a side who I expect to qualify and be dangerous in the event. He comes into this tournament off the back of a good century on the TV on Wednesday and I'm sure the runs will flow from his bat again in this competition.

There's a few other bets I'm toying over which I'll sleep on and come back with in the morning.

[WoodyTHFC]

Somerset outright price is with tote. Four for the first set of matches:

Hampshire to beat Sussex 10/11 sky 10 pts I spoke about hampshire in the outright post, they are an inform team who have a nice balance as well. In Sussex they face another inform team who like hampshire are in the FP semi. They key towards Sussex's form has been their strong batting line up with the likes of Joyce, goodwin and Yardy and they have scored a lot of runs lately. However their bowling attack has been expensive lately and whilst they have several spin options as they showed at the weekend, they dont have soemone of Tahir's class which could be extremely important. Its a tougish call between two teams in good form but hampshire just nick it for me.

Warwickshire to beat Northamptonshire evens cor 10 pts Warwickshire will have a massive point to prove here after the miscalculations of last wed which left them one run short of FP qualification and wil look to do it against a somewhat erratic Northants side. In theory this northants side could be dangerous in the 20 20 format with quite a few big hitting batsman, more so than Warwickshire who really only have Carter as a real slasher. However Northants are a side who seem to often have trouble in consistently putting together a run of form and also some of their big hitting batsmen could fidn it hard against the bears' fairly useful attack. Woakes, Carter, Patel combine a strongish bears bowling line up and if the can restrict the steelbacks they may win this.

Nottinghamshire to beat Durham evens sky 10 pts Again this goes back to my outright and my positive words towards notts. They have great strength in their squad and that means that even with eng call ups, they still have a good side out on a regular basis. Also their form is pretty good so far this season and that contrasts with Durham. Durham havent won yet in the county and were poor in the FP trophy. They won a few games late on but that was all to late and far too often their much haunted bowling line up, suffering with some injuries/Eng call ups went for too many. Given the better form of the notts side and the slight edge they have for me in the bowling attack given current form, they are the pick.

Gloucestershire to beat Worcestershire 10/11 sj 10 pts Will be interesting to see how Worcestershire bounce back here. They played some good stuff in the FP at times but had a shocking ending with a humiliating loss and choke to ire to miss out never mind on a home q/f, but a q/f of any sort. Gloucester in contrast didnt let slip their good FP start and won their group in good fashion. Undoubtedly under Bracewell they are returning to something like their one day/shortened format form of the early part of this decade. It was only 2 seasons back that a poor last over from greenidge cost them the trophy in the final against kent and I can see the team with the better form and 20 20 pedigree winning this.

[kevshat]

If you're the 1st to post match bets up can you copy the prices into your post .

Tomorrow's match prices:

Monday 25 May 2009	Home	Away	BPP
	Hampshire v Sussex (14:30 BST)	1.9	2.02	101.89 %
	Northamptonshire v Warwickshire (14:30 BST)	2	1.86	103.76 %
	Nottinghamshire v Durham (14:30 BST)	2	1.9	102.38 %
	Yorkshire v Leicestershire (14:30 BST)	1.62	2.3	105.21 %
	Middlesex v Surrey (14:40 BST)	2	2	100.00 %
	Kent v Essex (15:00 BST)	1.9	2	102.38 %
	Worcestershire v Gloucestershire (15:00 BST)	1.92	1.9	104.46 %
	Glamorgan v Somerset (18:30 BST)	2.37	1.62	103.83 %

[WoodyTHFC]

I will do what I want to thank you very much.

[RussP]

Originally Posted by WoodyTHFC

I will do what I want to thank you very much.

Touchy touchy.

[kevshat]

Originally Posted by RussP

Touchy touchy.

.

Nice to see everyone wanting to help others out eh .

Some more outrights for me.

1pt ew Worcestershire to win Twenty20 Cup 25/1 Ladbrokes (1/5 1,2,3,4)

Worcestershire look a big price to me here. Sure it's no doubt inflated because of their defeat to Ireland in the FPT but that happens from time to time. Lancashire lost to Scotland in it last season and they're in the semi final this season. Looking at Worcestershire's side, they've got possibly the best opening combo in county cricket, although obviously Denly and Key will have something to say about that. Their middle order can score runs too while Ashley Noffke and Kabir Ali when he's fit again can get the long handle out. Both of those will be tight with the ball and they've 2 experienced spinners in Batty and Fisher which generally is key in this event. It's amazing how poor Worcester's record is in this event especially given their recent successes in Pro40 but that itself shows the potential they have in this event and with them in a wide open group I'll take them with Ladbrokes knowing we get paid out at 5/1 if they only make finals day.

1pt Glamorgan to win Mid/Wales/West Group 12/1 Betfred

This is a huge price in a group where time after time everyone beats everyone else. I don't buy the Somerset hype, their record in this other than the year they won it isn't that good and it's no use being able to score 200 if you can concede 201 just as easily and we saw a prime example of that at the weekend. Most sides in this group will be losing players throughout the competition but Glamorgan don't and they have 3 very good spin options to back up Harris and Harrison. Mark Cosgrove is devastating when he gets going and the likes of Croft, Maynard, Wallace and Dalrymple score quickly too. Herschelle Gibbs comes in later in the event and he's still one of the best batsmen around. Glamorgan are no certs in this event but they've made finals day before and at 12/1 I'll take a chance they come good and top this table.

1pt M.Lumb Top Hampshire Tournament Batsman 9/4 Totesport

Michael Lumb is up against Michael Carberry, Sean Ervine and Chris Benham in this market.

I mentioned on Saturday having watched Michael Lumb 1st hand how good a one day batsman he's turning into and he was excellent for the Hawks in this event last season. His cover driving has been brilliant recently and whenever it's on his pads it's adios amigo. He's the only one of this quartet who opens the innings, an advantage in itself but he's also in a rich vein of form and over the course of the tournament I expect Michael Lumb to lead Hampshire's run chart.

1pt M.Ramprakash Top Surrey Tournament Batsman 5/2 Totesport

Mark Ramprakash is up against Scott Newman, Usman Afzaal and Grant Elliott in this market.

Mark Ramprakash continues to churn the runs out in county cricket and twenty20 is no different. The danger to this market is that Ramprakash doesn't play much but I think he'll play and when he does I expect him to score heavily as he has in the past. This will be a 3 horse race with Grant Elliott at the world twenty20 for a lot of the event. Scott Newman may be the live danger while Usman Afzaal is very capable but Ramprakash has the record behind to suggest he'll take some stopping again.

1pt A.McGrath Top Yorkshire Tournament Batsman 11/5 Totesport

Anthony McGrath is up against Jacques Rudolph, Michael Vaughan and Gerard Brophy in this market.

Anthony McGrath was the 2nd highest scorer in the whole competition last season and that was despite Yorkshire only playing group matches. That showed what sort of competition he had and I expect the same from him this season now that he's captain. His runs will be needed in a Yorkshire side who are a batsman light. Everyone in this market are capable of scoring runs but I like McGrath's style in one day cricket. He doesn't panic and when he hits a ball it stays hit. He can find gaps or go over the top and I think he has a decent chance of beating these 3, especially if he reproduces last season's form.

[notorious7]

3 for me today (prices are already listed above):

Surrey to beat Middlesex
Middlesex being priced up due to their tag of being champions here. They are missing Strauss, Shah, Morgan, and most importantly they are also going to be missing Murali Kartik. He has shown last year, and in the IPL just recently that he is a superb bowler in this format of the game. When bowling alongside Udal in the middle overs they have the ability to completely slow down a team's scoring rate whilst applying pressure which often brings about wickets. Henderson back is obviously a plus, but I just can't fancy a bowling attack of Finn, Silverwood, Udal, Henderson, and Berg/Dexter. Surrey on the other hand have everyone available. Nel, Schofield, Afzaal, and Spriegel are all wicket taking bowlers and should have enough about them today to restrict Middlesex's depleted squad.

Hampshire to beat Sussex
Sussex have a very decent batting lineup with Smith and Wright likely to return today. Add them to the likes of Goodwin and Yardy and you have a very decent looking side on paper. However, I personally feel that they will be lacking in the bowling department, particularly in the crucial middle overs. Their team contains quite a few part time bowlers/all rounders which in this format are always vulnerable. Smith, Wright, Hamilton-Brown, Yardy are all hittable, especially with the Hampshire batsmen in good nick. The big advantage that they have however imo, is the 2 specialist spinners in the middle overs which are often crucial to restricting runs/taking key wickets.

Yorkshire to beat Leicestershire

Simply a difference in quality/class between these 2 teams in my opinion. Yorkshire batsmen in good form coming into this game having chased down 329 in their last game. They have a very good blend of players who can smash the ball, as well as players who can knock it around and be stable bases for partnerships. Rana Naved likely to play and is superb in this format with both bat and ball. Has experience bowling at the death as well at the highest level, which will also usually be an advantage here. It's just hard to fancy Leicestershire in the shorter format - they rely heavily on 1/2 batsmen hence are always liable to a collapse, and their bowlers on the face of it do not appear suited to this format.

[kevshat]

to PL notorious7. Good luck with your bets, especially that 2nd one

[Charlie Wong]

Outright Winner
Sussex @ 14/1 ew(2places, 1/3)
Warwickshire @ 16/1 ew( 2 places 1/3)

just think any of the teams could win it, just need to reach finals day.


Top Batsman
Joe Denly @ 16/1(5places 1/4)
Francois du Plessis @ 20/1(5places, 1/4)
Michael Carberry @ 33/1(5places , 1/4)

all prices, bluesq.

[RussP]

Originally Posted by Charlie Wong

Outright Winner
Sussex @ 14/1 ew(2places, 1/3)
Warwickshire @ 16/1 ew( 2 places 1/3)

just think any of the teams could win it, just need to reach finals day.


Top Batsman
Joe Denly @ 16/1(5places 1/4)
Francois du Plessis @ 20/1(5places, 1/4)
Michael Carberry @ 33/1(5places , 1/4)

all prices, bluesq.

Any reasoning mate?

[notorious7]

Not a fan of top batsmen markets myself, but if I were to have a bet I'd be going:

James Hildreth @ 28
First very important factor - He plays at Taunton! If anywhere is going to get consistent 175+ scores it is at Somerset. I feel Trescothick is rightfully favourite in this market, but he is too short at 10s. Hildreth usually comes in at 3 which is a favourable position for this type of market. If Somerset get off to a flyer, his job will be to come in and maintain the scoring rate with a free role to attack. If they lose early wickets, then his job will change to consolidate and try to bat a long period of time before attacking. This is favourable in this type of market imo as you have both scenarios on your side. Numbers 3 and 4 are usually crucial in 20-20 as we saw in the recent IPL with Raina, Dilshan etc. At the odds and considering the ground he plays at, price is value imo.

Hamish Marshall @ 25
Just a class batsmen, who is more than good enough to be playing at any level. He will be crucial to Gloucestershire's chances, and has shown his prowess in this format in the ICL tournament. He can score quickly, but can also bat for decent periods of time. The risk is that his team isn't great, and they may not get too far in the competition. However if they are to do well then a lot rests on Marshall and 25's is too big for someone of his class.

[kevshat]

3 bets for me this afternoon, 2 matches and a top bat in the TV game. I quite like Surrey in that match but I'm wary of the Max Oram curse .

3pts Northants to beat Warwickshire Evs Totesport

Northants haven't made the best start to their one day season but injuries have killed them. They have Steven Crook and Johannes van der Wath back today though and they can both bring out the long handle and bowl a tidy 4 overs or so. Ian Harvey comes into the squad and along with Andrew Hall will not only provide quick scoring at the top of the innings, they'll also be very hard to get away at the death. Monty and Nicky Boje will turn it as can David Willey while Rob White can destroy any attack as can Niall O'Brien and Riki Wessels.

Warwickshire did a lot better in the FP Trophy but they'll be without Ian Bell in this match and possibly Tim Ambrose too. They have a young side out, especially in their bowling attack. I'm wary of the fact Warwickshire strolled this group last season but although Jeetan Patel strengthens them a bit, the injury to Darren Maddy is a huge loss. Home advantage is often a big thing in this event and I think Northants can use that to win their opener this afternoon.

1pt T.Henderson Top Middlesex Batsman 6/1 Coral (1/5 1,2,3)

Tyron Henderson showed last year what he can do in this format and although he failed in the IPL that didn't totally surprise me as I don't think he's up to that standard. Today he takes his place in a weakened line up with the absence of Owais Shah and Eoin Morgan. Neil Dexter is in excellent form and looked very good at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. For me, Dawid Malan is massively talented but is living a bit off that century at The Oval last season. I expect Henderson to bat in the top 4 and when he gets in nobody will score quicker than him while he's there and he's my call in this match.

3pts Essex to beat Kent Evs Blue Square

Essex will be hit hard with international callup's later in the event but today they have Foster, Napier and ten Doeschate in their side and I expect them to go and beat a Kent side who haven't fired yet. The loss of Yasir Arafat to Sussex is a huge one and they've not found a death bowler yet. Ryan McLaren still isn't back and he's another who Kent have missed badly.

Essex will only be without Ravi Bopara but they have Alastair Cook in the squad with the likes of Varun Chopra and Grant Flower in good form. David Masters is bowling brilliantly at the minute and Danish Kaneria will always be dangerous. Kent have Denly in good nick and van Jaarsveld and Kemp can score big runs with Mahmood the long handle expert down the back end. Their bowling attack leaks too many without McLaren though and no Parnell today doesn't help them either. Essex have the stronger squad and I fancy their big players getting the job done for them today.

[notorious7]

Anyone know what's going on with the Hampshire match? Thought it was supposed to start at 2:30... rain I assume?

edit - not to worry, on bbc now.

[kevshat]

Originally Posted by notorious7

Anyone know what's going on with the Hampshire match? Thought it was supposed to start at 2:30... rain I assume?

edit - not to worry, on bbc now.

Just cricinfo and the rest not updating. Sussex made 133/9 off their 20 overs. Hampshire 4/0 in the 1st over.