7th July 2012
Hampshire vs Essex Betting: Essex's inconsistent T20 campaign can come to an end with defeat at Hampshire
The Friends Life T20 group stages conclude on Sunday and the televised action once again comes from the South Group as Hampshire take on Essex in a match with plenty of implications on it. Essex need to win in order to make it into the knockout stages while Hampshire could secure a home quarter final with a big win so there is all to play for. Hampshire will go into the game as 4/5 favourites with Coral.
Hampshire go into the match off the back of an excellent run where they haven’t been beaten since the second match of the tournament. They have won five and had a washout in their last six matches so they will be in good spirits despite Matt Prior’s blitz for Sussex against them before the rain arrived. Hampshire know they are in the quarter finals so now it is all about pushing for a home tie.
Essex have everything on the line here. They have to win else their tournament is over. They come into the match off the back of a good win at Kent on Friday night where Owais Shah made a return from a calf injury. Mark Pettini has been going well with the bat but Essex have been rather inconsistent in the tournament so far and part of the reason for that is that their bowling attack all seems a bit mundane and the same pace.
Hampshire have the better form of these two coming into the match and having won the reverse fixture they will know what it takes to beat Essex. Hampshire will want a home quarter final to boost the coffers and with the likes of Mascarenhas, Maxwell, Ervine and Briggs all good players in this format they have the quality to get the job done. Essex lack a genuine batsman to me and their bowling attack is all too similar to each other. I like the variety that the Royals have and it is them for me here.
Back Hampshire to beat Essex for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Coral
- Register at Coral
Author: 'Arry Allsports
