THE BLAST: The cricket season is in full swing with a variety of T20 and Test fixtures across the country to pick from. We preview three matches from this weekend’s Vitality Blast below, alongside some of our recommended BETDAQ bets.
Gloucestershire v Surrey – Friday 18:45
Gloucestershire come into this fixture having won only one of their opening four Vitality Blast games. Touted as one of the Southern division’s outsiders before the commencement of the tournament, it’s no surprise Jack Taylor’s men have started their campaign slowly, although their two-run win over Middlesex on Monday shows that they are capable of putting on decent scores on tricky pitches, with Grant Roelofsen and Miles Hammond impressing in particular.
Surrey were and remain one of the tournament’s outright favourites and have tasted victory in three of their opening four fixtures – that one defeat coming at the Oval against Sussex in the final over. Their mammoth innings against Kent – including an exhilarating century from Sean Abbott – shows they are able to compose big totals when the conditions are right, with the Curran brothers in particular providing great depth both from a bowling and batting perspective.
It’s difficult to look part Surrey here. They’ve taken a strong travelling squad and with Gloucestershire’s top order struggling to hit decent strike rates against spin, this looks a game in which Sunil Narine can flourish in. Backing Surrey at 1.46 with BETDAQ Betting Exchange is the play.
Gloucestershire v Surrey markets
Essex v Hampshire – Friday 19:00
Essex are one of just two sides in the Southern division to have a 100% win rate in all their games – although admittedly they have only played in two fixtures so far compared to the rest of the league’s four. Their opening game against Gloucestershire saw them impressively chase down 196 with five balls to spare, with Feroze Khushi and Robin Das both making impressive scores at strike rates of over 200. Tom Westley’s cameo also proved they have batting depth in their ranks, so progression for the next stage should be aspired to.
Hampshire have endured a difficult start to this year’s tournament, putting only 74 on the board in their opening game against division-leaders Somerset and then falling to a 6-wicket loss to Surrey in their most recent fixture. A comfortable win against Middlesex at the Rose Bowl sandwiched in-between those two defeats proves there is plenty of ability within their ranks, with James Vince’s brilliant 88* seeing him become the leading run scorer in Blast history.
Hampshire have proved they can chase down scores with their quality at the top of the order and start this fixture as the narrow favourites, but we’re anticipating an Essex victory here. As such, backing Essex to make it three wins out of three at 2.04 is the selection.
Derbyshire v Warwickshire – Friday 19:00
Our final game comes from the Northern division as Warwickshire, one of the standout teams across the country in the opening couple of weeks, face Derbyshire. Alex Davies’ men have been mightily impressive in their first four Blast fixtures, beating the likes of Yorkshire and Lancashire by huge margins, and hold the strongest net run rate by a huge distance. When batting first, the west Midlands side have posted over 200 on both occasions, with Rob Yates and Saim Hain making meaningful contributions, although interestingly Australia’s Glenn Maxwell has only scored two runs in as many games.
Derbyshire come into this fixture after winning their first game of the tournament against Leicestershire on Thursday. That game saw them defend 189 by the skin of their teeth, with Wayne Madsen scoring a memorable century and Mark Watt (1-26) impressing with his four overs. They have interestingly batted first in all of their four games and may want to consider switching it up if they are to detach themselves from their current seventh-placed position in the Northern division.
Derbyshire were much improved in their most recent fixture, but this Warwickshire side look a real unit in these opening Blast weeks. With Glenn Maxwell still yet to tee off there seems even more to come for Warwickshire, so we’re backing them at 1.39 to make it five wins out of five.
Derbyshire v Warwickshire markets
