THE BLAST: The Vitality Blast enters its penultimate weekend of group stage action after some record-breaking midweek fixtures. We preview two fixtures on Friday night from the Northern division, alongside some of recommended BETDAQ bets.
Warwickshire v Worcestershire – 18:30
It’s first versus second in the Northern division on Friday night as Worcestershire make the small trip to league leaders Warwickshire at Edgbaston. The ‘Birmingham Bears’ have been the standout team after winning their opening four fixtures – and likewise come into this one on a four-game winning streak after Dan Mousley’s 4/28 saw them successfully defend 180 against Yorkshire on Thursday. Four of Warwickshire’s last five wins have come after batting first, which is a testament to their skilled bowling attack that also includes Chris Woakes, who picked up 2/24 in Thursday’s win.
Worcestershire have likewise had a good week – their five wicket win against Nottinghamshire on Thursday was their third on the bounce, meaning the last group fixture they lost in this year’s Blast was against tonight’s opponents last Friday. All three of those wins have come when batting second, with small targets of 140 and 113 being set by an equally impressive bowling attack that includes Pat Brown, whose 21 wickets in this year’s tournament is only bettered by Ben Green (24).
A win for either side would see them take a giant step towards the next phase of the competition, but we particularly like the look of Warwickshire here. They have set the standards since the early stages of the tournament and will look to harness the Edgbaston crowd to give them even more of an advantage. Backing Warwickshire at 1.69 is the selection.
Warwickshire v Worcestershire markets
Durham v Yorkshire – 18:30
Durham need a miracle if they are to qualify for the latter stages of this year’s Blast, with Tuesday’s defeat to league leaders Warwickshire making it five matches without a win in an increasingly gloomy group stage campaign, although admittedly one of those matches was a dramatic tie against Derbyshire last Friday. They sit eighth in the Northern division and will have to win all three of their remaining group games in order to have any chance of reaching the quarter-finals, but hold a glimmer of hope by the fact they possess a positive run rate – largely thanks to their 10 wicket win over Northamptonshire last month.
Yorkshire have been surprisingly passive in this year’s tournament, with Thursday’s 4-run defeat to Warwickshire making it six wins and six losses from their 12 group games so far. Whilst individual players have sone throughout the tournament – Dawid Malan averaging 53.80 and Jordan Thompson collecting 20 wickets – the Vikings have let their grip on a quarter-final spot slip in recent matches following three straight defeats, and will travel north to the Riverside Ground in dire need of a good result.
Yorkshire start as the favourites and possess the more intimidating squad, but we’re boldly backing Durham here. The Vikings have been sloppy in recent run chases – including a dismal 144-run loss to Derbyshire last Sunday – and seem bereft of confidence at the moment. Backing Durham at 2.1 is the play.
