T20 Blast Finals Day : Preview + Predictions
As the summer draws to a close, one big day remains before our focus turns to the UAE for the IPL and then the T20 World Cup. Even with the Hundred’s success, the Blast finals day is still a key date in the calendar for county fans across the country. Here, I preview what we could see from the four teams left…
Hampshire
Vince (C)
Prest
Weatherley
Alsop
McManus
Dawson
Fuller
Abbott
Wood
Crane
Wheal
Strengths :
Hampshire boast a bowling line-up with a lot of variety, including a left-arm angle in Chris Wood, a leg-spinner in Mason Crane and a gun overseas quick in Kyle Abbott
They also come into finals day on the back of six straight wins, including a two-run victory over defending champs Nottinghamshire
Key player : James Vince - the Hampshire captain is by far the best player in an otherwise weak batting line-up and has led by example this year, with 371 runs
Somerset
Banton
Smeed
Hildreth
Abell
Lammonby
Gregory (C)
Van Der Merwe
Overton
De Lange
Leach
Davey
Strengths :
Somerset’s young batsmen have made quite the impression this summer, with Banton, Smeed and Lammonby starring both in the Blast and the Hundred
Their bowling group is also exceptional, featuring international pedigree from Gregory, Leach and Overton
Key player : Tom Abell - Somerset’s red ball captain has passed fifty three times in four innings in the Blast, including an unbeaten 78 to see off Lancashire
For me, Hampshire are the weakest team left as their batting simply can’t stack up against the other three teams. The Hawks can probably muster a decent score in the 130-150 range but I don’t see it being enough against a side with the depth of talent that Somerset possess.
Winners : SOMERSET
Sussex
Salt
Wright (C)
Bopara
Rawlins
Wiese
Garton
Jordan
Carson
Beer
Lenham
Mills
Strengths :
That bowling line-up has already propelled Southern Brave to a title this year and will be looking to do so once more before Chris Jordan departs to Surrey
Luke Wright has been in amazing form this year, scoring 360 runs at a strike rate of 153
Key player : Phil Salt - outside their opening partnership, Sussex’s batting has been somewhat inconsistent so they will want one last big score from Salt before he joins Lancashire
Kent
Crawley
Bell-Drummond
Denly
Billings (C)
Leaning
Cox
Stevens
Stewart
Klaassen
Milnes
Ahmad
Strengths :
Kent have arguably the most dominant opening partnership in the country, with both Crawley and Bell-Drummond striking at 150+
Their bowling isn’t too shabby either with the highest remaining wicket-taker Matt Milnes (18 wickets) alongside Qais Ahmad’s leg-spin
Key player : Sam Billings - the Kent captain’s return from England duty was crucial in them securing a spot at finals day, scoring 56 against the Bears and he will be looking to enter this winter in good form
I expect this game to be a lot closer than the first semi-final but (even as a Kent fan), I fancy Sussex to shade it due to their superior bowling unit neutralising Kent’s firepower at the death.
Winners : SUSSEX
Again this one should be close but for the second time in the day, I expect Sussex’s bowlers to come up trumps when it matters most and close out a well-deserved title in spite of some fireworks early on from Banton, with Jordan and Salt finishing their Sussex careers in style.