2021 County Championship – Middlesex vs Hampshire Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Middlesex vs Hampshire taking place? Thursday 13th May, 2021 – 11:00 (UK)
Where is Middlesex vs Hampshire taking place? Lord's Cricket Ground, London
What is the expected weather for Middlesex vs Hampshire? Dry on Day 2, but light rain showers expected on Days 1, 3 and 4 with temperatures reaching 14c
Where can I get tickets for Middlesex vs Hampshire? The County Championship will initially be played without spectators but it is worth checking each county’s official website for updates
What channel is Middlesex vs Hampshire on? This match will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Middlesex vs Hampshire? Matches can be streamed live on the official websites and YouTube channels of the First-Class Counties alongside the England Cricket App.
THE PREDICTION
A fourth defeat in five for Middlesex last time outsees them face a mountain to climb now if they wish to finish in the top two places in Group 2, thus qualifying for Division One. Group leaders Gloucestershire proved too strong for them at Lord’s, bowling Middlesex out for 210 and 152 respectively to ultimately win by seven wickets after chasing down 93. Here, they battle another side out of form and surprisingly so following an excellent start to the season. Hampshire began their Group 2 campaign with two wins and a draw from the first three rounds of fixtures and looking like the one of the early favourites to go on and win this year’s County Championship. However, two successive defeats later and they lie third-place in the group with work to do after their most recent ten-wicket loss to Somerset saw the South West based county leapfrog them into second-place.
Bad weather could see play disrupted on all four days of this match, which benefits neither side really with both teams desperate to accrue a win and a result pitch providing assistance for seam and swing bowlers may be in use at Lord’s. Whilst Tim Murtagh will lead the bowling attacking in admirable fashion as always for Middlesex albeit without fellow seam bowler Toby Roland-Jones due to injury, a bowler friendly pitch may be just what Hampshire want with a pace attack consisting of both South African Kyle Abbott and Pakistan international Mohammad Abbas. Providing that the batters such as James Vince and Sam Northeast can back up those bowlers with runs, then Hampshire should be able to take 20 wickets for two relatively modest scores against a fragile Middlesex batting line-up and ultimately claim a crucial victory, providing the rain doesn’t wipe out too much playing time.
