2023 T20 Blast Finals Day Preview & Betting Tips – 15/07/23
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
Where is T20 Blast Finals Day taking place? T20 Blast Finals Day is taking place at Edgbaston, Birmingham
Will there be a reserve day for T20 Blast Finals Day in the event of bad weather? Yes, a reserve day is scheduled for the following day (16/07/23), should it be required.
Where can I get tickets for T20 Blast Finals Day? Tickets are sold out for T20 Blast Finals Day
What channel is T20 Blast Finals Day on in the UK? T20 Blast Finals Day will be televised live on Sky Sports through their cricket and main event channels.
Where can I stream T20 Blast Finals Day in the UK? Sky Sports subscribers can stream T20 Blast Finals Day live on Sky Go.
THE FIXTURES
Below is a list of the day’s fixtures:
Semi Finals
Essex Eagles vs Hampshire Hawks – 11:00 BST
Somerset vs Surrey – 14:30 BST
Final
Essex Eagles/Hampshire Hawks vs Somerset/Surrey – 18:45
ESSEX EAGLES VS HAMPSHIRE HAWKS
THE LOWDOWN
ESSEX EAGLES
As they did back when they last won this competition in 2019, Essex Eagles have snuck through the back door of the South Group and crashed the finals day party. Victory off the last ball against Surrey, combined with Kent Spitfires’ defeat at Somerset saw Simon Harmer’s side qualify for the knockout stage in fourth-place and this was followed up by a shock win away at North Group winners Birmingham Bears. Whilst Essex have struggled getting over the line in both of these games, likely due to their lack of confidence, they have managed to do so and will relish the underdog tag they bring with them into finals day. They are considered the rank outsiders of the four sides remaining which shouldn’t be considered a bad thing with there being no pressure on their shoulders.
HAMPSHIRE HAWKS
The reigning champions are at it again! Finishing the tournament strongly, heading into finals day with momentum behind them. All that’s left for Hampshire Hawks is them taking that final step and becoming the first ever side to successfully retain the T20 Blast. Essex’s win over Surrey combined with Hampshire’s victory against Gloucestershire was enough to secure them a home quarter-final, which they took full advantage of. The Hawks thrashed Worcestershire Rapids, by far the most comprehensive win of the four quarter-finals. It’s their bowling attack which is so strong, Chris Wood, Nathan Ellis, James Fuller and John Turner (the find of the competition) combined with Liam Dawson’s spin makes for a formidable pack whilst in-form skipper James Vince continues to plunder runs at the top of the order. He has already racked up 179 runs against Essex in this season’s T20 Blast.
THE PREDICTION
Hampshire Hawks defeated Essex Eagles twice across the group stage and rightly head into this first semi-final as big favourites to complete the hat-trick. Their top-scoring batter in Vince loves playing against Essex and it’s hard to see a shaky Eagles batting line-up getting the better of Wood, Ellis and Turner when the pressure is on them. The extra experience of Hampshire Hawks in getting over the line on finals day last year should also play in their favour and with Essex not possessing the quality of bowling compared to Hampshire, the Hawks are expected to prove too strong for them here.
TIP: HAMPSHIRE HAWKS TO WIN
SOMERSET VS SURREY
THE LOWDOWN
SOMERSET
Somerset flew through the South Group with the best performance in the history of the T20 Blast group stage, winning 12 out of a possible 14 games and accruing 24 points. However, they found themselves in a world of trouble at the quarter-final stage, having been 62/5 chasing 158 against Notts Outlaws. Step forward captain Lewis Gregory, who alongside Ben Green put on a memorable unbroken partnership of 96, a record T20 stand for the sixth wicket for the Cidermen, lighting up Taunton and seeing the hosts home with three balls to spare. This is their third appearance at Finals Day in as many years, losing in the final to Kent Spitfires in 2021 and beaten last year by eventual champions Hampshire Hawks. But this year, Somerset look well and truly ready to go all the way with the most fearsome top order in the competition, consisting of openers Will Smeed and Tom Banton with Tom Kohler Cadmore in at three and Tom Abell at four. Add in Gregory and Green down the order for additional depth and it’ll take an exceptional bowling performance to stop them.
SURREY
Many expected inaugural T20 Blast winners Surrey to storm through to finals day with the squad at their disposal, but it has been far from plain sailing. A poor second half of the group stage saw them struggle at the Kia Oval in particular and defeat at the hands of Essex in their final match cost them a home quarter-final. This saw Chris Jordan’s side travel to Manchester and face Lancashire Lightning in a high-quality contest. An excellent all-round display from Surrey’s all-star bowling attack saw them successfully defend 187/5 and subject Lancashire to their first T20 Blast defeat at Emirates Old Trafford for three years. Jordan in particular was magnificent, as was Sean Abbott, who closed the game out expertly in the 20th over.
THE PREDICTION
Both these two sides gained victory against each other away from home in the group stage and this looks all set to be an absolute thriller at Edgbaston. It feels like it’ll be a crucial battle between Somerset’s formidable batting unit and Surrey’s international bowling pack. Jordan, Abbott and Sam Curran will pose a significant test for the Somerset batters, but Gregory has provided some steel below them which may just give his side an edge. This one could go either way, but the superior consistency of Somerset across the tournament makes them worth backing to sneak the win.
TIP: SOMERSET TO WIN
FINAL
THE PREDICTION
Assuming both Hampshire Hawks and Somerset win their respective semi-finals then it would all be set up for a cracking 2023 T20 Blast final, which sees a repeat of the 2022 semi-final that Hampshire emerged from victorious. The two teams are well-matched, but the worry from a Hampshire perspective is that they are overly reliant on Vince with the bat, whilst Somerset boasts numerous match-winners down the order. Lewis Gregory’s men have been steadily strong in the T20 format for a number of years and are certainly the best team across the entirety of the competition. Therefore, Somerset have to be favoured to finally triumph again on finals day.
TIP: SOMERSET TO WIN THE 2023 T20 BLAST
