2023 T20 Blast Preview & Betting Tips – 19/06/23
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
Where can I get tickets for the T20 Blast? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for the T20 Blast
What channel is the T20 Blast on in the UK? Sky Sports have the rights to show the T20 Blast so it is worth checking their schedule here
Where can I stream the T20 Blast in the UK? Matches that are televised on Sky Sports can be streamed live on Sky Go. If not televised on Sky, this match can be streamed live on the official websites and YouTube channels of each competing team
THE FIXTURES
Below is a list of the day’s fixtures:
South Group
Essex Eagles vs Somerset – 19:00 BST
ESSEX EAGLES VS SOMERSET
THE LOWDOWN
ESSEX EAGLES
Essex Eagles haven’t looked back since their narrow defeat at Taunton earlier in the tournament. Such a loss was tough to take with them having had the game in the palm of their hands for so long, but ultimately letting it slip. Their response since, has been excellent with a number of young batters coming to the fore for them, whilst the bowling attack has remained fairly miserly throughout the competition so far.
Following the news that Essex academy graduate and England Test batter Dan Lawrence will leave the club at the end of the season to join Surrey, the expectation is that he won’t feature for the Eagles across the rest of the campaign. This is likely to mean more chances for the likes of Robin Das and Josh Rymell in the team. Bowlers Shane Snater and Ben Allison are likely to be competing for one spot in the starting XI alongside the likes of Sam Cook and Daniel Sams.
SOMERSET
Somerset’s return to T20 Blast competition saw them beaten this past Friday night by Surrey, who overtook the Cidermen in the South Group table courtesy of a superior net-run-rate as a result. A couple of international players proved the difference between the two sides, Sam Curran and Chris Jordan both playing a starring role for the visitors, whose 195/5 was a score that Somerset couldn’t match, Lewis Gregory’s side ultimately losing by 28 runs.
With seven wins from nine and 14 points in the bank, it would take a huge slump in results for Somerset to miss out on knockout qualification and the last time they were beaten at the hands of Hampshire Hawks, they bounced back emphatically by thrashing local rivals Gloucestershire in Bristol. With that in mind, expect them to come out of the traps firing here, knowing that they can’t afford a poor start against Essex Eagles which saw them playing catch-up throughout most of the reserve fixture, albeit Somerset did just get over the line in the end.
THE PREDICTION
This should be another very close encounter between these two teams with plenty of power-hitting, which will surely lead to another high-scoring Chelmsford battle. Somerset’s top order contains more experience and proven consistency than Essex’s although granted, the Eagles are in excellent form. They thumped the hosts here last year and seem to have the wool over them in T20 cricket, winning the last three games between the two teams in this competition, so backing Somerset to complete a double over Essex Eagles looks a shrewd move.
TIP: SOMERSET TO WIN
