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:
North Group
Worcestershire Rapids vs Notts Outlaws – 17:30 BST
Yorkshire Vikings vs Birmingham Bears – 18:30 BST
South Group
Gloucestershire vs Sussex Sharks – 18:30 BST
Surrey vs Middlesex – 18:30 BST
Essex Eagles vs Kent Spitfires – 19:00 BST
WORCESTERSHIRE RAPIDS VS NOTTS OUTLAWS
THE PREDICTION
Worcestershire Rapids have taken a number of big scalps across the North Group this season and their most recent win over Lancashire Lightning may well be the biggest of them all. Confidence and momentum within their camp is clearly at a massive high and they have already proven their capability of going on a winning run earlier in the tournament. Notts Outlaws meanwhile, are tough opposition with formidable players. But have shown a worrying lack of consistency and been beaten previously by the Rapids at Trent Bridge. If Worcestershire can keep the likes of Alex Hales and Joe Clarke quiet at the top of the Notts batting order, then they are more than capable of completing an impressive double.
TIP: WORCESTERSHIRE RAPIDS TO WIN
YORKSHIRE VIKINGS VS BIRMINGHAM BEARS
THE PREDICTION
Yorkshire Vikings seem to have lost form at just the wrong time, recording consecutive T20 Blast defeats against Derbyshire Falcons and Northamptonshire Steelbacks respectively. It doesn’t get any easier for them here with North Group leaders Birmingham Bears visiting Headingley. The Bears have won seven of their ten group matches so far and are rightly considered one of the strongest batting units in the competition. Playing on a ground such is Headingley is likely suit them and makes the Bears well worth backing to come out on top.
TIP: BIRMINGHAM BEARS TO WIN
GLOUCESTERSHIRE VS SUSSEX SHARKS
THE PREDICTION
Gloucestershire kept their slim South Group qualification hopes alive with a DLS aided eight-wicket victory at home to Hampshire Hawks last time out. This game at home to Sussex Sharks serves as another must-win contest for Miles Hammond’s side when taking into account the struggles of Sussex over the course of this year’s T20 Blast. Motivation is likely to be low among the Sharks’ camp ahead of this long trip to Bristol after a loss at the hands of Kent Spitfires which all-but ended their already small chances of a top four finish. A resurgent Gloucestershire may well be in a prime position to capitalise here.
TIP: GLOUCESTERSHIRE TO WIN
SURREY VS MIDDLESEX
THE PREDICTION
If this was an English Premier League football fixture, Surrey would be challenging for the title, whilst Middlesex would be heading for the lowest points total in Premier League history. The gap between these two teams is that of a chasm and never has a T20 Blast fixture been so mismatched. No points from a possible 20 and ten losses from ten for the visitors sees them battling to avoid the most humiliating of Blast campaigns, whilst Surrey continue to battle it out to finish top of the South Group. At home with the players at their disposal and a sold-out crowd behind, they have no excuse not just to win this London derby but to win by a significant margin.
TIP: SURREY TO WIN
ESSEX EAGLES VS KENT SPITFIRES
THE PREDICTION
Some serious spice has been added to this ‘Battle of the Bridge’ following Kent Spitfires’ four-match winning streak which has elevated them right back into contention for South Group qualification. Victory at Chelmsford would take them to within two points of Essex Eagles, who were beaten convincingly on their home ground last time out against Somerset. Momentum can serve as a difference-maker in the T20 Blast and rarely does a season go by where we see a previously struggling team not sneak into the top knockout stage through the back door following a dramatic late winning run. It would be no surprise if 2021 T20 Blast champions Kent ended up being that side in 2023 and backing them to overcome Essex is worth serious consideration.
TIP: KENT SPITFIRES TO WIN
