T20 Blast: Friday Cricket Preview

While other teams are making signings to strengthen their hopes of success in the Vitality T20 Blast, Glamorgan are thinking of what might have been.

The Welsh county’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages ended with their recent 20-run home defeat by Sussex.

That means, with two games to go, they cannot make the top four of the South Group and will head to the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Friday to face Hampshire, with only pride to play for.

Hampshire, in third, are well placed to make the knockout stages and their record of seven victories from five games compares favourably to Glamorgan’s five victories.

DragonBet have Hampshire as firm favourites at 4/7 for the win, with Glamorgan priced at 13/10.

Kiran Carlson’s side have won three and lost six of their nine T20 matches at the Ageas Bowl with their most recent success coming in 2018 by 63 runs.

Elsewhere, Somerset have brought in Ish Sodhi for their final two group games.

They have already qualified for a home quarter-final – but players must be registered in the group stage of the competition to be eligible to play in the knockout stages.

Sodhi will act as cover for Peter Siddle (hand), Roelof van der Merwe (finger), Lewis Gregory (finger) and Lewis Goldsworthy (rib) who are all sidelined through recent injuries.

“Everyone is aware of the injuries that we have picked up to senior players over the last week or so,” said Andy Hurry, Somerset’s director of cricket.

“It was imperative at such a key stage of the Vitality Blast campaign that we acted quickly and identified a player who could add real value to our squad.”

DragonBet have Somerset narrow outsiders to win at Surrey on Friday at 19/20, with Surrey at 3/4.

Nottinghamshire have signed Imad Wasim on a short-term deal as cover for Colin Munro and Samit Patel, who will miss the end of the Vitality Blast group stages through injury.

Imad was part of the Notts side that won the trophy in 2020 and returns for a third spell at Trent Bridge ahead of their final two group games, and potentially the knockouts beyond.

Notts sit fourth in the North Group and will qualify for the quarter-finals if they win either of their remaining games, both of which are at home: against Birmingham Bears on Friday, then Leicestershire on Sunday.

Notts are priced at 3/4m to beat the Bears, who are 19/20.

“We’re delighted to welcome Imad back, particularly with the memories we have with him lifting the trophy at Edgbaston three years ago,” Peter Moores, Nottinghamshire’s head coach, said.

“We have two big games at Trent Bridge with qualification in our own hands and an opportunity to still gain a home draw depending how other results go.”

Elsewhere, Worcestershire host Durham, Kent are at home to Sussex, Lancashire host Yorkshire, Essex entertain Middlesex and Derbyshire welcome Leicestershire.