Match Details:
The Central Group match of the T20 Blast 2020 will be played between Worcestershire and Somerset at Edgbaston, Birmingham
The Match is scheduled to start at 1:05 PM local time (5:35 PM IST) and the match is being streamed live on Sky Sports Cricket.
Preview:
The Central Group of the ongoing T20 Blast will see the Worcestershire and Somerset locking horns on Thursday. The former team is yet to win a match while Somerset are coming off an exceptional show against Glamorgan. While Ben Green shone with the ball (4/26), the skipper Tom Abell’s 74 helped them chase down a mammoth total. With Babar Azam and and Lewis Gregory joining the team, Somerset start this match as favourites.
Weather Report:
The temperature is expected to hover around 19 Degrees Celsius during the match with no chance of rain at all.
Pitch Condition/Report:
The Edgbaston pitch is a decent one for both batsmen and bowlers and the team winning the toss is expected to bowl first.
Average first innings score: 160(last 5 matches played at this venue)
Record of chasing teams: Won –2 , Lost –3 , Tied –0
Injury and Availability News:
Babar Azam and Lewis Gregory are available for selection after the conclusion of T20I series between England and Pakistan.
Probable Playing XIs:
Worcestershire
Hamish Rutherford, Riki Wessels, Jack Haynes, Jake Libby, Brett Doliveira, Ben Cox(wk), Ross Whiteley, Ed Barnard (c), Daryl Mitchell, Dillon Pennington, Charlie Morris
Bench: Patrick Brown, Josh Tongue, Adam Finch, Ben Twohig
Somerset
Babar Azam, Steven Davies(wk), James Hildreth, Tom Abell, Eddie Byrom, Ben Green, Lewis Gregory (c), Roelof van der Merwe, Ollie Sale, Josh Davey, Max Waller
Bench: Tom Lammonby, George Bartlett
Top Picks:
Jack Haynes has score 23 and 41 runs in two matches so far. Hamish Rutherford is a very good player but is yet to strike well in this season. He has so far scored 35 runs in two outings. Tom Abell has smashed 79 runs in two matches at a strike-rate of 146 while Babar Azam will bolster Somerset’s batting. He is coming off a decent T20I series against England and had done well for Somerset last year too.
Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:
Captain Options – Tom Abell, Jack Haynes, James Hildreth, Babar Azam
Vice-Captain Options – Brett Doliveira, Roelof van der Merwe, Hamish Rutherford
Suggested Playing XI No.1 for Fantasy Cricket:
Keeper – Steve Davies
Batters – Hamish Rutherford, Jack Haynes, Tom Abell, Babar Azam (VC), Ben Green
All-Rounders – Brett D’ Oliveira (VC), Roelof van der Merwe
Bowlers – Dillon Pennington, Ollie Sale, Max Waller
12th Man – Ben Cox
Suggested Playing XI No.2 for Fantasy Cricket:
Keeper – Ben Cox
Batters –Riki Wessels, Jack Haynes, James Hildreth (C), Babar Azam
All-Rounders – Brett D’Oliveira, Jake Libby, Lewis Gregory (VC)
Bowlers – Dillon Pennington, Ollie Sale, Max Waller
12th Man – Steve Davies
Expert Advice:
Max Waller picked two wickets so far in as many matches and has been economical. He is a good choice to be picked in the bowlers category.
Probable Winners:
Somerset is expected to win this match.
