Essex vs Kent, VITALITY T20 BLAST 2021, Today Match Prediction 25 June 2021

ess vs kent Match Prediction & Analysis

We are entering into the most important phase of group games in the Vitality T20 Blast 2021 where the points table is taking shape. The Essex Eagles who are playing at home would have their task cut out. The side comes here after a thrilling win against Middlesex and shall look to continue with the same form. The Spitfires on the other hand had an ordinary outing in the last game against Gloucestershire.  

Essex Eagles don’t have the best of records against the Kent Spitfires and have lost eight times against them in the last ten games. They would be under pressure to win this game and move up on the points table. The Spitfires on the other hand shall look to improve their position further on the points table with a win in this game.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Essex Preview

Simon Harmer’s side seems to have regained some form winning the last two games and keeping their chances open for a place in the knockout stages. In a closely contested game the side won by 2 wickets against Middlesex. They had lost against the Spitfires earlier in the season and Harmer would want his side to even it out with a good show in this game. 

They would expect a good show from openers William Buttleman and Adam Wheater as this has been one of the weakness of the side this season. The middle order is looking good with Michael Pepper, Daniel Lawrence and James Neesham coming into this game with good show against Middlesex. They would also expect big hits down the order from the likes of Paul Walter and Ryan ten Doeschate. 

Their bowling attack would have to gain form quickly as they have been leaking runs in most of the games. Samuel Cook and Aron Nijjar did well in the last game and they would have to trouble the Spitfires with the new ball.  The side would however be expecting tighter spells from James Porter, Lawrence, Harmer and Neesham as all of them have struggled with their line and lengths.

Essex Predicted Playing XI:

Simon Harmer (c), Adam Wheater (wk), William Buttleman, Daniel Lawrence, Michael-Kyle Pepper, James Neesham, Ryan ten Doeschate, Paul Walter, Aron Nijjar, Samuel Cook, James Porter

Essex Actual Playing XI:

Paul Walter, Daniel Lawrence, Aron Nijjar, Samuel Cook, RN ten Doeschate, William Buttleman, Adam Wheater, Simon Harmer, Michael Pepper, Jamie Porter, James Neesham

Kent Preview

Daniel Bell-Drummond’s side had an off day in the last game against Gloucestershire losing by 8 wickets. The side batted poorly in the last game and they shall look to improve on this in the upcoming game. They have had a good record against Essex Eagles in the last and Bell-Drummond would press hard for a win here which will nearly assure them of a place in the next round. 

The side has a good opening pair in Daniel Bell-Drummond and Zak Crawley and both these players have their range of strokes. They would also be looking for a good show in the middle order from Joe Denly, Jack Leaning and Jordan Cox. Down the order Darren Stevens and Alex Blake are known for being good hitters of the ball and runs would be expected from them. 

Their bowlers had a poor outing in the last game and the side would look for better show from Joe Denly and Matt Milnes with the new ball in this game. Fred Klassen, Grant Stewart and Qais Ahmad too went for runs in the last game and they would have to come up with better spells here.

Kent Predicted Playing XI:

Daniel Bell-Drummond (c), Zak Crawley, Joe Denly, Jack Leaning, Alex Blake, Jordan Cox (wk), Darren Stevens, Grant Stewart, Qais Ahmad, Matt Milnes, Fred Klaassen

Kent Actual Playing XI:

Zak Crawley, Darren Stevens, Grant Stewart, Matt Milnes, Joe Denly, Alex Blake, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Jordan Cox, Fred Klaassen, Jack Leaning, Qais Ahmad

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The skies would be overcast over Chelmsford on June 25 and we would be lucky to see a full game. The conditions are expected to be challenging for the batsmen as the bowlers would get lot of assistance from the surface. Any score of 160 runs or above would be a good score at this venue.

Venue Details

County Ground, Chelmsford is a small ground but there is lot in there for the fast bowlers as the ball tends to move around a lot on this track. Batsmen have to get used to the pace and bounce on this track. It is a challenging venue for the spinners as the shorter boundaries allow the batsmen to play strokes freely.

Toss: To Bowl

The early conditions at this venue are conducive to swing bowling and batting in the early overs of the game has always been a big challenge here. Most teams have preferred to bowl first upon winning the toss and we expect to see the same in this game as well.