Hampshire vs Somerset, Royal London One-Day Cup, Today Match Prediction 25 May 2019

ham vs som Match Prediction & Analysis

Reigning Champions Hampshire will be looking to clinch the coveted prize when they take on Somerset in the finals of Royal London One-Day Cup in London on Saturday.

Hampshire has played exceedingly well in this year’s competition. The side managed to win seven games out of eight players in the round-robin stage. The side also comfortably brushed aside Lancashire to qualify for the finals for the second year in a row. Sam Northeast will be hoping that the side can deliver a clinical performance to clinch their second successive title.

On the other hand, Somerset has shown excellent form in this year’s tournament. Captain Tom Abell will be hoping that the side can raise their game with bat and ball to upstage Hampshire in this final.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Hampshire Preview

Defending Champions will need to make changes to their playing XI as James Vince, Liam Dawson and Aiden Markram will not be available for the finals of Royal London One-Day Cup.

India’s Ajinkya Rahane is expected to replace James Vince at the top of the innings. Rahane has shown decent form for the county side in the English County Championship. Aneurin Donald and wicket-keeper Tom Alsop will need to produce runs for the side at the top of the innings. Donald has struggled to get going in this year’s competition and managed to score only 120 runs in 6 matches at an average of 24.00. 

Alsop has shown excellent form for the side in this year’s tournament. He has scored 335 runs in 9 matches at an average of 41.87 with two centuries to his name. The side will be hoping that Alsop can deliver a decent score against Somerset in the finals of the competition.

The middle-order duo of Rilee Rossouw and Sam Northeast will need to produce the bulk of the runs on the board. Captain Sam Northeast will be confident of doing well in this final. He is coming into this game on the back of good form shown in the English County Championship. Northeast has scored 224 runs in 9 matches at an average of 37.33 so far in this year’s competition.

Rossouw has been a consistent performer for the side in this year’s Royal London One-Day Cup. Left-hander has scored 360 runs in 9 matches at an average of 51.42 with four half-centuries to his name. He will be looking to make an impression with the bat for the side in the finals of the competition. Chris Wood will replace Liam Dawson, who will be unavailable after getting selected for England’s World Cup squad.

In the bowling department, the side will be relying on the likes of Kyle Abbott, Mason Crane, and Fidel Edwards to produce crucial breakthroughs with the new-ball. Medium-pacer Kyle Abbott has shown excellent form for the side this season and claimed 20 wickets at an average of 21.40.

Hampshire Predicted Playing XI:

Sam Northeast (captain), Aneurin Donald, Ajinkya Rahane, Tom Alsop (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Kyle Abbott, Mason Crane, Gareth Berg, James Fuller, Chris Wood, Fidel Edwards.

Somerset Preview

The side managed to produce a pitch-perfect performance with the bat and ball to beat Nottinghamshire and qualify for the finals of the competition. Captain Tom Abell will be confident that Somerset can pull off an upset in the finals against Hampshire.

In the batting department, the side will be relying on the likes of Azhar Ali, Paul Trego, and James Hildreth to produce the bulk of the runs in this final. Pakistan’s Azhar Ali has topped the batting charts for Somerset in this competition with 406 runs in 10 matches at an average of 40.60. The side will be hoping that the opening pair of Azhar Ali and Tom Banton can get them off to a good start in the finals.

Middle-order comprising of James Hildreth, Peter Trego, and Tom Abell has contributed with decent scores for the side in this year’s competition. Hildreth has shown excellent form for the side this season with 388 runs in 10 matches with three half-centuries to his name. Captain Tom Abell will be looking to produce a decent score in this grand finale. George Bartlett, Lewis Gregory, and Roelof van der Merwe have chipped in with crucial cameos for the side in this year’s tournament.

In the bowling department, the onus will be on the likes of Craig Overton and Josh Davey to make early inroads with the new ball in this final. Left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe has done an excellent job for the side this season and claimed 11 wickets at a superb economy rate of 5.37.

Somerset Predicted Playing XI:

Tom Abell (c), Tom Banton (wk), Peter Trego, Azhar Ali, Josh Davey, Roelof van der Merwe, James Hildreth, Lewis Gregory, Craig Overton, George Bartlett, Jamie Overton.

Weather Conditions

The wicket prepared for the finals will be decent for batting. The quick bowlers might some lateral movement with the new-ball. The weather forecast for the game on Saturday is going to be cloudy throughout the day.

Venue

Lords Cricket Ground in Lords is going to host the finals of Royal London One-Day competition. Hampshire will take heart from the fact they managed to beat Somerset in the group stages of the competition.

Toss: To Bowl

The side that wins the toss would be looking to bowl first and make early use of the pitch conditions. The quick bowlers will get assistance from the fresh surface prepared for the game.