Northamptonshire vs Worcestershire, VITALITY T20 BLAST 2020, Today Match Prediction 15 Sep 2020

north vs wor Match Prediction & Analysis

Northamptonshire Steelbacks would be playing the Worcestershire Rapids at home in the next game of the Central Group in T20 Blast 2020. The hosts come into this game after suffering a big loss against Glamorgan and shall be looking to find back their form and regain the top spot on the points table. For the Rapids it was yet another loss in the series as they lost to the Birmingham Bears in the last game. 

Northamptonshire Steelbacks had started the tournament on a high with four consecutive wins but have seen a dip in their form. With the league stage entering its most crucial phase, the Steelbacks would be desperate to win this game and improve their prospects of earning a direct entry into the quarterfinal. Worcestershire Rapids are one of run for a place in the quarterfinal and the side will look to play for its pride in this game. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Northamptonshire Preview

Two losses in the last two games have set Joshua Cobb’s side behind after the wonderful start they got in the season. The massive loss against Glamorgan in the last game should serve as a wake-up call for the team and they will need to win this one to arrest this slide. They had defeated the Rapids earlier in the season and shall look at that win for an inspiration. 

It was a bad day with the bat for the side against Glamorgan as they were bowled out for 98 runs. The side would be expecting Paul Stirling and Richard Levi to set up a good opening stand as both of them have scored runs this season. The middle order has good strength with Cobb, Adam Rossington and Luke Procter in the side. Alex Wakely and Tom Sole down the order will look to score quick runs in this game. 

Their bowlers have had two bad games and they will have to regain form for the side to win this game. Cobb looked good in the last game and he will have to pick early wickets with Ben Sanderson at the other end. Graeme White has been the side’s most successful bowler this season and there would be lot of expectations on him. Nathan Buck, Gareth Berg and Procter add strength to their batting

Northamptonshire Predicted Playing XI:

Joshua Cobb (c), Richard Levi, Paul Stirling, Adam Rossington (wk), Alex Wakely, Tom Sole, Gareth Berg, Luke Procter, Graeme White, Nathan Buck, Ben Sanderson

Northamptonshire Actual Playing XI:

Adam Rossington, Richard Levi, Brandon Glover, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Alex Wakely, Josh Cobb, Ben Sanderson, Paul Stirling, Saif Zaib, Graeme White, Nathan Buck

Worcestershire Preview

It’s just been a horrible run for Ed Barnard’s side and their 6-wicket loss against Birmingham Bears in the last game after scoring 178 runs stands testimony to their. Their bowlers and batsmen have failed to complement each other right through the season and Barnard would wish for a better result in this game. 

Their batsmen did well in the last game and the side would be expecting a similar show from them. Hamish Rutherford has shown good form and needs to provide a good start with Riki Wessels in this game. Ben Cox and Jake Libby have scored runs in most games and make the middle order very strong. Ross Whiteley and Brett D’Oliveira with their hitting abilities make this batting line-up very strong. 

Game after game it is their bowlers who have led the side down. It was the same story in the last game where their bowlers bowled all over the place. The side would be expecting a better show from Charlie Morris and Dillon Pennington in this game. Barnard, Patrick Brown and Daryl Mitchell will need to concentrate on bowling economical spells in this game to win. 
 

Worcestershire Predicted Playing XI:

Ed Barnard (c), Hamish Rutherford, Riki Wessels, Jake Libby, Brett DOliveira, Ben Cox (wk), Ross Whiteley, Adam Finch, Patrick Brown, Daryl Mitchell, Charlie Morris

Worcestershire Actual Playing XI:

Patrick Brown, Jake Libby, Hamish Rutherford, Ben Cox, Dillon Pennington, Jack Haynes, Ed Barnard, Charlie Morris, Daryl Mitchell, Brett D Oliveira, Ross Whiteley

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The skies over Northampton would be slightly cloudy on September 15 and bowlers likely to see some assistance in the early overs. The track has been good to bat on so far in the season as the ball has come onto the bat nicely and allowed stroke making. Any side batting first would have to eye a score in the range of 170 runs to do well on this surface.

Venue Details

County Ground, Northampton has a small outfield and this allows the batsmen to score plenty of runs. Fast bowlers who swing the ball do well at this venue in the early overs of the game. Spinners do get their turn from the surface but they need to be tight with their lines to do well here.

Toss: To Bat

Three games have been played at this venue so far and all the three games have gone in favor of the sides that have batted first. There have been big scores at this venue this season. Going into the toss the two skippers would have little hesitation and opt to bat first in this game.