Somerset vs Northamptonshire, VITALITY T20 BLAST 2020, Today Match Prediction 18 Sep 2020

som vs north Match Prediction & Analysis

The competition in the Central Group of the T20 Blast 2020 has heated up and the next game between Somerset and Northamptonshire Steelbacks would be a crucial one for both the sides. Somerset come into this game after a massive win against Glamorgan while the Northamptonshire Steelbacks suffered yet another defeat in the last game as they went down to the Worcestershire Rapids. 

For Northamptonshire Steelbacks a win in this game would be a must to arrest their slide in form. The side has looked clueless in the last few games and would have to gather its form and momentum in the next game. Somerset on the other hand would be eager for a win in this game as this will open up their chances for a place in the quarterfinal. This will be a good contest as there is lot at stake for both the teams. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Somerset Preview

Lewis Gregory’s side ended its three-game losing streak with a comprehensive 66-run win against Glamorgan in the last game. This win would have given the side lot of confidence and opened its chances of making it to the next round. Gregory would look to exploit the poor form that Steelbacks are in at the moment and win this game. 

Their batting looks very strong at the top with Babar Azam and Steven Davies opening for the side. Azam is fresh from his century in the last game. In the middle order Will Smeed, Top Abell and Lewis Goldsworthy have looked in good form in the tournament. With Gregory, Roelof van der Merwe and Tom Lammonboy’s hitting abilities towards the end their batting is really strong. 

Max Waller has so far enjoyed a good season with the ball and he will look to provide a good start alongside Roelof van der Merwe who also bowled well in the last game. Craig Overton will need to improve his line and length as he as he has gone for plenty of runs this season. Gregory and Ollie Sale complete a decent bowling attack for the side and picked up wickets in the last game. 

Somerset Predicted Playing XI:

Lewis Gregory (c), Steven Davies (wk), Babar Azam, Will Smeed, Tom Abell, Lewis Goldsworthy, Tom Lammonby, Roelof van der Merwe, Craig Overton, Ollie Sale, Max Waller

Somerset Actual Playing XI:

Babar Azam, Steven Davies, Lewis Gregory, Tom Abell, Craig Overton, Max Waller, RE Van Der Merwe, Will Smeed, Ollie Sale, Tom Lammonby, Lewis Goldsworthy

Northamptonshire Preview

Joshua Cobb’s side finds itself in the middle of a crisis with three consecutive losses. The side which started with four straight wins is failing to win games at the moment and lost to Worcestershire Rapids by 8 runs in the last game. This has now put their chances of a berth into the quarterfinals in a fix. They had won the earlier game against Somerset and this will serve as a confidence booster for the side. 

Paul Stirling and Richard Levi will have to do well as a pair at the top which they have failed in the last few games. Levi comes into this game with runs behind his back. In the middle order Cobb and Ricardo Vasconcelos are in poor form and they will need to deliver in this game. Adam Rossington, Alex Wakely and Saif Zaib add strength to this batting line-up down the order. 

Their bowlers have failed in the last three games and they will need to regain form for the side to win. Cobb and Ben Sanderson have not bowled well with the new ball and need to make improvements. Nathan Buck, Graeme White and Brando Glover will have to bowl tighter lines in this game for the side to keep the Somerset batsmen quite. 

Northamptonshire Predicted Playing XI:

Joshua Cobb (c), Richard Levi, Paul Stirling, Adam Rossington (wk), Alex Wakely, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Saif Zaib, Graeme White, Nathan Buck, Ben Sanderson, Brandon Glover

Northamptonshire Actual Playing XI:

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

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The skies would be mostly clear over Taunton on September 18 and it would be an excellent wicket to bat on as we have already seen in the season. The ball would come on to the bat nicely and batsmen would be able to play their strokes freely. The side that bats first in the game would be targeting a score in the range of 165-170 runs.  

Venue Details

The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton is a small ground and it has been one of the most loved venues for batsmen. Fast bowlers have done well on this track with the new ball at this venue but spinners always find it a big challenge to bowl here to shorter dimensions of the boundaries. 
 

Toss: To Bat

In the last three games the sides that have batted first have gone on to win the game. The pitch has been good to bat on as the ball comes on to the bat nicely. Being a small ground the captains wouldn’t have much of doubt in their minds at the loss and choose to bat first on this surface.