Somerset vs Surrey, VITALITY T20 BLAST 2023, Today Match Prediction 15 July 2023

som vs sur Match Prediction & Analysis

Somerset will take on Surrey in the 2nd semi-final of the T20 Blast on Finals day at Edgbaston. The two teams have locked horns twice in this season so far and both have won a match each. 

This is the second consecutive semi-final for Somerset who were knocked out in the last season losing to Hampshire at this same venue. Surrey, on the other hand, had lost to Yorkshire in a close encounter in the Quarter-Final last season.

Neither of these two teams have played a single match at Edgbaston this season and this will be their first outing. Both teams are coming into this match following a different trajectory. While Somerset are in great form with back-to-back wins in their last 6 outings, Surrey have struggled with just 2 wins from their last 5 matches.

The good news for Surrey is that their key top-order batters Laurie Evans and Jason Roy scored a fifty each in their last match. Somerset pack a strong bowling attack that has delivered consistently and will pose a tough challenge to a struggling Surrey.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Somerset Preview

Somerset are in red-hot form and will be looking to secure their spot in the final which will be played just an hour after the conclusion of this game. Though they lost in the semi-final last year, this time around, their in-form bowling attack has put them in a strong position to reach the final.

Craig Overton, Matt Henry, and Ish Sodhi will be key bowlers in this lineup. Skipper Lewis Gregory and bowling all-rounder Ben Green who play a crucial role with the ball came in handy with the bat in their successful run chase against Notts Outlaws in the last match.

Somerset were 5 down for 62 runs while chasing a 158-run target. These two scored an unbeaten 96-run stand to lead Somerset to a 5-wicket win. Sean Dickinson has also made some significant contributions in the middle order.

This is great news for Somerset as in case the top-order collapses, they have some reliable players in the middle to stage a comeback. However, given the pitch conditions at Edgbaston, the likes of Tom Batnon, Will Smeed, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore will have a good outing and score runs at the top.

The deep batting lineup with in-form and reliable players coupled with an in-form and consistent bowling attack puts Somerset in a good position in this contest.

Somerset Predicted Playing XI:

Tom Banton (wk), Will Smeed, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Abell, Sean Dickson, Ben Green, Lewis Gregory (c), Craig Overton, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jack Brooks

Somerset Actual Playing XI:

Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Tom Kohler Cadmore, Ben Green, Shoaib Bashir, Lewis Gregory, Thomas Abell, Craig Overton, Will Smeed, Tom Banton, Sean Dickson

Surrey Preview

After losing 3 back to back games, Surrey managed to end their losing run as they beat Lancashire in the Quarter-Final at Manchester. At last, the bowlers delivered for Surrey as they successfully defended a 187-run total. 

In their previous match, Surrey lost in spite of scoring 195 runs batting first at the Kennington Oval, London. Narine’s 78 off 37 at number 5 was in vain. The bowlers have been really struggling to find success in recent matches for Surrey.

Narine has been expensive though he finds the odd breakthrough. Skipper Chris Jordan has been impressive with his economy and seems to have found a knack of breakthroughs as well.

Others like Sam Curran and Sean Abbott have struggled big time and have been expensive in their spells. They will find it even more difficult on a batting-friendly pitch at Edgbaston.  However, Jordan will be happy with the comeback from Laurie Evans and Jason Roy.

The lack of contributions from the top had constantly put pressure on the middle order. Though there are many batters with great ability in this lineup, Surrey have made constant changes to their batting order.

Sam Curran, Sunil Narine, and Jamie Overton will be key players in the middle order. With many all-rounders in the side, Surrey’s batting order is very deep but specialist batters are very few and only at the top.

Surrey Predicted Playing XI:

Will Jacks, Laurie Evans, Jason Roy, Sam Curran, Sunil Narine, Jamie Smith (wk), Jamie Overton, Chris Jordan (c), Sean Abbott, Gus Atkinson, Daniel Moriarty

Surrey Actual Playing XI:

Jason Roy, Jamie Smith, Cameron Steel, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Sean Abbott, Chris Jordan, Laurie Evans, Tom Curran, Sam Curran

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

There is plenty of bounce and pace on this pitch and the ball comes onto the bat nicely allowing batters to play their strokes with perfection. However, there have been some surprises in recent outings with teams being bowled out for below-average totals. Thundershowers are expected on the match day in Birmingham with a high of 17 degrees Celsius.

Venue Details

Edgbaston in Birmingham will host all the matches on the Finals day. It is a great venue for T20 cricket with the average 1st innings score here in domestic T20s being 163 runs. A match-winning score, we reckon, should be something over 190-195 given the nature of this pitch and the big-hitting batters on both sides.

Toss: To Bat

Teams batting first have an advantage on this ground and have won more games. Somerset have defended successfully on many occasions recently and will be confident of doing the same. Surrey are also confident after their decision to bat first turned out right in the last game.