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July 16, 2024
When the T20 Blast restarted for the second half of the group stage, it felt like picking up an innings after a rain delay. Batters aimed to dominate early, while fielding captains seized the chance to take a few wickets.
Sam Hain’s unbeaten 98 was crucial in the Birmingham Bears’ narrow win over Yorkshire at Headingley. His innings showcased a modern approach to white-ball cricket: Hain anchored the innings from the sixth over, scoring 98 not out with eight sixes and five fours, setting a target of 215 that proved to be just enough. He followed this with an unbeaten 52 in the Bears’ victory over Derbyshire, securing their place in the quarter-finals.
Turning 29 this week, Hain has notable averages of 58 in List A and 39 in T20 cricket. With England’s next white-ball fixtures not on the horizon until after the Sri Lanka Test, Hain could be on the selectors’ radar, assuming they aren’t swayed by emerging talent in The Hundred.
Sam Hain in action for Birmingham against Yorkshire. Photograph: NurPhoto/Getty Images
Lancashire needs one win from their remaining two fixtures to secure the second qualifying spot in the North Group and avoid relying on net run rate calculations. Alternatively, a “match abandoned” could also suffice, given that three of their four scheduled matches since the red-ball break has ended in no results, including the highly anticipated Roses clash on Friday night—if Manchester’s weather allows.
In the one game that did proceed, Lancashire needed 53 runs from the last four overs, but with five wickets down and the all-rounders at the crease. Tom Hartley’s consecutive sixes in the 18th over gave the Red Rose hope, but Matthew Waite’s successive wickets in the 19th over swung the momentum back to Worcestershire. With Tom Bruce on 48 and facing the final overs, it seemed he would have to secure the runs. Unable to find a boundary, Luke Wood needed six runs from two balls. He delivered, hitting a six for a dramatic finish.
Wood meets many of England’s criteria: pacey, a left-arm bowler, capable of hitting boundaries down the order, and experienced in franchise cricket. Despite not being a standout this season, he last played for England 10 months ago and still has time to catch the selectors’ attention.
Northamptonshire faced a do-or-die scenario in an eight-over shootout against Durham at home. Having kept Durham to 90 for five, Northamptonshire felt confident about chasing the target, knowing they could pace their innings.
However, winning the boundary count often determines the outcome in a brief format. Durham hit six fours and five sixes, while Northants managed eight fours and six sixes—putting them in a solid position to win. With their fate in their own hands, Northants are in control, while Durham needs a lot of luck to advance.
Surrey traveled to Chelmsford with several first-choice players who needed to be included but knew a win would secure their place in the knockout stages. With only two of their three specialist batters, Dom Sibley and Rory Burns, who were also keeping wicket playing in their least favored format and facing Essex’s experienced and varied attack, a solid start was crucial.
Will Jacks provided just that, scoring 86 in an hour and setting a target of 190 on a high-scoring ground. Adam Rossington delivered a similar performance for Essex. Still, after Cameron Steel took the crucial wicket of Michael Pepper, only Luc Benkenstein reached double figures as Essex fell short in their chase.
Surrey will advance to the knockout stages, though their exact XI remains uncertain. Essex will likely join them, and I could name at least nine of their players now. Such is the nature of the game.
If you want to see runs, follow Sussex. Since the T20 Blast resumed, they’ve scored 190 for eight (chasing 18 overs) and set totals of 200 for seven, 203 for four, and 207 for two. These high scores led to two victories and secured their place in the quarter-finals.
Their top four batters have been crucial to this success, each stepping up when others fall early, a vital component of T20 batting. Against Glamorgan, Daniel Hughes scored 74, and Tom Clark added 30; against Hampshire, Harrison Ward made 39, Clark 37, and Tom Alsop 35; against Kent, Alsop hit 87 from number six; and against Essex, Hughes scored 81 and Clark 72.
As last week’s results demonstrate, while solid upper-order batting won’t always guarantee a win in T20, it usually gives you a strong chance.
Victories over Surrey and Hampshire have secured Somerset a quarter-final spot, bringing them one step closer to Finals Day. Many fans are likely already planning their trip up the M5 to Edgbaston on September 14.
If Somerset makes it, their passionate supporters may be a mixed blessing in Birmingham. Finals Day should celebrate white-ball county cricket, showcasing its ability to stand on its own merits, unlike some of its spectators in the final hours.
The crowd should cheer for all players, stay for all three matches, and appreciate the significance of such a day, which is firmly established in the calendar. While every county has dedicated fans, the home crowd’s reactions seemed inconsistent during Somerset’s recent win over Surrey. Let’s hope for enthusiastic support on county cricket’s biggest day, but not the silence.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Top Cricket News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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