County Cricket / Ed Hawkins / 13 August 2009 / Leave a comment

Attention switches from the Ashes to the county scene on Saturday when Kent, Somerset, Northants and Sussex meet in the Twenty20 finals day at Edgbaston and Ed Hawkins says there is plenty of value to be found

"While the winning players of the first semi get cold and stiff, the victors of semi-final two, still buzzing, loose and warm, have only a short wait before taking to the field again"

It is debatable what the biggest event of the weekend is: the Twenty20 finals day at Edgbaston on Saturday or the announcement of the England squad which must win at The Oval to regain the urn.

There is even a doubt as to which could be the more entertaining. Northamptonshire, Sussex, Kent and Somerset will serve up drama, glory and tragedy. The comedy, like a work of Shakespeare, could come later if England's selectors bow to the hankering for a recall for Mark Ramprakash.

If the latter does happen, no doubt one will be keen for some funds to take on England at The Oval so finals day provides a stellar opportunity. Kent, beaten finalists last year and winners in 2007, are the [3.25] favourites with Sussex [3.55], Somerset [4.00] and Northants [5.00]. You can read our team-by-team guide here.

The first important fact to consider is a heavy bias in favour of the two sides meeting in the second semi-final of the day. In six finals day, the winner has only once come from the first game.

That is bad news for Northants and Sussex who meet first up. It is a trend which has to be respected. While the winning players of the first semi sit around and get cold and stiff following their exploits, the victors of semi-final two, still buzzing, loose and warm, have only a short wait before taking to the field again.

Northants are [2.28] to beat Sussex, who are [1.64]. The gulf between the teams is no way near as big as the market would have you believe and the Steelbacks have to be the bet, if only because they will surely shorten during the contest.

Led by South African Nicky Boje, Northants - with eight wins they won more group games than the other finalists - have a wealth of players used to the big occasion while Sussex, beaten finalists in the Friends Provident Trophy, are a young and inexperienced bunch. Not my words, those of Michael Yardy who has been desperate to tell anyone that will listen. They will be without Matt Prior, too.

For in-running clues, Northants have lost only once from seven when batting first while Sussex have won five from six bowling last. Something will have to give. Value for the top bat markets are Northants' Ian Harvey, who should open, and Sussex's Dwayne Smith. The pair have top-scored four and three times respectively this term.

The meeting of Kent and Somerset is a similar battle between a team that is brilliant at setting a target and one that chases. Rob Key's team have played five and won five when batting first. Somerset have won five from seven chasing. Kent average a whopping 175 in first-innings while Somerset, powered by Marcus Trescothick and Zander de Bruyn, have hunted down totals of 175, 176 and 187.

That means the toss is crucial. And when that happens it is surely a scandal that Somerset are [2.08] outsiders with Kent [1.84].

Indeed, it looks terrific value when you consider that Trescothick, who has already been ruled out for an England call by the way, is in the sort of form which will have the Kent bowlers - Wayne Parnell is among them after jetting in from South Africa - swallowing hard.

The left-hander smashed 80 off 61 balls against Gloucestershire on Thursday night and in the Championship last week at Edgbaston he scored a century in both innings. Don't take him on for top bat honours but don't rule out de Bruyn, either who has top scored four times to Trescothick's once.

The man Somerset will worry about is Martin Van Jaarsveld, who has been Kent's most consistent performer, outscoring his teammates four times. It is difficult to split the sides in bowling talent with Alfonso Thomas and Azhar Mahmood the best bowlers on show on the day. They have 15 wickets apiece.

Somerset won the title in 2005 to become part of another significant trend. Only one favourite has obliged - Surrey in 2003 - at finals day and it would be rather fitting if the west country side notched a second triumph.

Captained by Justin Langer, author of a damning dossier on English cricket, they are hardly likely to be the most popular winners. But they should have the mental toughness, right? Well, they did win a bowl out, cricket's version of penalty kicks, to book their Birmingham spot.

Tags: Edgbaston, Justin Langer, Kent, Marcus Trescothick, Mark Ramprakash, Martin van Jaarsveld, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Sussex, Twenty20 betting, Twenty20 finals day