Twenty20 / Ed Hawkins / 10 August 2010 / 1

The Rose Bowl is set for thrills and spills on Saturday in the Friends Provident Twenty20 Cup finals day. Somerset, Nottinghamshire, Essex and hosts Hampshire do battle. Ed Hawkins analyses the sides

The latest edition of Twenty20 finals day could be billed as a heavyweight battle between brains and brawn. Nottinghamshire, narrow favourites, are cannier and easy on the eye while Somerset, with bowling arms and bats bristling, are the more agricultural of the two.

They are separated by a feather. Nottinghamshire are [3.40] for glory at the Rose Bowl and Somerset [3.50]. Given that they meet in the second semi-final, the market is convinced that Essex and Hampshire, who contest the first, are a mere sideshow. Essex are [4.30] and Hampshire [4.80].

Is it harsh to so definitively write off two teams in such a helter-skelter format? Well, the evidence is pretty damning.

In seven finals days, the winner has only twice come from the first semi-final, the theory being that players who have most recently been in action are warmer and looser than their counterparts. This makes one rather consider cricketers as Morris Minors, which have been started hours apart on a chilly day. One is purring much quicker than the other. But the statistics don't lie.

More likely is that bettors are basing their opinions on Nottinghamshire and Somerset being the most powerful sides in the country. They wouldn't be far wrong. A wonderfully balanced Nottinghamshire side are the only team to have made it through from the North group while Somerset's one-day prowess cannot be doubted: they have a 100% record in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition.

Nottinghamshire's strongest suit is their batting. In David Hussey, Alex Hales and Samit Patel they have three players who have scored more than 400 runs - none of the other finalists can make such a boast.

They also have the classic fast man-slow man combination in the bowling in Dirk Nannes and Samit Patel, who have taken 33 wickets between them. England stars Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann are available for Notts, which doubles their strength in this area. Could having these two back upset them, though?

Somerset are aiming to become only the second side to win more than one Twenty20 Cup. Last year's runners up, no team has ever returned the following year to put right what went wrong. They are, however, the best team in the country in this format. Their 11 wins from 16 was the best ratio of the final four.

If Nottinghamshire are strongest with the bat, Somerset are the opposite. In Alfonso Thomas and Kieron Pollard they have the top wicket-takers in the tournament. Another classic fast-slow combo. Thomas, who was the top bowler last year too, has 31 victims and Pollard 28.

The brute force comes in the form of Pollard with the bat and openers Marcus Trescothick and Craig Kieswetter. Fast starts are their raison d'etre and while Notts could still be coming to terms with a re-jigged line-up with Swann and Broad, these two could be approaching the horizon with the loot.

Hampshire are [1.96] to beat Essex, who are [1.90]. Arguably the visitors should be shorter. In the head-to-heads, Essex have beaten them twice and there is strong evidence suggesting Hampshire are the weakest team of the lot. They managed to win only half of their 16 group matches.

They do, however, have the best batsman. Jimmy Adams has an astonishing 600 runs in the competition, striking at 133. Their supporters would argue anything is possible with someone so prolific and on familiar territory. Indeed, if there is anything to take into this punting festival it is to expect the unexpected in a format where form has been rendered irrelevant.

Essex could boost their chances by employing Dwayne Bravo, the West Indies allrounder, and Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan legspinner. As stellar as these two can be, it would be another rejig for a side. Consistency is key for us, and that means we raise a glass to Somerset.'s 2010 vintage

Recommended Bet:
Back Somerset to win Twenty20 Cup [3.5]

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1. Neil | 10 August 2010

   As a Hampshire guy born n bred I was delighted to face Essex in the semi for those very reasons. I do a Radio show with an Essex fan and she too agreed that she wanted Hampshire. Notts and Somerset are the two stronger teams but in a T20 match all you need is a bit of luck and you can beat anyone.

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