Cricket Betting Tips and Fantasy Cricket Match Predictions: Vitality Blast 2020 - Glamorgan vs Worcestershire Rapids

The opening round match of the Vitality Blast 2020 will be played between Glamorgan and Worcestershire Rapids at Sophia Gardens Cardiff, Cardiff.

Glamorgan vs Worcestershire, Central Group

Glamorgan finished at the bottom in their Vitality Blast group last year. The team ended the group stage with 1 win and 8 losses from 14 matches.

They will be up against Worcestershire Rapids who finished at the 4th place in their group after the league stage with 6 wins and 5 losses from 14 matches. They lost the final match against Essex.

David Lloyd was the top scorer for Glamorgan in the last Blast season with 358 runs from 12 matches at an average of 32 and a strike rate of 139. He scored three half-centuries last year with the best of 63.

Andrew Salter picked up 14 wickets for Glamorgan from 12 matches with best figures of 4/12. He bowled at an average of 19 and an economy of 7.91.

Andy Balbirnie's signing was confirmed by Glamorgan last week and followed his heroics as captain of Ireland, when he struck a century to help his country to an historic victory over England in a one-day international earlier this month.

The 29-year-old will look to produce that sort of form for his adopted county, who have only twice reached Finals Day but have never played in the final. Glamorgan suffered a miserable 2019 season, finishing last with just one win - against Hampshire in the final game - and one tie from the 10 completed games.

Riki Wessels was the highest run-scorer for Worcestershire Rapids last year with 461 runs from 14 matches at an average of 35 and a strike rate of 129. He scored three half-centuries with the best of 91.

Pat Brown was their top wicket-taker and picked up 17 wickets from 14 matches with best figures of 2/21. He bowled at an average of 24 and an economy of 8.12 but he will likely be, along with Moen Ali, on England duty for the first few matches. Run getting will be down to big hitting Kiwi Hamish Rutherford and veteran Daryl Mitchell, who has had a good run with the bat in Bob Willis Trophy.

Let's have a look at the probable playing XI of both teams: 

Glamorgan - Andy Balbirnie, Nicholas Selman, Colin Ingram/Billy Root, David Lloyd, Chris Cooke (wk), Callum Taylor, Andrew Salter, Ruaidhri Smith, Marchant de Lange, Roman Walker, Prem Sisodiya

Worcestershire- Hamish Rutherford, Riki Wessels, Tom Fell, Ben Cox (wk), Ross Whiteley, Ed Barnard (c), Daryl Mitchell, Joe Leach, Brett D'Oliveira/Dillon Pennington, Josh Tongue, Charlie Morris

 

 

Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions* - PrePlay

Who will win the toss? - Worcestershire

Who will win? – Worcestershire

Top Batsman (Runs Scored) – Riki Wessels (Worcestershire), David Lloyd (Glamorgan)

Top Bowler (Wickets taken) – Ed Barnard (Worcestershire), Andrew Salter (Glamorgan)

Most Sixes – Riki Wessels (Worcestershire), David Lloyd (Glamorgan)

Man of the Match –  Riki Wessels

Team Scores Batting first – Worcestershire 180+, Glamorgan 160+

Match Handicap Worcestershire

Live Cricket Streaming Vitality Blast 2020 - bet365's live cricket streaming page which enables you to watch live cricket. (BeGambleAware 18+)  Live Cricket Streaming from bet365 requires a funded account or for customers to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Geo-restrictions apply.

*NB these predictions may be changed nearer the start of the match once the final starting teams have been announced and we will be running ‘In–Play’ features, so stay tuned.

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