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Here are Adam Drury‘s cricket betting tips for the most highly-anticipated day of the domestic season.
Winner: Sussex
Only a spate of abandonments prevented Sussex from an even easier qualification for the quarter-finals, after they won seven of their 10 South Group matches.
And their comfortable victory over Durham in the last eight means that they head to Edgbaston as worthy favourites to win the competition for the second time.
The Sharks account for three of the top nine run-scorers in this year’s competition with Laurie Evans, Luke Wright and Phil Salt, with the former top of the pile.
But it is their international-class bowling attack that can really do the damage.
Though Rashid Khan is a big miss, replacement leg-spinner Will Beer took two wickets in both of the Sharks’ matches after the departure of the Afghanistan international.
Danny Briggs has had an excellent season – more on him below – while Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills and David Wiese form a seam attack that would not look out of place at the highest level of the game.
Finals Day has not always rewarded the best teams on paper, but all facets of Sussex’s game look in good enough shape that they are the team to beat.
Top run-scorer: Moeen Ali
Moeen was in fine domestic form prior to his Test recall.
The 31-year-old hit 42, 65, 25 and 115 in consecutive group matches, before a double-century in the County Championship midway through last month.
A score of one against Gloucestershire in the quarter-final can hopefully be disregarded as an anomaly, considering the form that preceded it and his performances against India that followed.
Lancashire will likely hit Worcestershire hard with spin in Saturday’s first semi-final.
That should suit Moeen, who will open the batting and has every chance to go big again.
Top wicket-taker: Danny Briggs
The impact of Rashid Khan’s departure on Sussex has been softened by the form of Briggs, who can play a starring role on Saturday.
The left-arm spinner – who has played seven T20Is for England – has consistently been in the wickets this season, not failing to take one in any of the Sharks’ last nine completed matches and taking two in both matches since Khan left.
With pressure being built at both ends by a quality bowling attack throughout the innings, it is Briggs’ spin that may benefit from the increased chances that come when batsmen try to break the shackles.
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