Bumble's guide to Twenty20 Finals day: Yorkshire v Sussex, Somerset v Hampshire
It's that time again! It is the first Twenty20 finals day in Wales on Saturday - Yorkshire play Sussex at 11am, then Somerset take on Hampshire at 2.30pm with the winners going head-to-head in the final at 6.45. Cardiff is always rocking on weekends... I can’t wait!
Yorkshire v Sussex
I’ve been very impressed with Yorkshire this season and it’s their first appearance at finals day, but Sussex will start as the bookies’ favourites.
YORKSHIRE
Skipper: Yorkshire's Andrew Gale
Captain: Andrew Gale and Azeem Rafiq have shared the leadership duties this season but Gale will be in charge for the big day — a steady influence. Hits the ball hard, too. I must say coach Jason Gillespie has been an absolute wow. The players love him.
Big-hitter: Gary Ballance, a chunky lad who can hit the ball a mile.
Go-to guy: Moin Ashraf. He has 14 wickets in this year’s T20 and one of the best parody Twitter accounts in the business! Apparently he can bowl 125mph! His slower ball is 95!
Top fielder: The best fielding side I’ve seen this year. They don’t have a weak link. Did you see that piece of fielding by Joe Root in their quarter-final? Parried the ball back over the ropes before a catch was completed.
The x-factor: Jonny Bairstow has been cleared to play and that’s the final piece of the jigsaw. He could win it for them on his own.
SUSSEX
Captain: Mike Yardy remains as T20 captain and his calm hand will be on the tiller.
Big-hitter: Scott Styris was magnificent in the quarter-finals, hitting a blistering 100 in 37 balls against Gloucestershire. They’ve plenty of other talent with the bat too, including Chris Nash — one of the few blokes who’s good on the microphone during matches, too.
Take that: Scott Styris of Sussex
Go-to guy: Chris Liddle has had an excellent tournament but our old friend Yardy could be the man if the wicket is low and slow.
Top fielder: Another top fielding side but you can’t really look beyond Nash again. He’s a key man, isn’t he?
The x-factor: Matt Prior has been brilliant when he has been able to play for his county, with a strike rate of something like 200 in T20. Remarkably, he doesn’t play one-day cricket for England anymore…
Prediction: I’m going for Yorkshire — to win the whole thing!
Somerset v Hampshire
SOMERSET
Top class: Somerset's Marcus Trescothick
Captain: Marcus Trescothick remains one of the best batsmen in the domestic game and hasn’t scored too many runs since recovering from that serious ankle injury. This could be the day.
Big-hitter: Jos Buttler. One of the best and most inventive young players on the circuit and a certainty to go on to further England honours.
Go-to guy: The Great Alfonso! Alfonso Thomas has been an absolute magician in Twenty20 with his slower deliveries and yorkers.
Top fielder: Peter Trego is a very powerful figure in the Somerset team with a really strong arm. A pocket battleship is this lad.
The x-factor: Craig Kieswetter is another England man who, rightly, will be allowed to play and is a real crackerjack when he gets going.
HAMPSHIRE
Captain: Dimi Mascarenhas is back at the helm in the shorter game and will be a pivotal figure at the death with his bag of liquorice all-sorts bowling.
Big-hitter: Not a big hitter as such but Neil McKenzie’s calculated and methodical batting was the key in Hampshire’s quarter-final win against Notts and the South African will be just as important now.
Calculated and methodical: Hampshire's South African batsman Neil McKenzie
Go-to guy: Danny Briggs. A young left-arm spinner who doesn’t get walloped. Rock steady and unflustered. Consistently successful in the shortest format.
Top fielder: Yet another top fielding side — that could be one of the features of finals day — but keep an eye out for James Vince.
The x-factor: Liam Dawson’s left-arm spin has accounted for Kevin Pietersen first ball twice this season — watch out for him to make an impact once again.
Prediction: Joy at last for Trescothick, but I think he might be facing heartbreak in the final again.
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