The Friends Life Twenty20 Cup gets underway on Wednesday afternoon as last year's runners up Somerset take on defending champions Hampshire, with both sides at the head of the betting to win the month long tournament outright. Somerset are currently a best price of 9/2 with Bet 365, while Hampshire are 8/1 despite a poor start to the season in the Championship.
Somerset have been runners up in the tournament for the past two years and will be looking to emulate their 2005 cup winning feats. 2010 was a season of much disappointment for them as they missed out on silverware, despite going close, on three fronts - including the Championship, One Day Competition and the T20.
They are well backed to go one better this year as they are led by England's former ODI star Marcus Trescothick, who averages 33 with a high score of 107 in T20s, and they can also boast a plethora of T20 stars - including Craig Kieswetter who won the T20 World Cup with England last year, as well as the likes of Jos Buttler, James Hildreth and Arul Suppiah. Their bowling attack may be a concern though and Hampshire will look to take advantage again.
Hampshire won the competition against Somerset in a thrilling finale at the Rose Bowl last year, but their form in the four day and one day formats of the game this term will be a huge concern. They will be boosted by the arrival of Pakistan star Shahid Afridi for the competition though and he could provide plenty of fireworks, both on and off the pitch. They can also call on the likes of Jimmy Adams and Sean Ervine in the batting order, while the young spinner Danny Briggs could have a key role to play.
Elsewhere, Essex and Sussex are available at 10/1 in the betting to win the tournament outright with B365 and Essex in particular look an interesting punt as they can boast stellar names such as Ravi Bopara, Ryan Ten Doeschaate and England's new ODI captain Alastair Cook, when he isn't on international duty. Sussex were champions in 2009 and with Monty Panesar in their ranks they will receive plenty of backing in the betting.
Meanwhile, there are a clutch of teams available at 11/1, including Surrey, Durham, last year's county champions Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire. Surrey will be keen to end their own long trophy drought and they have plenty of young talent in their ranks, with the likes of Steven Davies, Rory Hamilton-Brown and Kevin Pietersen, when available.
This Surrey side look well capable of competing but a tempting outside punt could come in the form of Northamptonshire, who are available at 16/1 in the betting with Bet365.com. Northants have taken the season by storm in the other formats of the game and with former South African all rounder Andrew Hall leading them and the ever green Chaminda Vaas spearheading the bowling, and providing some runs as a pinch-hitter, they could provide great value.
The Twenty20 final is due to take place at Edgbaston this year and it would be a huge surprise if Somerset were absent, although Northants could cause some surprises.
9/2 Somerset
8/1 Hampshire
10/1 Essex
10/1 Sussex
11/1 Surrey
11/1 Durham
11/1 Nottinghamshire
11/1 Warwickshire
12/1 Lancashire
12/1 Yorkshire
16/1 Northamptonshire
16/1 Middlesex
20/1 Kent
28/1 BAR
Odds supplied by Bet365.com, bookmakers, who provide a variety of odds and markets throughout the 2011 Twenty20 Cup - including live betting in-running.
Posted: Wednesday, 1st June 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: twenty20 cup, twenty20, somerset, hampshire, bet365,
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