- Vitality Blast T20
- Thursday, May 30 - Saturday, September 14, 2024
- Finals Day at Edgbaston
Somerset have the chance to make history. No county in the history of the T20 Blast, which kicked off in 2003, has successfully defended their crown.
Alongside Hampshire, they have shown impressive consistency of late - both sides reaching Finals Day in each of the last three years.
It, therefore, surprises me somewhat that neither are amongst the favourites. You can get two-time winners Somerset at 8/1 and three-time champions Hampshire at 12/1.
This season’s group stage is split into two, with a couple of rounds of Championship cricket in between at the end of June. You might get a few England stars back for the second half after the end of the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA.
Last season was a southern lockout - all four Finals Day qualifiers were from the South Group - Essex, Hampshire, Somerset and Surrey. But I think it could be a northern team who wins it this year.
You couldn’t go further north for this season’s winners
I’m going for Durham to win their first crown, at 25/1 with William Hill.
Look down the history of the Blast and it’s easy to be put off pretty quickly. They have only ever reached two Finals Day, their last in 2016, and they have only reached the quarter-finals once in the last seven seasons.
They finished seventh in the North Group last year. But scratch the surface, and things are looking positive.
They already have a T20 title to their name in 2024, having taken up an invitation to participate in Zimbabwe’s domestic competition whilst on pre-season there in March. They won that tournament.
Ok, ok, it’s not exactly the strongest domestic competition going around, but Durham were missing some experienced players and won six games out of six.
They have added some title-winning knowhow in Big Bash veterans Ben Dwarshuis and Ashton Turner. Both are canny operators and would seemingly suit Riverside conditions - which can be slow and low - ideally. Turner has captained the county before, so he won’t have to settle in.
Durham have also added experienced duo Colin Ackermann and Callum Parkinson from Leicestershire and have last season’s leading Blast spinner in Nathan Sowter, the leg-spinner who took 24 wickets.
Question-marks over Durham’s rivals
I look down the list of Durham’s North Group rivals and see a lot of question-marks.
Nottinghamshire look strong and will be a contender. They are the favourites for the title at 7/1 and the favourites for the this market I’m coming onto now - the group winners.
The Outlaws are 3/1 to win the North Group, but Durham are 12/1 with bet365 - I would be taking that on.
Lancashire have lost significant experience in the likes of Daryl Mitchell and Matt Parkinson, while Birmingham and Yorkshire may struggle for bowling firepower.
In the South, I’d be going Hampshire, who are 11/2 with Betfred to win their group.
They have signed overseas seam bowling duo Michael Neser and Ottniel Baartman added to returning Australian wicketkeeper-batter Ben McDermott.
In the likes of captain James Vince and Liam Dawson, they have winning pedigree. With the likes of Tom Prest and John Turner, they have exhilarating youth.
Surrey are favourites, at 3/1, but I just wonder whether they will be hurt by international call-ups. Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan and Reece Topley are all with England.
If you fancy the double on the group winners, Durham and Hampshire, you can can get 77/1 with Betway.
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