MID vs KENT 72nd Match - South Group Prediction

MID vs KENT Team Previews

Middlesex

The Middlesex team is still in the doldrums in the Vitality T20 Blast for the 2023 season. They have played 8 games and are still searching for their first win of the season. They played well in their last game against Sussex though coming within 4 runs of the victory during their chase. The Sussex team batted first and set a reasonable target of 181 runs for the loss of 8 wickets. The top run-getter for them was Shadab Khan who scored 59 runs from just 30 balls to set a good platform for the Sussex bowlers.

The Middlesex skipper was mainly responsible for this valiant attempt. He scored 94 not out and kept his team in contention till the last ball of the inning was bowled. He needed to hit the last ball of the Middlesex innings for a six but failed to do so. Even for Sussex, this was just the second victory of the season. It was thanks mainly to the efforts of the Pakistani international Shadab Khan who hit 59 runs from 30 balls. Middlesex bowlers did make a good start to their bowling effort and were in control in the first powerplay.

Middlesex bowlers managed to get rid of Tom Alsop and Michael Burgess quickly. But they could not get rid of Shadab Khan fast enough. Middlesex was off to another bad start when Joe Cracknell succeeded in lobbing a delivery from Fynn Hudson-Prentice to the fielder at mid-on. But the Middlesex skipper Eskinazi took control of the innings after that and brought them close to the target. Eskinazi raced to his fifty in 31 balls with 5 fours and 1 six. He was involved in an 85-run stand with Pieter Malan that was ended by the experienced Ravi Bopara.

Kent

Unlike Middlesex, the Kent outfit is going into this game with a victory to their credit in their last game against Hampshire. During this South Group day-night affair in Canterbury on 9th June the Hampshire team batted first and scored 177 runs for the loss of 7 wickets from their quota of 20 overs. The Kent batting order was up to the mark for this chase and reached the target in 19.3 overs with 3 balls remaining. They reached the target with 6 wickets to spare. After dismissing the leading run-getter for Hampshire James Vince quickly the Kent supporters began to feel joy.

This unlikely win was achieved thanks to the efforts of Daniel Bell-Drummond. He scored 89 runs from 55 deliveries and managed to get the run chase off to a great start. He was also responsible for taking the chase close to the target. By the time Bell-Drummond was dismissed the game was pretty much spoken for. Just 18 runs from 20 balls were required when he got out. The Kent skipper Sam Billings brought the target close with a sweep for four. JM Cox and JA Leaning completed the last rites for Kent to register a great win for Kent after 6 matches.

The Kent openers have always provided hope in the otherwise dismal showing by the Kent batters this season. They were right on the money once again and provided an opening stand of 59 runs. This stand was brought to a halt in the last over of the powerplay. The leading run-getter for Kent was Bell-Drummond who had scored just 158 runs till this match from 6 matches. Fred Klaassen and Grant Stewart were the top bowlers for Kent during the Hampshire inning, picking up 2 wickets each. Kane Richardson and Michael Hogan also picked up a wicket apiece.