MID vs SUS 61st Match - South Group Prediction

MID vs SUS Team Previews

Middlesex

Middlesex has been eliminated after the Group Stage in each of its last 3 seasons and appears to be heading for a similar fate this time around too. After 7 matches, the team is yet to win a game and is placed at the bottom of the South Group table, and faces a near-certain exit.

Despite having some good talents in the team, it has been a pretty average batting effort by Middlesex so far. Skipper Stevie Eskinazi and Joe Cracknell have batted well in patches but have failed to score freely during the Powerplay. The middle order, consisting of players like Pieter Malan, Max Holden, Jack Davies, and Ryan Higgins has met a similar fate as they have lacked consistency in their performances.

Middlesex will need at least a couple of batsmen to step up and play a few big innings if they want to win matches going ahead. Talking about the bowling, it has been another mediocre effort by the team. Tom Helm and Blake Cullen are likely to start with the new ball.

The duo has picked up 12 wickets between them but has been a bit expensive. Josh de Caires hasn’t got many opportunities but looks promising. Luke Hollman will lead the spin attack and will be supported by Ryan Higgins. 

Sussex

Sussex hasn’t fared much better when compared to their opponents for Thursday. With a loss against Essex on Tuesday, they have crashed to their 4th consecutive defeat of the season and are just one place above Middlesex on the points table. Looking at their current form, it is getting increasingly difficult for Sussex to book a berth in the next stage.

The opening pair of Tom Clark and Tom Haines hasn’t clicked yet and have failed to give the team a good start and their poor form has put added burden on the already weak middle order. Ravi Bopara has been the best performer among the lot, scoring 2 half-centuries in 5 innings, and is also the top-scorer for his team. He has received decent support from Michael Burgess and Tom Alsop but that hasn’t nearly been enough to get the team going.

It is a similar story when it comes to the bowling as except for Tymall Mills, none of the bowlers have managed to impact the proceedings convincingly. Nathan McAndrew and Henry Crocombe have been taken for plenty of runs, while Shadab Khan is the only full-time spinner on the team.