MID vs KENT Match Preview
Middlesex is one of the former champions of the T20 Blast. They won the competition in 2008 but they have had the misfortune of losing 12 matches in a row. The skipper will have a massive responsibility of turning the tables in his favor during the second half of the Blast season. The skipper is also their leading run-getter and has scored 258 runs with a strike rate of 140.21. He has already scored 3 fifties and hammered an unbeaten 94 in his last match. However, many other batters are struggling for form.
The batsmen playing in the number 3 and number 4 positions have played the role of anchors this season. Pieter Malan has put together 206 runs with a decent strike rate of 137.33 while batting in the number 3 position, Max Holden is also striking the ball well and has a strike rate of 171.68. The leading wicket-taker for Middlesex has been Tom Helm with 7 wickets so far. However, he is leaking more than 10 runs every over. Blake Cullen has also picked up 6 wickets with an economy rate of 8.23. Other bowlers are struggling for wickets in the competition.
After winning the last match, the Kent outfit will be in a confident frame of mind. However, they will need to look into the batting order that is underperforming at the moment. Their top 5 batsmen have scored just 4 half-centuries together. All these fifties have come from the opening batters. Daniel Bell-Drummond is their top batter with 247 runs with a strike rate of 151.53. His fellow opening wicket partner is Tawanda Muyeye who has 173 runs with a strike rate of 150.43 and has scored a couple of fifties in the process.
It is Joe Denly who provides the winning runs to the Kent team. However, he has a below-par strike rate. Denly has also scored 175 with a strike rate of 126.81. Apart from these 3 other batters none of the other batsmen have succeeded in making a fruitful contribution to the team's cause. The brunt of the bowling attack has been worn by Michael Hogan and Grant Stewart. Stewart has picked up 12 scalps while Hogan has managed 11. None of the other bowlers have managed to make an impression on the opposition.
Weather Report
You can expect a sunny day during the match with temperatures getting close to 24 degrees. There is a chance of getting relative humidity in the region of 36% and there is a likelihood of getting cloud cover during the match. We can also expect winds in the region of 15 km/hr.
Pitch Report
The presence of the dew factor will be a major consideration for the teams. As this game will be a day-night offer, controlling the ball during the second innings will be difficult for the bowlers and fielders. The average first innings total at this venue is 161.6 runs in T20 games. The average second innings total at the venue is 137.8 runs. In the last 5 T20 international games played on this venue, the side batting first has won 3 games while the side bowling first has won 2.
Notable stats
Kent has a better head-to-head record in recent games.
If you consider the recent head-to-head record between these two teams you will find Kent leading 3-2 against Middlesex.
Stephen Eskinazi has a good average-strike rate combination.
Amidst all the ruins the Middlesex skipper Stephen Eskinazi has done a great job scoring 327 runs in his last 10 appearances for Middlesex with an average of 40.87 and a strike rate of 134.56.
Team News
There is a chance that Middlesex might make some changes to their squad for this game. That apart there are no other injury updates available at the moment.
MID vs KENT Probable 11
MID Playing 11
- Stephen Eskinazi (C)
- Joe Cracknell
- Pieter Malan
- Max Holden
- Ryan Higgins
- Jack Davies (Wk)
- Luke Hollman
- Josh De Caires
- Martin Andersson
- Tom Helm
- Blake Cullen
KENT Playing 11
- Tawanda Muyeye
- Daniel Bell-Drummond
- Joe Denly
- Sam Billings (C)
- Jordan Cox
- Jack Leaning
- George Linde
- Grant Stewart
- Kane Richardson
- Fred Klaassen
- Michael Hogan
Dream11 Prediction
The Middlesex team has an atrocious record in this year's Vitality T20 Blast. They have not recorded a win in 8 games so far. Kent on the other hand has succeeded in winning a game in this last contest. You can bet with Kent to win the match and improve their position in the points table.
Top Picks
Luke Hollman: Luke Hollman has picked up 7 victims from his last 10 matches for Middlesex with a decent economy rate of 7.91.
Stephen Eskinazi: The Middlesex captain has been a lone warrior for Middlesex this year with the bat.
Daniel Bell-Drummond: Daniel Bell-Drummond is doing a great job with the bat having scored 247 runs with an average of 35.28 and a strike rate of 151.53.
Grant Stewart: Grant Stewart has picked up 16 scalps thus far from his last 10 matches with a strike rate of 12.75.
MID vs KENT Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: J Cracknell
Batters: J Denly, D Bell Drummond, S Eskinazi (C), P Malan
All-rounders: R Higgins, M Andersson, L Hollman (VC)
Bowlers: M Hogan, T Helm, G Stewart
