Friends Provident Trophy Quarter finals Betting preview

FRIENDS PROVIDENT TROPHY QUARTER FINALS – 4TH JUNE 2008

DURHAM v NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

8/11 Durham (Ladbrokes), 13/10 Nottinghamshire (Boylesports), Draw No Bet

Defending champions Durham have been drawn against Nottinghamshire in the quarter-finals of the Friends Provident Trophy. Nottinghamshire were the last team to clinch a place in the last eight, despite losing to Leicestershire by 13 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method. With victory at Oakham School, Leicestershire made sure of top spot in the Midlands Division and will now have a home game against Essex. Durham could well have missed out on a home tie had Yorkshire’s game with Lancashire at Headingley Carnegie not been abandoned.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE v YORKSHIRE

Evs Gloucestershire (Boylesports), Evs Yorkshire (Ladbrokes), Draw No Bet

Gloucestershire captain Jon Lewis is relishing the visit of Yorkshire to Bristol in the quarter-finals of the Trophy. Their final group match (against Worcestershire) was washed out, confirming Gloucestershire as winners of the South / West Division. Yorkshire were denied top spot in the North Division when prevented them from beating Lancashire. Lewis is confident that Gloucestershire can make full use of home advantage count and progress to the semi-finals of a competition they won four times between 1999 and 2004.

Yorkshire captain Darren Gough has the chance of leading his native Yorkshire in a Lord’s final in the last summer of his career. Yorkshire were set for an easy victory over Lancashire at Headingley Carnegie, only for rain to wipe out match with the hosts 34-0 in reply to Lancashire’s 89 all out. Gough’s men therefore had to settle for an away tie at Gloucestershire, by virtue of finishing only runners-up to Durham in the North division.

KENT v SOMERSET

5/6 Kent (Stan James), 6/5 Somerset (Boylesports), Draw No Bet

The Kent v Somerset quarter-final looks a fascinating match. Kent are a good batting side, with plenty of all-rounders. However, they face a very strong Somerset side who boast a formidable batting line-up, with Marcus Trescothick, Justin Langer, James Hildreth and Ian Blackwell. Batting is Somerset’s strength and “runs on the board” is a potent weapon. The match is likely to be an intriguing contest between Somerset’s batsmen and Kent’s bowling attack that features the likes of Ryan McLaren, Yasir Arafat and Azhar Mahmood.

LEICESTERSHIRE v ESSEX

6/5 Leicestershire (Boylesports), 4/5 Essex (skybet), Draw No Bet

The weather that at one stage looked likely to cost Leicestershire their chance of victory, and a place in the quarter-finals, returned to help them, though a “no result” and one point, would have taken them through. Nottinghamshire were already sure of qualifying and, on the premise that Northamptonshire would beat Ireland, Leicestershire began the game needing a point to be sure of qualification. Put in by Chris Read, they had reached 87 for one off just over 22 overs when a rain break of over two hours reduced the game to a theoretical 35 overs each.

With Nottinghamshire spinners, Samit Patel and Graeme Swann getting bounce and turn, Leicestershire could manage only another 60 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the 13 overs that remained to them. A Nottinghamshire target of 148 from 35 overs, looked straightforward, but more rain between innings, and the subsequent application of the “Duckworth – Lewis” method, left them needing the same total from eight overs fewer, a different proposition. If there had been no more play in the Leicestershire match, just 2 balls sooner, it would have been 1 point each and a home quarter-final for Nottinghamshire for finishing top of the group. However, play resumed at 7.40pm, with Nottinghamshire requiring 26 runs off 10 balls. They managed only 12, so Leicestershire picked up both points, finished top of the group and will play their quarter-final at home.

TOURNAMENT WINNER

5/1 Durham (sportingbet), 11/2 Kent (Stan James), 13/2 Yorkshire (bet365), 7/1 Somerset, Gloucestershire (both skybet), 7/1 Nottinghamshire (William Hill), 15/2 Essex (skybet), 8/1 Leicestershire (bet365), ALL QUOTED.

All odds correct at time of writing. Please click here for the latest odds

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    • Written by Sarah Connolly · Filed Under Cricket 

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