The Cricketer provides all the information you need ahead of a busy Friday evening
Where: Trent Bridge
When: Friday, September 11, 6pm
Lowdown: Two unbeaten sides who have both started strongly. Nottinghamshire’s hard-hitting top order appear to be finding their range.
One to watch: Joe Clarke began his T20 Blast campaign with a hundred and then added a century in his final Bob Willis Trophy of the season against Durham. His campaign has been somewhat feast-or-famine but there are few better on the circuit when on-song.
Tickets: The match will be played behind closed doors.
Weather: Dry with some sunshine.
Prediction: Nottinghamshire
Where: Emirates Riverside
When: Friday, September 11, 6.30pm
Lowdown: Two of four teams in the competition currently without a win, something has to give when they meet at Emirates Riverside. Derbyshire, semi-finalists last year, have struggled for the same weight of runs, while they have missed the wickets of Ravi Rampaul.
One to watch: Alex Lees has struck 164 runs in four innings at an average of 41 and can hardly be faulted for his own efforts in a struggling Durham side.
Tickets: The match will be played behind closed doors.
Weather: Cloudy with a chance of showers later in the evening.
Prediction: Durham
Babar Azam was bowled by Daryl Mitchell when Somerset and Worcestershire last met
Where: Grace Road, Leicestershire
When: Friday, September 11, 6.30pm
Lowdown: Two sides still with their eyes firmly set on the knockout stages. Paul Nixon spoke bullishly about needing three wins out of five to clinch a spot in the quarter-finals. Yorkshire will be without Joe Root, who is back with England for their ODI series against Australia.
One to watch: Tom Kohler-Cadmore is one of the circuit’s most dangerous players. He enjoyed a terrific Blast in 2019 and, after a slow start, is coming into form this time around. In Root’s absence, the emphasis on him increases. He has handed the T20 captaincy back to David Willey.
Tickets: The match will be played behind closed doors.
Weather: Dry with sunny periods.
Prediction: Yorkshire
Where: Northampton
When: Friday, September 11, 2,30pm
Lowdown: Well, this game briefly looked in doubt after a positive Covid-19 test emerged from the Northamptonshire camp when these sides last met on Sunday in the Bob Willis Trophy. That game was promptly abandoned and concern swelled, with thoughts regarding the repercussions that might follow.
Fortunately, this fixture goes ahead. All members of Northants’ squad have since been tested, with no positive cases reported, though the three players who came into contact with the teammate who tested positive are unavailable; they must self-isolate until September 15.
One to watch: Nathan Buck has started well in this year’s Blast for Northants, who remain the pace-setters in the Central Group despite Sunday’s health scare.
Tickets: Match will be played behind closed doors.
Weather: Predominantly cloudy but dry.
Prediction: Northamptonshire
Ian Bell is in the home stretch of his professional career
Where: Edgbaston
When: Friday, September 11, 6.30pm
Lowdown: Glamorgan have lost three of their five games and have only won once. Elsewhere, Birmingham Bears have won an extra game but haven’t quite hit their straps thus far in the competition. Everyone is on Ian Bell Watch ahead of his retirement.
One to watch: Bell’s final first-class match came against the same opposition and he came within ten runs of a second innings hundred to round off a sublime red-ball career.
Tickets: The match will be played behind closed doors.
Weather: Cloudy and dry.
Prediction: Birmingham
Debuts last forever: How the last month opened the door for a new generation
Where: Taunton
When: Friday, September 11, 6.30pm
Lowdown: When these sides met earlier in the competition, Worcestershire were as ragged in the field as they have been for some time in the T20 Blast, a tournament they have come to dominate over the last two years. Somerset made them pay, so Worcester will want revenge, especially having lost out in a winner-takes-all battle for a place in the Bob Willis Trophy final.
One to watch: Babar Azam is one of eight overseas players in this year’s Blast. He looked visibly shell-shocked to lose his off-stump to Daryl Mitchell in the reverse fixture.
Tickets: The match will be played behind closed doors.
Weather: A glorious evening at Taunton after highs of 30 degrees through the afternoon.
Prediction: Somerset
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Gareth Batty is still going strong for Surrey
Where: Chelmsford
When: Friday, September 11, 2pm
Lowdown: Having started the season slowly, Surrey are on a roll, with two consecutive Blast wins and a Bob Willis Trophy victory to boot. Reigning champions Essex are winless and can afford no further slip-ups.
One to watch: Gareth Batty is still plugging away for Surrey. Although he has only taken six wickets in the tournament, he has done so at an economy rate of just 5.75 runs per over.
Tickets: The match will be played behind closed doors.
Weather: A sunny afternoon in Essex.
Prediction: Surrey
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