T20 Blast essentials: All you need to know ahead of Tuesday's fixtures

The Cricketer previews two Blast games as the race for the quarter-finals hots up...

NORTH DIVISION

Durham v Birmingham Bears

Where: Chester-le-Street

When: Tuesday, August 27. Play begins at 6.30pm.

Lowdown: Both sides still have hopes of reaching the quarter-finals but can ill-afford any slip-ups in their final two games. Durham have only won one of their last seven T20 Blast clashes while the Bears have dropped to the bottom of the North Division after three defeats in a row.

One to watch: Amid a troubled campaign 20-year-old Scott Steel has been Durham's stand-out performer and has already struck two half-centuries and two scores in the 40s during the competition.

Weather: A bright start should make way for some overcast, yet warm conditions.

Tickets: £15 Adults, £5 Under-16 - click here for details

Prediction: Durham

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SOUTH DIVISION

Surrey v Somerset

Where: The Oval

When: Tuesday, August 27. Play begins at 6.30pm.

Lowdown: A do-or-die clash for both sides. Surrey are only one off the bottom and need wins from their last two group matches to keep alive their last eight hopes. Somerset are in that much-cherished fourth spot but are only ahead of fifth-place Middlesex on net run-rate.

If you are heading to the Kia Oval, make sure you keep alert in the crowd. A clean catch will win you £1,000 courtesy of the Kia Catch.

One to watch: The evergreen Max Waller took three wickets against Glamorgan and his leg-breaks will become increasingly key as the competition progresses into the knock-out stage.

Weather: Temperatures are expected to hit 31 degrees in central London, meaning an interrupted game is expected.

Tickets: £31 Adults, £1 Under-16 - click here for details

Prediction: Somerset

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