Cricket
2010-05-17 - Somerset vs Yorkshire
A Sports Betting Pick by Armchair
County Championship – Division One
Monday 17th May – Thursday 20th May 2010 – Start 1100hrs
Somerset (7th)
Somerset have yet to register a win in the County Championship Div 1, and that trend looks set to continue when they entertain hosts, second placed Yorkshire in their next fixture starting on Monday.
Somerset’s results so far in Div 1 are as follows; v Yorkshire (lost by 6 wickets), v Nottinghamshire (lost by 2 wickets), and draws against Essex , Lancashire and Hampshire. Their main problem so far this season has been their inability to bowl sides out twice to press home any advantage they may have had.
Somerset Batting :
Marcus Trescothick (LVD1: 411 @ 58.71), Peter Trego (LVD1: 338 @ 56.33), James Hildreth (LVD1: 326 @ 46.57) and Damien Wright (LVD1: 236 @ 33.71) have all hit form with the bat, and as a team have registered four centuries to date. Also, young wicketkeeper Joss Buttler (LVD1: 200 @ 66.66) hit 144 against Hampshire in the last match.
Somerset bowling :
South African Charl Willoughby (LVD1: 16 wkts @ 32.62) is their leading wicket taker, and is closely followed by Damien Wright (LVD1: 14 wkts @ 26.92) and Alfonso Thomas (LVD1: 13 wkts @ 24.53). Legspinner Mike Munday (LVD1: 6 wkts @ 39.66) provides the spin alternative, but is unlikely to cause major damage on day four.
Yorkshire (2nd)
Visitors, Yorkshire, turned over Somerset in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season, but since then, Somerset’s batting has developed greater resolve and the Tykes will find it more difficult to break them down this time around.
Yorkshire’s results so far look like this; v Warwickshire (won by 4 wickets), v Somerset (won by 6 wickets), v Kent (drawn), v Durham (drawn) and v Essex (won by an innings and 96 runs).
Yorkshire batting :
South African batsman Jacques Rudolph (LVD1: 518 @ 86.33) has been in fine form with a highest score of 228*, and is backed up by Adam Lyth (LVD1: 387 @ 48.37), skipper Andrew Gale (LVD1: 379 @ 63.16) and Anthony McGrath (LVD1: 366 @ 45.75), providing the bulk of the runs.
Yorkshire bowling :
Oliver Hannon-Dalby (LVD1: 17 wkts @ 26.35) is the leading wicket taker, with Steven Patterson (LVD1: 14 wkts @ 16.85), Tim Bresnan (LVD1: 14 wkts @ 25.42) and Ajmal Shahzad (LVD1: 12 wkts @ 29.08) also making significant contributions. Legbreak bowler Adil Rashid (LVD1: 11 wkts @ 42.27) has taken wickets but can he, for example, take 5 wickets on the final day to see Yorkshire home?
The Betting Verdict :
There’s a couple of factors to consider here in this fixture; both sides pretty much bat all the way down with the batsmen holding the upper hand on both teams.
Also, there is rain forecast for Tuesday with 60% chance of rain.
I’m therefore leaning towards the draw here.
The Pick :
Match drawn
